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home  moorings  public trips  events  navigation guide  waterway links  contact info  site map  email us	Navigational Advice for the River Kennet This advice is offered in good faith and is based on long experience of using the River Kennet with a full-length traditional narrowboat. The advice will be updated from time to time to reflect any changes which may affect navigation. However, no liability can be accepted for any consequences which may arise from following this advice or for any delays in updating it to meet changed circumstances. Go to Upstream section Go to Downstream section General From Reading through Burghfield to Newbury the waterway is predominantly a river with short canal sections. Care and respect need to be given to the potential power of flowing water if the safety of the boat and its passengers are to be maintained. Remember the rule of the road – navigate on the right. Oncoming craft will pass on your left. This is particularly important on sharp blind bends. Craft proceeding upstream should give way to craft proceeding downstream. When mooring always secure the upstream end of the boat first. When going downstream this means the stern/back of the boat should be secured first. Always wind top gate paddles down when leaving a lock. Do not exceed the speed limit of 4 mph. When in a lock proceeding upstream make sure the bow/front of the boat is properly secured by a rope around a bollard. Do not rely on a centre rope or try to maintain position with the engine. Open the paddle first on the side that the boat is moored. Ensure that you take up the weight of the paddle, especially on ground paddles, before releasing the ratchet. Do not leave windlasses unattended on raised paddle gear. Don’t leave them behind. When in a lock proceeding downstream keep clear of the lock cill, its position is indicated by a metal or white paint marker. Do not run around locks. Take care that you do not trip on bollards or raised piling tops, or slip on wet walkways. Keep children and dogs under close supervision at all times. Ensure you have adequate crew for the efficient operation of swing bridges, particularly at peak road traffic times. Public highway swing bridges should not be operated after sunset. Return to General section Go to Downstream section top of page Navigating Upstream from Reading to Newbury The River Kennet is much narrower than the River Thames. Visibility is restricted in places where there are sharp bends and/or overhanging trees. Take care and keep to your side of the river at such places. County Lock The layby below the lock has been modernised with new campshedding and a grilled deck. Beware of the strong clockwise eddy current on the approach to the lock. If the gates are closed against you when approaching moor against the layby rather than close to the lock. Theale Swing Bridge When proceeding upstream it is advisable for the bridge operator to walk along the towpath from Sheffield Lock so that the boat can proceed directly through the open bridge. BWB key required. Insert key in console and follow instructions. Tyle Mill Set the lock before opening the electrically operated bridge. The operation is now fully automatic. Ufton Bridge Electrically operated and now fully automatic. Towney Lock This lock has a high cill and water from the gate paddles comes in at a level higher than the front of your boat. Secure the boat as far back in the lock as possible to prevent it being flooded. A full-length narrowboat will need to open the offside paddle first and proceed with caution. Padworth Swing Bridge Electrically operated. Insert key in console to open lid for access to controls. Barriers lowered and raised by hand. When raising ensure that the barriers are vertical and click into position – this can be tricky in very windy weather. You will only be able to release your key if everything is properly closed. Check the barriers first if there is a problem. Aldermaston Lift Bridge Fully automatic electrical operation. BWB key required. This is the busy A340 road. Ensure your boat is ready to proceed through the bridge before starting to open it. This bridge is automatically locked closed during peak road traffic times and after sunset. There is a 5 minute delay before repeat opening of the bridge. Froudes Bridge to Woolhampton - river section Give way to craft proceeding downstream. Maintain a good lookout on the bends. Woolhampton Swing Bridge Moor below the bridge and set the lock with both bottom gates open. This is the most hazardous part of the river as the river sweeps across the tail of the lock before curving down through the bridge. Bridge is electrically operated – BWB key required. Open console and close the horizontal road barriers. Press button to open bridge. The boat should proceed through the bridge and keep heading into the current at all times. This means following the curve of the right-hand bank all the way to the lock entrance and then turning