Second walk of the day - I was not feeling hungry and so did not stop for
lunch and the lemonade had slaked my thirst, so I was not sure what to do for
the next couple of hours at least. I had a replacement car for the day so
picking it up I drove to Caen Hill locks (parking on the roadside as it saved
the £3 parking charge at the canal centre car park)
Leaving the car at the end of the layby just over the canal on the B3101, and
walking along the pavement to the bridge and towpath.
This came out at the bottom of the flight of locks rising up the hill behind. I
started to ascend the locks watching the bat traffic - apparently it takes 6
hours to pass through all the locks. Then I worried about whether I had locked
the car or not, so returned to check - I had.
Setting off again in the opposite direction I entered into the Jubilee park - an
area of public park beside the canal that had been replanted and several new
paths provided that climbed up beyond the canal.
I followed a staggered route through the park up to the canal centre
car park. This opened up and allowed views behind towards Chippenham. Then back
to the canal and up to the centre teashop where I traded an ice-cream for use of
their facilities.
Continuing up the tow path to a point just below the A361 bridge crossing
At this point I crossed over the canal and walked down the track back to the
centre car park. Then continued down the pond side of the canal on the edge of
the jubilee park.
Back down at the bridge under the B3101 I continued along the towpath in the
opposite direction passing the locks at the tail end of the flight.
Before getting to the marina I crossed over at the last lock and took to the
fields crossing towards Rowde.
There was a path in the fields and one in the lane over the hedge. Then across a
scrub field with some large soggy bits to reach the edge of the village.
Through the village and picking up the B3101 near the church (hidden behind a
monkey puzzle tree). Part way back the path escaped into the jubilee park once
again before returning to the layby and car.
