Come lunchtime we had arrived at the Avoncliffe Aqueduct and were ready for lunch. This we found in the Cross Guns where the beer was brilliant - they have their own brew called Token Ale - and a wide variety of food on the menu, with a good range of fish dishes. If you're thinking of going there in the evening it's best to book. The canal crosses both the River Avon and the Westbury to Bath railway line here.

The aqueduct viewed from the rather wet meadow below.

Bridge 174 is typical of many K & A bridges and it the nearest point to the village of Winsley which is some way above the canal up the valley side. Only for the fit and energetic!

You are now cruising the famous leaking Limpley Stoke section of the canal which was relined using concrete when restoration of the canal took place. In all there is about 7 miles of this lining which makes it difficult to get into the bank to moor apart from at places like Dundas. This view is across the aqueduct looking tawards the wharf. The canal recrosses the river and the railway at this point.

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Dundas Wharf with crane looking across towards the aqueduct.

Dundas was also the junction with the Somerset Coal Canal the entrance to which is under the lifting bridge to the right of the picture.

The first section of the Coal Canal has been dredged and is used for moorings. There are shops and a cafe here although the Viaduct pub which overlooks the whole area was firmly closed when we needed a drink!

The main canal then turns north towards Bath, past the Claverton Pump House - which houses a water wheel driving a pump which was installed to pump (obviously!) water up from the river into the canal. An electric pump, to be seen on the left, does the work now, but the water wheel is still operated during special open days at the pump house.

There are easy moorings just by the bridge.

At Bathampton an attractive row of stone cottages is passed.

The canal is now passing through the outskirts of the City of Bath and the georgian architecture for which the city is famous is soon apparent. There is a boatyard and shop at Sydney Wharf.

The canal then passes through two short tunnels - Sydney Gardens No.2 Tunnel has ornate stonework above its portals while the second ......

...... has a large georgian house over it, Cleveland House, which was the headquarters of the Canal Company.

There is also a couple of original 1800 vintage cast iron footbridges to add to the scene.