Fenny Compton to Dundas - Leisure centres nearby?

[magpie patrick]

The final long leg of Lutine's voyage will commence and it looks like Sara is joining me for most if not all of it. This will stretch the facilities for what is basically one person accomodation quite a bit and something that would make this work better is to go swimming and get a shower at a leisure centre on a reasonably frequent basis - Lutine's bathing facilities sort of work but the bath needs a much more powerful pump to empty it and I'm not sure I want to bail it out every time we use it on this journey. In any event, Sara and I go swimming regularly

 

So, the question, where are there leisure centres near the route (obvious one, Oxford Canal, Thames, Kennet and Avon) - I think I may know for Pewsey but all answers welcome

 

Thanks

[IanM]

Definitely a swimming pool not far from the Oxford Canal in Banbury.

[Athy]

Yes, just beat me to it! It's in Spiceball Park, which is near the canal and the town centre.

[Chalky]

Diamond place Oxford has a pool and Leisure centre. About 15 mintues walk from the canal - moor by Aristotle bridge. Next to co-op, m&S and other shops as well.

[billS]

There is an outdoor pool next to the moorings on the north bank in Abingdon, and another at the Shillingford Bridge hotel near Wallingford which I think is available for public use.

 

The Rivermead Leisure centre is a short walk from moorings at Caversham bridge in Reading, and the the Northcroft Leisure centre in Newbury is a fairly short walk from the moorings above Newbury lock.

[Mal in Somerset]

Swimming Pool in Bradford-on-Avon near railway station.

[Up-Side-Down]

The final long leg of Lutine's voyage will commence and it looks like Sara is joining me for most if not all of it. This will stretch the facilities for what is basically one person accomodation quite a bit and something that would make this work better is to go swimming and get a shower at a leisure centre on a reasonably frequent basis - Lutine's bathing facilities sort of work but the bath needs a much more powerful pump to empty it and I'm not sure I want to bail it out every time we use it on this journey. In any event, Sara and I go swimming regularly

 

So, the question, where are there leisure centres near the route (obvious one, Oxford Canal, Thames, Kennet and Avon) - I think I may know for Pewsey but all answers welcome

 

Thanks

 

The Nicholson guides list leisure centres.

[whitty1]

Devizes has a leisure centre - it's a little bit of a walk from the canal but doable.

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisureandrecreation/leisureandsportscentres/lscdevizes.htm

[Nightwatch]

My dad, in the sixties & seventies used to swim in the Thames. Just a thought.

Edited August 3, 2016 by Nightwatch

[David Mack]

We have used leisure centres in Reading and Hungerford while boating. The Reading one is nearer the Thames than where we moored on the Prison loop. The Hungerford one is at the opposite end of the town from the canal, up the hill.

 

I have also used showers in one of the M4 motorway services while car shuffling on a boat trip in that part of the world.

 

Edited to add: http://www.leisurecentre.com/Centre/Map?search=devizes&distance=50 shows quite a few along the route.

Edited August 3, 2016 by David Mack

[magpie patrick]

Thanks Guys! It looks like the only long-ish gap is Hungerford to Pewsey then.

 

 

The Nicholson guides list leisure centres.

 

I thought it might, but (1) they are on the boat so I can't plan and (2) I've seen Nicholson's idea of near the canal before!

 

My dad, in the sixties & seventies used to swim in the Thames. Just a thought.

 

I think there was an incident related in three men and a boat too?

 

Would work for the swim, wild swimming is good in the right weather, shower afterwards might be a challenge, throw buckets of water at each other I guess

[Tillerpin]

Don't know if you can swim in it but there is Wilton water reservoir near to the crofton beam engine right next to the canal.

[wishful]

Warleigh Weir is a renowned swimming spot, 100m from the canal and 2000m further on from Dundas. Whilst there take a look at Claverton pumping station

 

Enjoy!