Our
base is situated on the Forth and Clyde Canal immediately below
the spectacular Falkirk Wheel. Passage through the wheel allows
access to 31 miles of lock free cruising on the Union Canal
to Edinburgh. Traveling west on the Forth and Clyde Canal will
bring you to Glasgow and Bowling on the Clyde.
Please
note: The
Forth and Clyde – being a sea to sea canal – is
wider than the average English canal. Between our base at Falkirk
and Glasgow there are four locks and three road bridges, all
of which are currently operated by British Waterways staff.
Between Glasgow and the Clyde at Bowling there are a further
18 locks and a number of pedestrian bridges, also operated by
BW staff.The Union Canal is a contour canal and has no locks
at all and no bridges that have to be opened to let you pass.The
Falkirk Wheel, as you would imagine, is operated by British
Waterways staff, as are the two locks above it and the one below.So
if your holiday enjoyment centres on opening locks and bridges,
these are not the canals for you. Having said that, the BW crew
are only too happy to have your assistance and muscle power
to help with opening locks and a very helpful in meeting your
needs in terms of moving throughout the canal system.
However,
if you allow a lack of opportunity for physical exertion to
put you off coming to these two canals, which pass through some
incredibly eye-catching and relaxing countryside, you will miss
out on the Falkirk Wheel, the drop lock at Dalmuir which is
the first of its kind in Britain and takes you down under a
main road and a unique canal-side fish and chip shop. Not to
mention entering the heart of both Edinburgh and Glasgow by
boat.
To make some of your movement arrangements you will, on occasion,
require the use of a mobile phone.