Kennet & Avon Canal - stage 4 - Devizes to Honeystreet - 7 May 2016

On to the next stage of the Canal Walk, it was a bright and early start.  Organisation of the transportation required to walk from one part of the canal to the next is a huge feat involving trains and changes and buses at exact times.  So we all met up at the station before 8 on a still cold Sunday morning.

A couple of hours after the early start we reached Pewsey and stopped to do what we do best - have tea!

The weather was glorious, perfect for walking.  Our starting point at Devizes

Our walk today was going to be 7.5 miles - quite a distance but not too challenging as it's dead flat!  As the morning wore on things warmed up and we were grateful for shady bridges and overhanging trees.

Half way and time for lunch.  We did have to earn our keep though, a barge owner approaching the swing bridge asked for help.

It was lovely to sit in the sunshine and contemplate the water.

It would have been easy to spend a couple of hours there but neither the bus nor the train were going to wait for us, so back onto the path.

We were now walking through the Vale of Pewsey and to the left we could see the White Pewsey Horse, this one from 1937 replacing an earlier one from 1785 that had disappeared under the grass.  It is one of eight remaining white horses in Wiltshire.

Just look at these ducklings!  It was difficult to get a decent photo they were so quick.

Before we knew it, we were at the Barge Inn which is the end of this stage at Honeystreet.  It was warm enough now to really appreciate that beer shandy!

They are growing their own hops down the side of the building.

This dog had the best day.

Time enough for a bit of a rest then off to find the bus stop where we had booked the community bus to collect us.  Another quick view of the White Horse.

Time to put feet up ....