Caen Hill Locks
The Kennet & Avon Canal has awesome examples of canal engineering. At Caen Hill, you can see the longest continuous flight of locks in the country
Caen Hill Locks are a flight of locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal, between Rowde and Devizes in Wiltshire, England.
The 29 locks have a rise of 237 feet in 2 miles or a 1 in 44 gradient. The locks come in three groups. The lower seven locks, Foxhangers Wharf Lock to Foxhangers Bridge Lock, are spread over ¾ of a mile. The next sixteen locks form a steep flight in a straight line up the hillside and are designated as a scheduled monument.
Because of the steepness of the terrain, the pounds between these locks are very short. As a result, 15 locks have unusually large sideways-extended pounds, to store the water needed to operate them. A final six locks take the canal into Devizes
Visitor information
Directions
If walking - From Devizes Campsite, turn left onto the towpath and follow for 2 miles to reach the bottom of the locks.
Driving - turn right out of the sight and follow the brown signs for caen hill lock flight.
Location