As preparation for my trip to France, I started off this series of walks in January making use of the Kennet & Avon Canal, which was designed to transport goods as quickly as possible from the Thames ( at Reading) to Bristol . Like many canals of its time it was only in use for a comparatively short period of time until the railways came along. It then fell into disrepair, before being  restored in the 1990's for pleasure boat use.

Up to Great Bedwin I made day trips along the canal & returned to my car by train. From this point until Trowbridge I made daily circular walks from home. The Caen Hill locks at Devises was an impressive flight of 16 locks in one place. The Crofton Beam engine was interesting when I saw it ten years ago...it was closed on this visit. I also had the diversion of some hill walking above Pewsy, unfortunately the weather was so bad it became just exercise. I also made a small diversion and walked to Lacock Abbey the place where Fox Talbot took the first photograph of a window.

The last part I completed as a 2 day trip using Bath Youth Hostel in the middle. The section of canal between Bradford on Avon & Bath was one of the best canal walks I have made in the south of England, because it is raised above the surrounding land and is intertwined with a series of bridges over river & railway.

Bristol Cathedral, I thought, can be described as run of the mill.... A functioning Cathedral...not in the same league as Winchester or Salisbury. However it does have one great feature, my Great, Great, Grandfather, a stonemason helped build the nave.

• Caen Hill Locks                       http://www.waterscape.com/servicesdirectory/Caen_Hill_Locks
• Crofton Beam Engine               http://www.croftonbeamengines.org/intro.html
• Kennet and Avon Canal            http://www.katrust.org/
• Fox Talbot & Lacock Abbey     http://www.r-cube.co.uk/fox-talbot/
• Bristol Cathedral                     http://www.bristol-cathedral.co.uk/