Hungerford to Newbury Walk [Guide + Free Map]

This Hungerford to Newbury walk follows the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal through the Kennet Valley in Berkshire. It’s a straightforward point-to-point route between two historic market towns, mostly flat and easy to follow throughout. With railway stations at both ends and a pub stop mid way in Kintbury, this is a practical and accessible day walk along one of southern England’s historic waterways.

Hungerford and Newbury lie on the edge of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. This is one of the largest remaining areas of chalk downland in southern England. The wider region is known for its rolling hills and open landscapes. Today’s walk follows the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath. It is mostly flat and easy. It offers a gentle way to explore this landscape without tackling the surrounding hills. 

Logistics for the Hungerford to Newbury Walk

Map of the Hungerford to Newbury Walk

Do you want to do this walk? Simply download the GPS map for free by clicking on the button below. Learn how to upload it onto your navigation app by following my step-by-step guide here.

Highlights of Hungerford to Newbury

The Hungerford to Newbury Walk

So now we covered the basics, let’s get to the walk.

Hungerford

Hungerford is a small historic market town in the Kennet Valley, on the edge of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.

One interesting detail about Hungerford is that no one knows for certain where the town’s name comes from.Hungerford does not appear in the Domesday Book. At that time, the nearby manor of Eddington was the main settlement recorded here. The first written mention of Hungerford dates from the early 12th century.

The most widely accepted explanation is that the name comes from an Anglo-Saxon phrase meaning “ford leading to poorer land.” It likely refers to a crossing of the River Kennet where the town later developed. Another tradition links the name to the Viking leader Ivar (Hinguar) the Boneless. He was said to have drowned at a ford here around the year 870. This story gave rise to the name “Hyngar’s ford,” although it is now generally considered more legend than fact.

By the 13th century, Hungerford had become an established market town. The long High Street you walk along today was already the centre of daily life. One important historical figure connected with the town is John of Gaunt. He granted local people fishing and grazing rights along the river.In the late 18th century, the arrival of the Kennet and Avon Canal (opened in 1798) turned Hungerford into an important trading centre.

We start our walk at Hungerford station. When you leave the station, go over the level crossing and continue straight ahead until you reach the canal towpath.

Kennet and Avon Canal

Our walk today consist of a gentle canal walk along the Kennet and Avon Canal between Hungerford and Newbury.

The Kennet and Avon Canal was built in the late 18th century. It created a continuous 87-mile (140 km) waterway between London and Bristol. The route links the River Kennet at Reading with the River Avon at Bath. The canal was completed in 1810. It quickly became an important transport route for goods such as coal, timber, and agricultural produce. Towns along the canal grew and prospered as a result.

The canal was an impressive engineering achievement for its time, with more than 100 locks along its route.  Like many canals, its commercial importance declined after the arrival of the railways in the mid-19th century, and sections gradually fell into disrepair. Thanks to a major restoration effort led by volunteers and local communities, the canal reopened in 1990, making it possible for us today to enjoy this 13.9 km long, peaceful stretch of towpath.

Related Content: Bathampton Down Walk

Hungerford Common

After about 1.4 km along the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath, the route passes the point where the River Dun joins the canal, an area known as Hungerford Common.

The River Dun and the River Kennet are chalk rivers, a rare type of habitat found in only a few places around the world. Of the roughly 200 chalk streams known globally, more than 160 are in England. These rivers are fed by natural springs rising through the chalk hills of Wiltshire, and near Hungerford the River Dun joins the River Kennet close to the old mill.

Chalk rivers are especially valued for their clear, clean, oxygen-rich water, steady flow and almost constant temperature of around 10°C throughout the year. These conditions create an ideal environment for wildlife, and the Kennet valley supports a rich variety of plants, fish and birds, including several species that are now rare elsewhere in the UK.

You may also notice concrete pillboxes beside the canal and river. These were built in 1940 during the Second World War as part of the GHQ Stop Line Blue. Also known as the Ironside Line, this network of defences designed to slow a possible German advance inland from the south coast.

Kintbury

Kintbury has Saxon origins, and by the time of the Domesday Book it was already an established settlement in the River Kennet valley with 74 households listed under 3 owners.

At the heart of the village stands St Mary’s Church, Kintbury, which began as a Saxon minster and still preserves important Norman features, including its north and west doorways. Much of the church dates from the late 12th century, while the tower was later heightened in the 15th century after storm damage destroyed its earlier upper section.

Inside, the church contains a remarkable collection of historic memorials. Several are dedicated to the Dundas family of Barton Court, influential local landowners. Their name survives today in the nearby The Dundas Arms beside the Kennet and Avon Canal. It is a particularly welcome stopping point on this walk.Among the other monuments are striking sculptural memorials to the Raymond family. They were created by the Flemish artists Peter Scheemakers and Thomas Scheemakers. This is an unusual find in a village church

After a coffee break at The Dundas Arms, we return to the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath to continue the walk towards Newbury. From here, it’s another 8 km along the canal to reach the town. Along this final stretch, the route passes beneath a traditional stone bridge and later crosses a wooden footbridge. One of the more unusual features you may notice along the way is a set of large metal wheels used to manually operate the canal lock gates.

Newbury

We finally arrive in the vibrant town of Newbury. Despite its name, the area has been settled since the Mesolithic period, thousands of years before the town itself developed. Interestingly, Newbury is not mentioned in the Domesday Book, suggesting it was still a relatively small or emerging settlement in the late 11th century.

Newbury grew rapidly during the medieval period thanks to the cloth trade, which became the town’s main source of prosperity. One of the best-known stories linked to this textile heritage is the tale of the Newbury Coat. In 1811, Sir John Throckmorton made a wager with John Coxeter of Greenham Mills that a complete woollen coat could be produced in a single day. Beginning at 5am with the shearing of two sheep, the wool was spun, woven, dyed and tailored into a finished coat by 6:20pm. Coxeter celebrated his success by providing 120 gallons of beer for the large crowd who had gathered to watch the challenge unfold.

Transport improvements continued to shape Newbury’s development. The opening of the Kennet Navigation in 1723 strengthened trade links with London. It was followed by the construction of the Kennet and Avon Canal which begun in 1794 and cwas ompleted in 1810. It connected the town to a major cross-country waterway between London and Bristol. However, the arrival of the railway in 1841 initially bypassed Newbury by about 25 km, reducing passing trade and slowing the town’s economic growth.

Before heading back to London by train, it’s worth taking a little time to explore Newbury itself. The town centre sits just a short walk from the canal and offers historic streets and plenty of places to stop for a drink or something to eat after the walk. 

Happy discovery!

Final thoughts on the Hungerford to Newbury Walk

I hope you enjoy this walk from Hungerford to Newbury along the Kennet and Avon Canal. If this route shows how enjoyable canal walking can be outside the city, there are also several great waterside routes much closer to home. I’ve shared some of my favourite ideas in my guide to the Best Canal walks in London, which are just as easy to follow and perfect when you don’t want to travel far.

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