Union Canal (Scotland) The Union Canal is a canal in Scotland, running from Falkirk to Edinburgh, constructed to bring minerals, especially coal, to the capital. It was opened in 1822 and was initially successful, but the construction of railways, particularly the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, opened in 1842, diminished its value as a transport medium. It fell into slow commercial decline and became disused in the 1930s. It shares in the revival of interest in canals generally at the present day, and received a boost when the Millennium Link was completed in 2000, reconnecting it to the Forth and Clyde Canal. It is now in popular use for leisure purposes. The eastern terminus at Edinburgh Quay Avon Aqueduct Map of the Union Canal The Union Canal, with todays length of 31 miles (50 km), was built as a contour canal, following the 240 feet (73 m) contour throughout its length, thereby avoiding the delay due to locks, at the expense of some prodigious civil engineering structures.
Wooden barge during excavation. The Union Canal Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland. The Union Canal is one of two Lowland canals in Scotland. After four years' construction it opened in 1822 and was known as the Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal. The name reflected the role of the canal, linking Edinburgh with the Forth and Clyde Canal at Falkirk and so providing a through route between Scotland's two major cities. The Union Canal as built was 31½ miles long and was Scotland's only contour canal. Known locally at the time as the "mathematical river", the canal followed the 240ft (73m) contour throughout its length, so making locks unnecessary. Together with the 62 fixed bridges this helped speed up the flow of traffic along the canal.
As well as providing Scotland's first inter-city link the canal was intended to ensure the easy transport of coal into Edinburgh from Scotland's coalfields, and lime to help the development of the capital. The original estimates for building the canal had been a suspiciously precise £240,500. Many barriers had to be overcome. Overview of Union Canal. The Union Canal runs from the Lochrin Basin, in the Tollcross area of Edinburgh and links with the Forth and Clyde Canal at Falkirk, close to the Roman Antonine Wall. Opened as the Edinburgh & Glasgow Union Canal in 1822, it was principally the work of Hugh Baird (1770 - 1827), with some assistance from Thomas Telford (1757 - 1834).
Alternative plans for the route, proposed by engineers Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850) and John Rennie (1761 - 1821), had been argued over for several years. This is a contour canal, which means that it follows the natural topography, remarkably retaining the same height throughout its 31-mile (51-km) length and therefore not requiring locks. Features of the canal include the only canal tunnel in Scotland, near Falkirk, which is 640m (2070 feet) long and the Avon Aqueduct, which is the longest and tallest aqueduct in Scotland (247m / 810 feet long and 26m / 86 feet high). The Union Canal links Edinburgh, Ratho, Broxburn, Winchburgh, Linlithgow and Falkirk.
Skippers guide a4.pdf. Scottish Canals: Union Canal, Falkirk to Edinburgh, Scotland. Union Canal. Around Edinburgh - Union Canal. Millennium Link History - Union Canal. The Union Canal - Cheap Coal for the Capital John Rennie, the Scottish canal engineer, put forward an early proposal for a canal from Leith to Saltcoats in Ayrshire. The main driving force behind the establishment of the Edinburgh & Glasgow Union Canal was not to link the two cities, but to provide access to the coalfields of West Central Scotland.
Prior to the canal's opening, coal was brought into the capital by sea from as far away as Newcastle, incurring significant duty. A Main Route or a Branch Line? In the 1790s, there were several meetings of prominent citizens to promote a canal. Robert Whitworth and John Ainslie, and thereafter John Rennie, were commissioned to devise a route, running from central Glasgow to Edinburgh. Baird's scheme aroused many objections, ranging from suggestions that he had a personal interest as a coalfield owner, to the fact that the route began "under the windows of one gentleman's house" and traversed "shrubberies and pleasure grounds innumerable". The Union Canal, Edinburgh.
Forth & Clyde and Union Canal towpaths. The Forth & Clyde canal was designed by the eminent civil engineer John Smeaton and completed in 1790. Crossing the Scottish Lowlands at the narrowest part, the canal runs for 56km and provides a route for sea-going vessels between the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth via a short stretch of the River Carron near Grangemouth in the east. Closed in 1963 to avoid the need to construct a motorway crossing, the canal became derelict. 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. Described as a contour canal – following a 73 metre contour through cuttings and tunnels rather than making use of lock flights to change elevation – the only locks on the canal connecting it to the Forth & Clyde Canal at Falkirk were filled in and built over.
The route follows towpaths and provides good walking conditions throughout. Union Canal: Falkirk to Linlithgow. 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. This sections gives a pleasant, level walk, the highlights being heading through a long tunnel and over a giant aquaduct. Terrain Variable grade surfaced towpath Public Transport Rail stations at Falkirk High (for start) and Lithlithgow (end) Start Falkirk High rail station.
