Caen Hill Locks are the longest continuous straight flight of locks in the country. Completed in 1810 by the famous canal engineer John Rennie.
In order that boats could climb or descend the steep hill, 29 locks were built between Town Bridge and the bottom lock at Lower Foxhangers. In the middle of this is the ‘staircase’ of 16 locks known as Caen (pronounced cane) Hill with enormous side pounds that hold water to fill the locks. It has a rise of 237 feet in 2 miles.
The side ponds keep it topped up with water – each holds 1 million gallons.
There is a café at lock 44 and mooring between locks 44 and 45.
The Kennet & Avon Canal runs all the way from the River Thames to the River Avon, connecting the town of Reading with the World Heritage Site of Bath and Bristol. It is 87-miles (140km) long and is made up of two lengths of navigable river linked by a 57-mile (92km) canal section.
The Canal & River Trust cares for 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales.
TRAVEL WORDS 
You’d need a cafe halfway to get some rest.
Yes I can see why that would be a good stopping off point.
I’ve walked this section of locks. Much easier than doing that particular stretch in a canal boat. Great photos to revive my memories.
We only walked part of the way down as I was suffering with the ‘broken’ foot and we were heading for Avebury so more walking to do. I was disappointed not to see more boats or birds.
Oh what a shame Jude. For another time?
I very much doubt we’ll go back there. I’d like to explore more of east Devon / Dorset next.
So much still to explore. I feel the same. So much of the UK I don’t really yet know.
Exactly! And no need for planes. I’d like to see more of Scotland too, though that’s a bit of a trek from here.
That’s a part of Wiltshire I have never visited, so I was pleased to see it through your photos, Jude.
Best wishes, Pete. x
It was on the way to Avebury so I thought we’d stop off and see the locks. I wouldn’t mind canal boating, but I would need someone strong to manage all the locks!
Would be a lovely journey
Very slow travel
My pace
Beautifully English rural scenes! But wouldn’t that be hard work if traversing in a boat 😲
Yes too much for me.
Lovely! I’m very fond of canals but I wouln’t fancy operating the locks either so I’m content to walk too.
What a lovely holiday that would be. Slowing right down and taking in all that beautiful scenery, but I think it is certainly a younger persons thing to do
Or stick to canals with few locks! Were you affected by the cold front that swept up from NSW?
Yes put an extra blanket on bed, dropped to 6deg, but only for a few days. Back to mid 20’s again and only 12deg at night. I remember my Mam going on a canal holiday with friends back in the 1970’s, she wrote and told me how good it was. I was living in NZ at the time.
Excellent photo of the locks. The canal is so narrow, its amazing how boats can even maneuver through the locks. We have a lot of historical waterways here in Ontario Canada but our canals are not quite that narrow.
I haven’t been everywhere on them so maybe there are some locks like that. I visited the lift lock in Peterborough ON. once. Worlds highest Hydraulic Lift Lock.
I can’t imagine two boats passing in this canal though I suppose they can enter the ponds if necessary. Or maybe there is a system where they know if one boat is coming down / going up. There are a couple of the lift locks in the UK. Anderton in Cheshire and Falkirk in Scotland. They look very impressive.