A short circular walk starting from the Falkirk Wheel and linking the two canals joined by the modern boatlift - includes a short section of tunnel. A good walk to combine with a visit to the Falkirk Wheel visitor centre and/or a boat ride.
Good surfaced paths, short tunnel (can be wet), towpath, roads with pavement.
Bus (3) from Falkirk.
Falkirk Wheel, near Falkirk.
There is free car parking for the Falkirk Wheel just north of the Wheel and west of Falkirk, or there are regular bus services from the centre of Falkirk. From the car park follow the signs for the Wheel and cross the swing bridge (closed every evening) to reach the visitor centre where there is a display about the boat lift - an amazing piece of engineering - as well as a good cafe.
To follow the walk continue up the path on the left of the building signed for Union Canal. From here the Falkirk Wheel looks like a giant Meccano toy, although it is capable of lifting the weight of 100 elephants and uses only the power of boiling one kettle of water to enable boats to reach the two canals. Branch left at a fork and continue following the signs for the Union Canal and passing a stone tiger sculpture.
Soon you reach the level of the top of the boat lift with its hoops and views to the Ochils. Continue by the canal to reach the new Roughcastle Tunnel. The tunnel is open from 8.30am to 7.30pm with an earlier closing between November and March and sometimes the tunnel may be closed altogether during the annual shutdown in Jan/Feb when maintenance takes place. The path through the tunnel is lit and has railings. On the other side are two new locks. At the top of these the canal continues at the same level all the way to Edinburgh for 50km.
Continue along the towpath, passing a cottage, keep on the same side of the canal. Continue over a bridge where a road goes under the canal and soon after turn sharp left at a wider point in the canal to head down away from the towpath. At the bottom turn right to pass under the railway, following the sign for the Forth & Clyde Canal. Cross the road and follow the pavement downhill. As the canal nears you can take the path just to the left that runs parallel to the road, passing the modern war memorial.
Just to the right of the Union Inn cross the bridge overlooking the lock and then turn left to follow the towpath along the Forth & Clyde Canal. This area is due to be redeveloped with new housing, sculptures and link paths and cycleways planned. The canal was originally built by migrant Irish and Highland labourers using picks, shovels, wheelbarrows and early gunpowder. Burke and Hare, the infamous Edinburgh bodysnatchers worked as navvies on part of the Union Canal.
Follow the towpath and eventually the metal structure of the Falkirk Wheel comes into view. Hire boats are usually moored on this side of the swing bridge. Canal boat holidays can be booked at a building next to the visitor centre, where there is also a cafe and a great children's play area on the far side of the canal basin. Continue past the swing bridge and follow the signs to the right to return to the car park or bus stop.
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