Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

The Wilts and Berks Canal

The Wilts & Berks Canal was abandoned in 1914 and is currently thought to be the longest restoration project in Britain. Restoration is underway due to the dedication and extraordinary efforts of volunteers, and the enabling works of the Wilts & Berks Canal Partnership. Several miles of the waterway have been returned to water with numerous structures, including bridges, locks and lengths of towpath, restored or in the process of restoration. The Partnership is aiming to complete the restoration of this important recreational and wildlife resource by 2025.

The main line of the canal runs for 52 miles between the Kennet and Avon Canal at Semington and Abingdon on the River Thames, with the 8 mile North Wilts branch connecting to the Thames and Severn Canal at Cricklade, and a further four branches at Chippenham, Calne, Longcot, and Wantage  

The Wilts & Berks Canal in the Vale of the White Horse

Vale of White Horse District Council  is a  member of the Wilts & Berks Canal Partnership and assists with the restoration of the canal through the provision of financial contributions and technical assistance.

Restoration projects have been completed at Wantage , Abingdon – where the start of the new route for the canal from the River Thames opened at Jubilee Junction in 2006, Shrivenham, and West Challow. Current projects are restoring the waterway at Childrey  and rebuilding the bridge at Steppingstones Lane near Bourton

Not all of the original line of the canal is currently accessible, but significant sections have towpath access.  Details of these sections can be found on the BBC Breathing Places website

BBC Breathing Places

The restoration of the North Wilts branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal  is part of separate multi-partner project to create the Cricklade Country Way, connecting Swindon to Cricklade, the Cotswold Water Park and the River Thames using the restored canal, railway , cycleways, bridleways  and footpaths.

Cricklade Country Way project .

Please contact the Wilts & Berks Canal Partnership for more information about the project in Wiltshire, Swindon and Oxfordshire.

Email:canals@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01249 706494
Postal Address:

Canal Officer
Countryside & Amenity
Wiltshire Council
Monkton Park
Chippenham
Wiltshire SN15 1ER

If you would like to get involved with this project by volunteering  please contact:

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

For further information about the Partners and other organisations please follow the links below

Wilts & Berks Canal Partnership

Waterscape (Wilts & Berks Canal)

Inland Waterways Association (Wilts & Berks Canal)

British Waterways