Users' reports As well as reading our description of each walking route, you can read about the experiences of others users on this walk and others.There are 2 user reports for this walk - click to read. Write your own report - there's £90 to win at Webtogs each month User RatingLog in to vote Bog Factor (key) Union Canal Walk Route From Edinburgh to West Lothian. • Arthur’s Seat Distance: 5.5km; duration: 1.5 hoursNo visit to Scotland’s capital is complete without an attempt at scaling the imposing, iconic Arthur’s Seat. It may look like a challenge from the bottom, but the climb is straightforward, depending on what route you take.
From the summit there are fabulous views of the city, Firth of Forth and Fife. • Aberlady Bay and Gullane PointDistance: 9km; duration: 2.5-3.5 hoursThis is a fine circular walk through a beautiful Local Nature Reserve. The route takes in a fine sandy beach before continuing to the picturesque village of Gullane and returning inland along a section of the John Muir Way.
Note that dogs are not permitted on the nature reserve. • North Berwick LawDistance: 6.75km; duration: 2-2.5 hoursThis walk starts in the car park at the base of North Berwick Law, but for a longer walk it is possible to start at the High Street in North Berwick before continuing up Law Road and Haddington Road to the car park. Edinburgh to Linlithgow (Union Canal) – Edinburgh Cycling Routes – The Central Belt – Cycle-Scotland.com – The home of Cycling in Scotland. Route Information Difficulty: Leisure/Medium Day Rides (15-40 Miles) Surface/Terrain: Traffic-free surfaced path Distance (Miles): 23.4 miles Edinburgh to Linlithgow along the Union Canal towpath. This route is virtually traffic-free from start to finish as it clings to the side of the canal and offers very easy and leisurely cycling. The route out of Edinburgh is shared with the NCN75 and the Union Canal route forks off after 4 miles at Kingsknowe.
Download GPX file Elevation Profile Loading... Route Gallery Click a thumbnail to view a larger version. Local Businesses Along The Route Edinburgh For local businesses please refer to Edinburgh town page. Linlithgow For local businesses please refer to Linlithgow town page. Falkirk Local History Society. In 1792, the same year as the Forth and Clyde was completed, the scarcity of coal in Edinburgh led the city fathers to look towards the rich Lanarkshire coalfields for future supplies.
The advantages of a waterway linking the city to the west was obvious and several possible routes were surveyed between 1793 and 1797 by distinguished engineers including John Rennie and Robert Whitworth. Involvement in the French wars delayed the project and when planning was resumed in 1813 a further plan by Hugh Baird was commissioned. This envisaged a line linking Edinburgh and Falkirk, where the new canal would join with the Great Canal as the Forth and Clyde was known.
Work began in Edinburgh in March 1818 and continued, following the contours of the land right through to Falkirk, a total distance of 31 miles. Where valleys lay in its path great aqueducts were built such as the twelve mighty arches of the Avon aqueduct over eighty feet above the river and stretching for 900 feet. Ian Scott 2005.
Linlithgow Canal Centre. Home | Bridge Inn, Ratho. Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals. Page 220 In addition to these, is a Toll of One Penny for every customary Ton of Goods carried upwards or downwards through the Township of Tinsley, to be applied to the making and repairing of the Road between Tinsley and Sheffield. There is also another Toll of One Penny for every customary Ton of Twenty-five Hundred Weight, which shall be brought to, or carried from, any Wharf at or near Tinsley, to be carried up or down the said River. The year following the passing of the above-recited act, the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of the borough of Doncaster, obtained an act, entitled, 'An Act for improving the Navigation of the River Dun, from a place called Holmstile, in the township of Doncaster, in the county of York, to Wilsick House, in the township of Barmby Dun, in the said county,' by which they are appointed undertakers of this part of the navigation. page 221 It was accordingly divided into one hundred and fifty shares, being at the rate of £115 per share on the amount expended.
Edinburgh to Falkirk on the Union canal | Britain's best bike rides | Travel. Castle of Edinburgh. Photograph: Alamy Distance 35 miles (56km)Classification Easy-moderateStart Edinburgh Quay, EH3Finish Falkirk Wheel visitor centre, FK1Duration 6-7 hoursRoute NCN route 754Map Forth and Clyde Map and AA Guide Scotland, OS Explorer 349, 350, OS Landranger 65, 66 Route notes Scotland's Union canal stretches from Edinburgh to Falkirk, tracing contours around the hills it passes. Terrain and gradients Canal towpath all the way. How to get there/away Edinburgh Waverley station is on the East Coast mainline. What to see The canal towpath is a wildlife corridor and you can see swans, herons and kingfishers over the water. Near Falkirk, Callendar House, a baronial mansion in the style of a French Renaissance chateau, has costumed staff recreating Georgian daily life, with a working period kitchen, and printers' and clockmakers' workshops, as well as galleries and displays.
Watering holes. Re-union Canal Boats.