The Great West Way Walk
The Great West Way isn’t a national trail. Nor is it a fixed walking route. In fact, it’s not even solely for walkers. The Great West Way refers to any journey taken between the two cities of London and Bristol, whether by car, rail, road, bike, boat or, of course, foot.
A Little History
Historically the Great West Way has been an important trade route. Stagecoaches journeyed on what is now the A4 with tollhouses at Maidenhead and Reading. During the 17th century it was known as the Great Road to Bristol. As Bath flourished as a spa resort it became known as Bath Road.
With the opening of the Kennet and Avon Canal in 1810, goods bound for the Americas could move from London to Bristol with coal, Cotswold stone and wool coming back on the return journey.
The canal had a short commercial life with the opening of the Great Western Railway in 1841. Engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the railway was in response to competition from Liverpool as the main western port.
From London Paddington, the route went via Slough, Maidenhead and Reading. It then veered north-west to Didcot and on to Swindon thus avoiding the Marlborough Downs. From Swindon it went to Chippenham, Bath and Bristol. The railway line running alongside much of the Kennet and Avon Canal is the Berks and Hants Railway, built by Great Western Railways with a slight misnomer as it never actually enters Hampshire!
The Walk
The Great West Way encapsulates all the historical, cultural and scientific attractions of this part of England. Obviously a route cannot encompass everything. But, by combining our 9 day 94 mile Kennet & Avon Canal walk together with our “easy” Thames Path walk from Reading to Tower Bridge, we end up with a magnificent 178 mile 16 day/17 night walk averaging just 11 miles per day giving you plenty opportunity to explore along the way. We start at the Floating Harbour in Bristol and end at Tower Bridge, the “pool of London” where, historically, ships would have docked. The walk is therefore a “port to port” crossing of England. Along the way you will pass the historic towns of Bath, Bradford on Avon, Devizes, Hungerford, Newbury, Reading, Henley, Marlow, Maidenhead, Windsor and Richmond. Between the towns you will see some of England’s loveliest countryside as you pass the Cotswolds, the Downs and the Chilterns.
Whilst we are suggesting walking from Bristol to London, it’s entirely possible to walk in the other direction. We suggested west to east so that the walk has a more dramatic finale.
Ready to book?