17k Run Devizes: Scenic Climb to Bishop's Canning Down

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 17.1km loop offers a fantastic cross-section of the Wiltshire landscape, blending challenging elevation with serene waterside cruising. Starting in Devizes, you’ll tackle a significant climb near Roundway that will certainly test your climbing legs, gaining most of the route's 178m ascent in a focused push. Once atop Bishop's Canning Down, the terrain transitions into beautiful, undulating chalk downland tracks. The second half of the run provides a welcome change of pace as you descend to the Kennet & Avon Canal. The final stretch is a flat, rhythmic towpath run, allowing you to find a steady flow as you head back into the heart of town. It is a diverse route that rewards the initial effort with sweeping views and a smooth, paved finish.

The area surrounding Devizes and Roundway is steeped in English history, most notably as the site of the Battle of Roundway Down in 1643 during the English Civil War. As you crest the hills, you are running across ancient heritage where Parliamentarian and Royalist forces once clashed. The descent brings you to the Kennet & Avon Canal, an engineering marvel of the industrial age. You'll pass near the famous Caen Hill Locks, a flight of 29 locks that is often cited as one of the most impressive waterway feats in the UK. Running here offers a unique perspective on both the natural beauty of the North Wessex Downs and the historical infrastructure that shaped this market town.