Continuing on from Falkirk and through Polmont we moved out into countryside again. Coaches have toilets, free WiFi and power outlets, plus snacks and drinks for purchase on board. Click on a boat base below for more information and possible routes from that base. To do so we had to leave the canal path we were on and go under the canal via a small road tunnel to then join the main canal on its north bank it is signposted but you can miss it if you are not looking out for it. Formal closure came in 1965[2] and throughout the 1970s and 1980s the canal was left in a deteriorated state. Canoeing from Glasgow to Edinburgh is a popular route for those looking to explore Scotland's beautiful countryside. OFFERSClick Here For ExclusiveSpecial Offer Discounts. Once you have finished sightseeing in Edinburgh, head back towards Falkirk and descend the Wheel to join the Forth and Clyde Canal, which is another of the best-known canals in Scotland. There are 1444+ hotels available in Edinburgh. The Falkirk Wheel is 115 foot high - the equivalent of eight double-decker buses. This ticket will be administered by Scottish Canals through their website and office. Explore the remarkable Union Canal, from the iconic Falkirk Wheel to the historic heart of Scotland's capital city. Thanks How it works is remarkably simple - two gondolas are full of water, one at upper level, one at lower level, and when the upper gondola lowers boats to the basin below, the lower gondola simultaneously rises. Upon leaving Falkirk Wheel you cruise along the Union Canal, one of the most famous of Scotlands canals, and over the magnificent Almond Aqueduct, which is 420 feet long and carries the canal 76 feet above the River Almond. Stroll along Forth and Clyde Canal. This culminated with the millennium project to reinstate the link between the Union Canal to the Forth and Clyde Canal with a boat lift called the Falkirk Wheel. However, after a campaign was started by groups and local communities to improve the canal, work was carried out to restore the network during the 1990s. The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway was authorised by Act of Parliament on 4 July 1838. . However, with the closure of Port Hamilton and Port Hopetoun (the main basins in Edinburgh) in 1921, commercial traffic steadily declined. Sustrans Route 754 which we had followed from Glasgow then joined Route 75 just after Wester Hailes for the final urban run into the end of the canal at Lochrin Basin, Edinburgh Quay just to the south of Edinburgh Castle. There are several magnificent museums and galleries in Glasgow to enjoy on your boating holiday in Scotland, including the School of Art, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Peoples Palace plenty to keep you going! This site uses cookies. Then a sharp left turn takes you straight into the Falkirk Wheel Staircase Locks before a mile of new canal leads to the original Union Canal, a relaxing route now lock free the full 31 miles to Edinburgh. One of Europes leading bus companies, Flixbus serves 2000+ destinations in 29 countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands and Croatia and into Scandinavia and eastern Europe, as well as some US cities. The canal was acquired by the E&GR in 1849. The Forth and Clyde Canal entered the Firth of Forth at Grangemouth, and a considerable harbour had been built up there. 7 days a week 0800 - 1800. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Find all the transport options for your trip from Glasgow to Edinburgh right here. ', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' The waterway features the Falkirk Wheel Boat Lift. Be sure to see the stunning Edinburgh Castle, walk and cycle along the Royal Mile and visit the Scotch Whisky Experience to try the water of life! The canoe trail bisects Scotland, drawing a line straight from Glasgow to Edinburgh across the island's narrow waist. Uddingston Fed, watered, revived and with the new inner tube in place we left the Forth & Clyde Canal and headed uphill to join the Union Canal (but still following Route 754). The journey begins at the Falkirk Wheel, situated halfway between Edinburgh and Glasgow and the Forth and Clyde canal which is one of the most stunning backdrops to any canal in the UK. Turning off at Stockingfield Junction, the short Glasgow Arm, overlooking the River Kelvin and the city below, takes you into the very heart of Glasgow. Find out about boat trips, activity providers, holidays, things to do and lots more! There is a short tunnel just above the Falkirk Wheel where the boats are controlled by traffic lights. Find out all about navigable rivers and canals near you, We need your help to protect and restore the waterways. Rome2rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. It takes approximately 52 min to drive from Glasgow to Edinburgh. In 1933, just over a hundred years since its opening, the Union Canal was officially closed to commercial traffic. Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $64 for one-way flights and $240 for round trip, for the period specified. What are the travel restrictions in Edinburgh? Edinburgh & Glasgow Union Canal Also known as the Union Canal, the Edinburgh & Glasgow Union Canal runs from the Forth & Clyde Canal at Falkirk to a terminus in Edinburgh. Give it a try yourself and see what you think! Also, if you are looking for a cycle repair service in South Lanarkshire then I am happy to recommend The Bike Barn in Strathaven. . Includes an illustrated account of a journey on the West Highland Line, and information about the London to Fort William 'Deerstalker' sleeper train. I'm not a cyclist myself, but I do know friends who've done this journey. Explore the remarkable Union Canal, from the iconic Falkirk Wheel to the historic heart of Scotland's capital city. It is 67 km from Glasgow to Edinburgh. I presumed, incorrectly, that Union Canal was the name of the total canal; in fact, trip covers TWO canals, Union (36+ mi.) The Union and Forth & Clyde Canals, Route 754 is an entirely traffic-free cycle path from Edinburgh to Glasgow. This will take you through splendid scenery and villages such as Auchinstarry the site of a Roman fort, and Kirkintilloch, which dates back to the 13th century. ; of which sum 198,650 was subscribed before going to parliament. The canal operated between a junction with the Forth and Clyde Canal at Falkirk and Port Hopetoun basin in the centre of Edinburgh. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Save this link to stay updated on COVID-19 restrictions, Nationwide control measures in placeObserve COVID-19 safety rules, If you need help, visit the national COVID-19 website or call the COVID-19 Helpline 111. The canal above the Wheel heads into Roughcastle Tunnel under the railway and part of the Roman Antonine Wall, built in 142AD, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the 1960s, the abandoned flight of 11 locks at Falkirk, which connected the Union to the Forth and Clyde, was filled in. Email info@slmcycletransport.com On arrival at Crinan, having welcomed you to the boat, we might suggest a woodland walk to blow . Cycling from Glasgow to Edinburgh by Canal Tougher by canal than by road? Falkirk 100 years later, in 1966, the station was renamed Edinburgh. The average bus ticket from Glasgow to Edinburgh costs around 1 for departures 7 days prior. Flixbus is a good choice for the budget-conscious traveller; purchase tickets in advance for the cheapest fares (note: there is no option to reserve a seat in advance). The shortest route is via M8, a 53-mile journey that passes through Bathgate and Whitburn. Its importance as a part of Scotland's national heritage was recognised increasingly from the early 19th century onwards, and various restoration programmes have been carried out over the past century and a half. Grangemouth was only three miles from the E&G's Polmont to Grahamston line, and a branch railway was an obvious move. Edinburgh and Glasgow from Falkirk Canal Duration: 7 Nights TOTAL LOCKS: 14 CRUISING TIME PER DAY: 4 - 8 HOURS (44 HOURS IN TOTAL) Maps & Guides for this route: Map will be provided on arrival This dramatic boating holiday offers the opportunity to cruise the full width of Scotland, and into the heart of both of its major cities. In 1849 the canal company was vested in the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, which then amalgamated with the North British Railway in 1865. Kelvingrove Art Gallery | Scottish Exhibition Centre, 136 Miles | 14 Locks | 1 Week Cruise | 6 hours per day. Edinburgh And Glasgow, Duration: 7 Nights The NRS holds the main series of minutes of the Committee of Subscribers, 1813 - 1922 (NRS reference BR . Scottish Citylink offers the cheapest tickets at $1.19, while the fastest connection takes 1h 2m. The canal here enters the county of Linlithgow, and passes within a mile and a half [2.4km] on the south side of its capital, to Craighton House, where its course is more southerly and circuitous, to the River Almond, near Clifton House, where it crosses into Edinburghshire, by means of an aqueduct. One of our favourite places to explore near Glasgow is Burns Country and the Ayrshire coast, which runs to the south west of the city. Just down the water is Ratho, home to Edinburgh Canal Centre, and then the capital city itself. Re-Union Canal Boats operate a social enterprise building and maintaining trip boats. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. To find train times for your route, please choose your area from the dropdowns below. face. To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Glasgow to Edinburgh, as early as possible. To help ensure you have a safe and enjoyable paddle on the Glasgow to Edinburgh Canoe Trail, we ask you to respect the canals as you would do any body of water and to familiarise yourself with the following safety advice. The route includes canal transfer between the canals using the 115 foot high Falkirk Wheel. The Company are therefore directed to pay the same on all Goods which may be imported by this Navigation. There's a lot to keep you paddling on your final stretch. 2. Length: 15.5 miles, 24.8 km . Hike up Arthurs Seat and take in the views of the cityscape, explore the famed Edinburgh Castle at night for a different (spookier) experience, pick up a bespoke kilt, and sample some of the finest whiskies in the world along with the haggis Scotland is well-known for. Canal in Scotland, running from Falkirk to Edinburgh, St Kentigern's Church, Edinburgh (Union Canal), "RCAHMS - Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Union_Canal_(Scotland)&oldid=1120148315, Scheduled Ancient Monuments in West Lothian, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 5 November 2022, at 12:06. William Forbes, owner of Callendar House, refused to let the canal pass through his grounds so Falkirk Tunnel (690yds/631m long), a difficult tunnel hewn through rock, had to be built. This will be a flat charge of 25 for any holiday over three nights. The company of proprietors consisted, at the time the first act was obtained, of three hundred and eighty-four persons, amongst whom were the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir William Forbes, Sir John Hay, and Sir John Marjoribanks, who were incorporated by the name of "The Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal Company," with power to raise 240,500, in four thousand eight hundred and ten shares, of 50 each, and a further sum of 50,000, either among themselves, by the admission of new subscribers, or on mortgage of the undertaking. What is the national COVID-19 helpline number in Edinburgh? A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport. In the early morning of Wednesday the 12th of August 2020, slow-moving thunderstorms caused torrential rain over much of eastern Scotland, including in the Falkirk area. The waterway features the Falkirk Wheel Boat Lift. You can then download the PDF timetable and print if needed. Views across the valley with the River Kelvin and the Campsie Fells beyond add to the beauty and drama of the landscape along this broad, straight section of canal which passes north of the Dullatur Marsh, a nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. We settled into a steady pace in the open countryside although the constant rain meant that we were catching quite a lot of grit from the path on the bikes and our clothes. They are also bound to indemnify the Edinburgh Road Trustees, the Bathgate, and another Trust, in any Diminution of Tolls arising from these Turnpike Roads, which may be affected by their Canal.[1].