right into the lock. DO NOT HEAD DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE LOCK – THE CURRENT WILL SWEEP YOU SIDEWAYS AND YOU WILL HIT THE BANK. Heales Lock This is a deep lock with a high cill. The water from the gate paddles comes in at a higher level than the front of the boat. Ensure that the boat is secured as far back in the lock as possible. Full-length boats should open the offside paddle first and take care not to be flooded. Widmead Lock In high water conditions the surround of this lock and the landing area above the lock may be under water. Take great care. Newbury Bridge and Lock Give way to any craft proceeding downstream. Width is restricted on the bridge approach and broad-beam craft regularly use this section. Keep well back if you have to wait below the bridge. The river sweeps in from the right just upstream of the bridge – steer strongly to the right to compensate for this. Return to General section Return to Upstream section top of page Navigating Downstream from Newbury to Reading For craft coming from the canal section the main point to note is that you are now moving downstream on a flowing river. Your stopping distance will be significantly increased and you should always steer to approach and secure your boat STERN FIRST. There are several section where visibility is limited by sharp bend and/or overhanging trees. Take care and keep to the right hand side at such places. West Mills Swing Bridge Approach the bridge carefully – moored craft on both sides. Mooring for the bridge is on the right but there is a strong draw from the weir on the left. Steer to secure your boat STERN FIRST. Newbury Lock and Bridge Wait in the lock to ensure that any craft already approaching upstream can moor in a suitable position to allow you to proceed downstream. A strong current will flow from the left but do not over-compensate your steering for there is an up-welling current which will tend to hold you centrally in the river. Maintain adequate engine power to ensure good steerage. Newbury – Parkway Bridge The bridge headroom has recently been improved but the central support pillar remains. The approach to the bridge is on a sharp right-hand curve. The pillar and navigation arch are obscured until the last minute. Widmead Lock In high water conditions the landing area and surround of this lock may be under water. Take great care. Woolhampton Swing Bridge Come down through the lock and wait in the lock tail. DO NOT PROCEED FURTHER UNTIL THE BRIDGE IS OPEN. Open the swing bridge ensuring it is fully open. (There is a final slow movement of the bridge up to its stop post. If this is not done the tip of the bridge will foul the waterway and will hit the superstructure of the boat.) When the bridge is open proceed carefully, steering to maintain position on the right and using sufficient engine power to maintain good steerage to ensure you approach the bridge on a left-hand curve. As soon as you are through the bridge reverse your engine power to moor your boat on the right-hand bank STERN FIRST. When closing the road barriers ensure that they are properly positioned in the locking mechanism. Check these if you cannot remove your BWB key from the console. Woolhampton to Aldermaston – river section Keep a good lookout on the bends for craft coming upstream. Keep close to the right-hand bank on the last bend before the Froudes Marina junction. Aldermaston Lift Bridge Fully automatic electrical operation. BWB key required. This is the busy A340 road. Ensure your boat is ready to proceed through the bridge before starting to open it. This bridge is automatically locked closed during peak road traffic times and after sunset. There is a 5 minute delay before repeat opening of the bridge. Burghfield Lock – downstream This is a short lock. Keep clear of the cill. A full-length narrowboat will need to be positioned on the offside in order to open the nearside bottom gate first. A pair of boats, including a full-length boat, can use the lock together provided one boat is less than 68ft in length and is positioned on the nearside of the lock. County Lock – going downstream The landing stage above the lock is a floating pontoon structure which has recently been lengthened to connect across St Giles Stream. It is still advisable to moor under the IDR Bridge to check whether the lock is set for your direction. Approach slowly past moored craft on your left and reverse stern first to moor on the right-hand side under the IDR Bridge. Check whether the lock is set for you. Remain in the lock until your crew has set the traffic lights to green. Do not worry if they turn to red before you pass them – you have 12 minutes to clear the next section before craft are allowed to proceed in the opposite direction. Ensure you have adequate engine power for good steerage through High Bridge. Return to General section Return to Upstream section Return to Downstream section Kennet Cruises home top of page
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