Union Canal: Ratho to Lochrin Basin

Summary

Built between 1818 and 1822, the Union canal was designed by Hugh Baird and was originally used for transporting coal before competition from the railways caused it to close to commercial use in the 1930s. The final section of the canal leads into Edinburgh and ends at Lochrin Basin, near Haymarket.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Variable grade surfaced towpath

Getting there

Start

Ratho.

Public Transport

Ratho is linked by bus to Edinburgh; Lochrin Basin is close to Haymarket station.

Start Grid Ref

NT139709

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 12.75km / 8 miles
Time: 3 - 3.5 hours
Ascent: 7m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (6)

Stage 1

The canal can be picked up in Ratho by heading down the ramp from the north side of the bridge. Heading east along the north bank of the canal, the route runs through open farmland for a further few kilometres, all the time accompanied by the roar of the busy motorway, before the canal crosses the city bypass road via a new concrete aqueduct at Hermiston and enters the suburbs of Edinburgh alongside impressive modern office blocks and industrial units.

Stage 2

There are numerous road and footbridges crossing the canal and towpath for the next few kilometres, almost all of which were built in the early 2000s in order to permit the flow of traffic over a most impressive water feature. Leaving Wester Hailes the canal runs through the green suburb of Kingsknowe before reaching Slateford Aqueduct which carries the canal over the Water of Leith and Inglis Green Road. Built in 1822 by Hugh Baird in consultation with Thomas Telford, it is the second largest aqueduct in Scotland at 180 metres long and 18 metres tall.

Stage 3

Leaving the aqueduct the canal passes a series of boathouses including the beautiful Edinburgh Canal Society boat house at Harrison Park who offer boat hire and trips on the canal. Forth Canoe Club, founded in 1934 and the oldest surviving canoe club in Scotland, are also located on this stretch, and the infrastructure for their whitewater slalom course can be seen alongside their base in the Old St Andrew's Boathouse.

Stage 4

The canal now passes seemingly unnoticed behind the tall tenements of Merchiston and Viewforth before passing the Leamington Lift Bridge and arriving at Lochrin Basin, filled with brightly-painted residential narrowboats nestling incongruously beneath the modern waterside apartments and restaurants.

Stage 5

Lochrin basin is the end of the canal. From the basin it is a short walk to the railway station at Haymarket or into the city centre for a wide selection of onward transport options. To reach Haymarket pass between the buildings and then straight across at the roundabout along Gardner's Crescent, then taking a left turn when Morrison Street is reached.

Route: Phil Turner

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