Canal boats leaving bottom lock of the staircase, Caen Hill, nr Devizes

Hogan of Grenada, on October 2, 2007, said:

Two canal boats (paired) to pass through the Staircase part of the Cane Hill flight of locks.

There are 29 locks in the flight, and 19 in a dead straight line (seen in the background.

To add to the fun it is raining.

The flight of locks can be clearly seen if one zooms in on the map.

VKeith, on October 2, 2007, said:

Ah yes, we saw those! That's not for a vacation! It looked like hard work! Really, It's great.

Nawitka, on February 7, 2008, said:

Very interesting! I see the locks on the map, thanks for pointing them out. It looks like each lock has a holding pond associated with it? Is that so more boats can go through at once? Wouldn't it take a long time to fill each pond? I've always wanted to take a canal boats through England somewhere. Perhaps this is not the best place to get started!

Hogan of Grenada, on February 7, 2008, said:

Nawitka, The design is so that the water coming out of the lock does not immediately overflow the next lock down. Only two boats go through each lock at a time. In the picture the boat BACKWATER was infact ours. And we soon found that it was easier to manoeuver the boats together. If you search the Internet for Caen Hill Flight or Kennet & Avon Canal you will find much more about it, and its history.

I would not recommend this part of the canal for your first canal holiday in England. But there are over 2000 miles of canals to choose from.

Happy boating.

Hogan