Parking for Kennet &Avon canal path

[Duke of Kidderminster]

I'd like to cycle along the Kennet and Avon canal starting just outside Reading. Does anyone know of a rural location just outside of Reading with parking (ideally free) where I could pick it up?

Don't mind paying for the parking, I just don't want to be ripped off in Reading or be in some crappy car park - hence wanting to start outside of Reading.

Edited by Duke of Kidderminster on Saturday 13th May 19:11

[Justin S]

Workers normally park on the road at Thames Valley Buisness Park and then pick up the Kennet mouth there. Not 'exactly rural , but at least its free, open to passers by for security and starts where the kennet starts. Alternatively, you can park at Theale Lakes and I believe its free.

[Duke of Kidderminster]

I tried parking at TVP but it isn't great. Any thoughts on a place just west of reading? Somewhere near the pub The Cunning Man perhaps? Looking on the map the area around that pub would be a good place to start/finish

[Justin S]

There's not a great deal between the Kennet mouth and Southcote area. As far as the Cunning man is, the back road to Burghfield Mill , which , there is parking there, as used to fish in the mill stream, just before the private road into the Mill estate. Then you can ride on the riverside to the wooden bridge to meet the cycle way . Or park there and follow the road round to the ski lake and join the cycleway just before the M4 and onward to Theale and beyond. Recommend a pie and pint at The Row Barge in Woolhampton, which is about 7 ish miles from the start point. Dont know how far you want to ride .

[Total loss]

Duke of Kidderminster said:

Any thoughts on a place just west of reading? Somewhere near the pub The Cunning Man perhaps? Looking on the map the area around that pub would be a good place to start/finish

Park at the Cunning Man & start from there ?, plus good place to finish
Have ridden the towpath from Reading & stopped at The Cunning Man for a drink as it is right on the canal.
From Reading itself, park in Bolton rd (further down near Craddock rd) off Rose Kiln Ln opposite the retail park

[Duke of Kidderminster]

thanks, I'll go have a scout around those areas.

I had thought of just parking in the pub but wondered if they'd take an issue with me using their car park as a base, even if i did have a drink there afterwards.

[NorthernSky]

Sonning, if you can find space by The Bull. Home to Clooney and Mrs. May. Intriguing church and the pub is old world - timber beams, fullers ales. The riverside path in either direction from here is well worth exploring! Sonning can become oversubscribed in the lunchtime/evening periods though and no doubt locals will hate more traffic coming through their village...

[Justin S]

Duke of Kidderminster said:

thanks, I'll go have a scout around those areas.

I had thought of just parking in the pub but wondered if they'd take an issue with me using their car park as a base, even if i did have a drink there afterwards.

Main reason why I avoided using the pub carparks. Although next to the Cunning man, right on the bridge is a small layby on the pub side of the bridge, opposite side of the road, that you could easily sneak a car spot in there.

[badgerade]

When do you want to do it? If it's at the weekend, TVP works really well. Just a case of following the cycle path through Reading and out the other side. (This also gives access to several more pubs!)

I've also parked at the Cunning Man - they don't seem bothered, although we do generally stop there for a pint afterwards.

[sidaorb]

NorthernSky said:

Sonning, if you can find space by The Bull. Home to Clooney and Mrs. May. Intriguing church and the pub is old world - timber beams, fullers ales. The riverside path in either direction from here is well worth exploring! Sonning can become oversubscribed in the lunchtime/evening periods though and no doubt locals will hate more traffic coming through their village...

Well worth it, park up near the church, then access to the Thames path back past TVP (another place we park regularly) then meet up with the canal. Plus the pub is one of the best in the area.

[Duke of Kidderminster]

yep, at weekends.

I did try the TVP road a couple of years ago but somehow never managed to connect up with the canal once through Reading - i'm assuming it was just plain stupidity on my part? Is the canal the one that flows through the Oracle? so pick it up at the western edge of the Oracle somehow?

[outnumbered]

Duke of Kidderminster said:

yep, at weekends.

I did try the TVP road a couple of years ago but somehow never managed to connect up with the canal once through Reading - i'm assuming it was just plain stupidity on my part? Is the canal the one that flows through the Oracle? so pick it up at the western edge of the Oracle somehow?

There's no canal at that point, it's all River. Going west through the Oracle on the south side of the river (which is surprisingly a joint use cycle path), you just go across Bridge Street and follow the path on the north side of the river, under the IDR, and then southwards out of town.

http://www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk/media/116787/r...

[Duke of Kidderminster]

outnumbered said:

There's no canal at that point, it's all River. Going west through the Oracle on the south side of the river (which is surprisingly a joint use cycle path), you just go across Bridge Street and follow the path on the north side of the river, under the IDR, and then southwards out of town.

http://www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk/media/116787/r...

perfect! that map really helps. it also looks like it's about 2 miles along the path from TVP, which makes parking good.

thanks all

[Frenchda]

Park at mine if you want, on the Thames in Caversham about a mile and half from start of the Kennet and then a ride along to the start of the Canal.

[PurpleTurtle]

DoK I'd be interested if you could provide some pics of the path along the canal westwards beyond The Cunning Man, am interested to do this with my wife and 2yo son in his seat on the back of my MTB.

[Justin S]

PurpleTurtle said:

DoK I'd be interested if you could provide some pics of the path along the canal westwards beyond The Cunning Man, am interested to do this with my wife and 2yo son in his seat on the back of my MTB.

Ride past the Cunning Man, after 300yrds over the wooden bridge. Follow past the lock and through metal width gate and into field. Follow one of the worn paths, anyone will do. Get to bridge, over and head right. Follow under the M4 and onto Theale . Not tricky to navigate at all. Quite smooth for little ones too.