Here’s where the Canal & River Trust highlights to go in West Berkshire in its new Places to Visit in the South East guide

Aldermaston Wharf has been highlighted in a new guide of places to visit in the South East.

The guide has been published by the Canal & River Trust, which said it wanted to “inspire great days out by the water this Easter”.

The free guide - Places to Visit in the South East – contains maps, information about visitor facilities and free activities, and ways to get the most out of visiting the region’s canals and rivers.

It describes Aldermaston Wharf as “once a busy place for loading and unloading canal cargoes, Aldermaston Wharf on the Kennet & Avon Canal is now a picture of tranquillity and the perfect place to explore the Berkshire countryside”.

“Visitors can watch boats going through Aldermaston Lock, chat with the Trust’s volunteer lock keepers, have a canalside picnic watching out for kingfishers, herons, coots and swans, and enjoy a traffic-free cycle ride to Woolhampton, well known for its coaching inns,” it added.

Ros Daniels, Canal & River Trust’s director for the South East, said: “Every year, millions of people visit our waterways to be active, relax and to enjoy the scenic landscapes our canals offer.

“Our canals provide free and low-cost family-friendly days out by the water, and the chance to have some fabulous waterside experiences this Easter. Even in city centres, people can spot a variety of birds, animals, insects and plants along our canals and rivers. And from locks and bridges, to tunnels and aqueducts, there are hundreds of historic structures to marvel at.

“We want to encourage more people to visit our canals, rivers, reservoirs and docks so they can experience the physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits of spending time by water, and find out more about the work of our charity to care for the nation’s world-famous historic network.”

Also included in the guide are Kintbury and Newbury Wharf.

It describes Kintbury as “a picture of tranquillity” having once been home to a “busy industrial canal wharf”.

The guide added: “Visitors can take a horse-drawn boat trip along the canal, enjoy a stroll alongside the canal and watch boats going through Kintbury Lock, set off on a traffic-free bike ride, have a waterside picnic or visit one of the village pubs.”

Newbury Wharf is highlighted as a “great place to spend time by the water”.

Visitors can enjoy a boat trip, relax with a picnic in Victoria Park, visit the Kennet & Avon Centre in the wharf to find out about the history of the canal, stroll along the towpath to Town Bridge, and walk or cycle along the towpath to Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre,” the guide added.

You can download a copy of the Canal & River Trust’s new regional Places to Visit in the South East Guide here.

Last year more than 10million people visited the charity’s 2,000-mile network of canals and rivers.