free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
After mooching around Falkirk over lunch, late-afternoon gloom seemed to have descended on the town - so much for a sunny day. But the weather wasn't going to matter where we were going - into Scotland's longest canal tunnel!
A handy car park at Falkirk High station is a stone's throw from the Union Canal, and the entrance to Falkirk Tunnel was just to the left.
Inside the tunnel was pretty wet, especially the first section near the entrance. The dampness however created spectacular flowstones and stalactites in places along the tunnel, although hard to photograph due to the low light.
Lovely reflections in the drier, still middle section:
630 interesting metres later we emerged at the other end in a deep cutting:
Next up is the Laughin' Greetin' bridge - the faces on respective sides of the arch indicative of the relative difficulties of building beyond the bridge in either direction: flat to Edinburgh, but with a load of locks and the long tunnel towards Glasgow!
A path led back up the embankment on the left, heading back towards the tunnel exit but at a higher level. Paths continued across scrubby grassland and eventually bent left over the (underground) canal, with views south along the water course:
Some lovely views across to the Ochils followed, before paths and pavements led back to the canal and the start.
Something a little different from your average walk!
Morning: Falkirk Wheel:
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=58238