Basingstoke Canal

The Basingstoke Canal winds it's way from just outside of it's namesake in Surrey until it meets the Wey Canal just before it, in turn, reaches the Thames. Most of the length of this canal is open to pedestrians excepting a small section beneath a tunnel just before Basingstoke.

The canal largely avoids towns and the tow path tends to be dirt many times overrun by plants growing alongside. The canal is mostly ignored by pleasure craft due to it's narrowness and preponderance of water plants, leaving the canal, for the most part, to nature and the occasional jogger.

For further information, please see:

• The Thames - My page on this famous river
• The Wey Canal - My page on this (big) sister canal

The Basingstoke Canal Authority (BCA) operates a visitor centre in Mytchett (about midway on the canal). They can be contacted as follows:

• The Basingstoke Canal Visitor Centre
• Mytchett Place Road
• Mytchett, Surrey
• GU16 6DD
• Tel: (01252) 370 073
• Fax: (01252) 371 758