Caen Hill Locks — Local services in Rowde

"CAEN HILL LOCKS"..

After visiting Stonehenge intending to travel on to Bath the detour to this flight of locks I took..

You would not be able to traverse this incline with a normal steam train, only a narrow boat..

Pleasant countryside surrounds this lock system which might take you all day to traverse/descend by hand, lots of winding handles, etc..

Some relaxing holiday, but take in the fresh air, water meadows, hills, sun rises, sunsets, bliss..

Having a narrow boat, I would stop half way up/down the locks for the night, perhaps even the week..

Each lock having a large water reservoir where wild life has made its home, from fish to birds, etc..

This is creative engineering centuries old, for the movement of bulk goods from one place to other..

Certainly the onsite web site is detailed with historic reference to past, what to do here in the present..

The Cafe is quite nice, with views from the top of the lock system to the bottom, which looks to be a good 1/2 mile in distance..

Once you have accomplished your climb/descent here then you have all of the other locks to work..

Must have been very quiet here, not so long ago, with no motor vehicles, planes etc., no time for holidays though..

Once the canals were vanquished by the steam railways, the canal navies who excavated these systems with spades, shovels, buckets, then went on to physically develop the track bed of steam travel..

Historically this is a canal seventh wonder, an ideal stop over for a few hours, to relax for the day..

Onwards my Trusty Steed for we must reach Bath by dark fall avoiding the ghosts of the night..

"CAEN HILL LOCKS"..

You can walk the 2,000 miles of U.K. canals which are historically preserved, still exist today, should keep you busy for a...

Engineering Brilliance and Canal-Side Calm at Caen Hill Locks

Caen Hill Locks is one of those places that’s both impressive and incredibly peaceful — a perfect blend of history, engineering, and countryside charm.

This flight of 29 locks in Devizes, Wiltshire, is part of the Kennet and Avon Canal, and it’s truly a sight to see. The locks rise in a dramatic staircase formation, and watching the narrowboats slowly work their way up or down is strangely satisfying and completely mesmerising. It’s a real reminder of just how clever and practical Georgian engineering was — all done without modern machinery.

The path alongside the canal is perfect for a leisurely stroll or bike ride, and the scenery is beautiful — think rolling green hills, ducks paddling past, and boats gently chugging along. It’s incredibly tranquil, especially considering it’s a marvel of industrial design.

There’s a little café at the top of the locks, and benches dotted along the towpath if you just want to sit and take it all in. Plenty of photo ops and even more moments where you’ll find yourself saying “Wow, this is clever!”

Whether you're into canals, history, or just looking for a relaxing spot with a bit of a wow factor, Caen Hill Locks is well...

Pictures don’t do justice.

Had seen pics online, was visiting Wiltshire for the second time in a year and didn’t realise this was where it was, Went for the day out before heading home after it popping up as a nearby location to visit, Wish I’d of had more than 3 hours spare, his was breathtaking, it’s a long walk, and watching boats go up and down is fascinating, what’s even better is you can open and close the locks yourself if the volunteers or owners let you, fortunately for us everyone was happy for the assistance as makes it easier and quicker for them, especially since there’s so many locks to get through.

The walk alongside the canal is nice enough as it is, even if you don’t want to get hands on action.

Glad I got to experience this place, and made me consider one day hiring a canal boat for a holiday, as that is a thing available in the area.

Extra bonus, got to help pull a boat out of the canal, took a lot of...