At its western end the Union Canal links with the Forth & Clyde Canal by virtue of the Falkirk Wheel (see Walk 3192). Ratho is located close to both the M8 and the M9 motorways. The end point at the Bridge Inn is perfect for a coffee stop or bar meal. At times it runs along the towpath of the Union Canal, a wonderful wildlife corridor and recreational space. The John Muir Way is a coast to coast walking and cycling route, running 134 miles across central Scotland from Helensburgh to Dunbar, birthplace of John Muir. The World Heritage Site of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh is close to the end of the route. The route includes canal transfer between the canals using the 115 foot high Falkirk Wheel. I have never done that part of the canal before, so I was wondering: which direction would be better to take starting from there? Cruising the Scottish Canals. After Ratho, the canal reaches the Slateford Aqueduct which carries it high above the Waters of Leith just outside Edinburgh and now goes through increasingly built up areas reaching the Lochrin Basin , a short walk from Princes Street and Edinburgh Castle. The Union Canal is a fantastic place to relax and unwind with a peaceful cruise ideal for sampling the delights of our Afternoon Tea. Sat, Oct 19, 2019, 10:00 AM: The description of the event, October Canal walk from Lochrin Basin to Ratho (With the Option to Walk Back), is available only to members. Access is available to Walkingworld subscribers or you can buy the walk individually for £1.95 once you are logged in. Union Canal: Ratho to Lochrin Basin. The magnificent Almond Aqueduct takes you … Walk 7034 invites you to take the train and bus from Edinburgh to Ratho Village and stroll back eastwards on the pleasant, mostly tree-lined towpath of the last eight miles of the canal. The canal left the village and passed close to the junction of the M8 and the M9, ... this ends at Edinburgh Castle's esplanade. Start at Saltaire statio… The Union Canal is currently closed to transiting between The Falkirk Wheel and Edinburgh following a breach at Muiravonside in August 2020 and various improvement projects along the canal.We look forward to welcoming you back to Scotland’s inland waterways soon! Find flats to rent in Canal Walk, Edinburgh EH3 with the UK's leading online property market resource. The route follows National Cycle Network Routes 7, 75 and 754 so is well signed throughout. Scotland - Central Scotland - Midlothian - Countryside. Departures to suit you. The final section takes you from Ratho in Edinburgh. At its western end the Union Canal links with the Forth & Clyde Canal by virtue of the Falkirk Wheel (see Walk 3192). Terrain: Flat traffic-free path along the Union Canal; mix of tarmac, gritted tarmac, cobblestones and rougher trail. Providing a Unique Edinburgh Venue Aboard a Floating Canal Boat and volunteering opportunities in Edinburgh and Falkirk . Double the distance with an out and back, stopping for coffee or lunch at the Bridge Inn halfway. Walk length: 3 miles Connecting the cities of Liverpool and Leeds, this canal is 127 miles in length, but you don’t have to walk all of it! The shopping, business and café complex is located at the end of the Union Canal off the A702/Fountainbridge road between Ponton Street and Gilmore Park. Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Flowers, Good for Kids, Industrial Archaeology, Mostly Flat, Play Area, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland. Walk on to reach the entrance to … Are you sure you wish to delete this comment? View Cookie Policy, Towpath Code of Conduct (PDF, 398kb), Start in Scotland’s attractive capital city, The heady experience of crossing aqueducts. This is the complete route from Glasgow to Edinburgh along the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal. The Wheel is the world’s first rotating boat lift, cost £17million and is the height of eight double decker buses, 115 feet wide and 100 feet long. A short one way, one and a half hour cruise is available from Ratho to Almondell Aquaduct between 10.30am and 11.30am. Its population at the 2011 census was 1,634 based on the 2010 definition of the locality. The route is well signposted and a walkway map is available from the Visitor Centre priced £1.00 or you can buy your detailed map now using the Paypal button below. The City of Edinburgh Council Natural Heritage Service operates on the Water of Leith which was completed in 2002 courtesy of Millennium Project funding. In places like Ratho and Linlithgow the canal is a focus for tourism, with canal trips, canal museums and even floating restaurants on offer, but apart from these two spots – one about eight miles from Edinburgh and the other at the end of today's walk – the Union Canal is utterly lifeless. Access: The nearest mainline railway station to the start point at the Edinburgh Quay complex is Haymarket, Edinburgh. The Forth and Clyde canal pathway runs between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde and is a 106-kilometre-long (66 mi) footpath and cycleway that runs across Scotland, between Bowling, west of Glasgow, and Lochrin Basin (Edinburgh Quay) in Edinburgh.The path runs on the towpaths of the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals and is entirely off road. Copyright ©1999, ©2021 Walkingworld Ltd. All rights reserved | Credits. The first few miles take you through farmland before entering the suburbs of Edinburgh. Join or log in above if you are already a member. Sign up to receive our newsletter which will keep you up-to-date with everything that’s happening along the Scottish Canal network. Charity Reg No: SCO35342 Company Reg No: 265866 Winner: Best Social Enterprise, Falkirk Herald Business Awards 2015 Shortlisted: Best Social Enterprise, Falkirk Herald Business Awards 2017 In the afternoons we leave at 3.00pm, returning between 4.30pm and 5.30pm. Start: Edinburgh Quay in Fountainbridge. Walk 7034 invites you to take the train and bus from Edinburgh to Ratho Village and stroll back eastwards on the pleasant, mostly tree-lined towpath of the last eight miles of the canal. ... “The Bridge Inn at Ratho near Edinburgh airport is a swish refurbished hotel. Walking along the Union Canal is a great way to spend your day, starting out at Fountainbridge and walking the route towards Ratho Village. 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 Bridge Inn is situated on the banks of The Union Canal in the conservation village of Ratho, 7 miles to the west of Edinburgh. It is the second largest aqueduct in Scotland at … Ratho is obviously fond of its canal, and there were plenty of canalside information boards and sculptures to look at. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Union Canal. If you are driving park in one of many car parks in the capital city. Return: Via the same route back; or leave a car at Ratho for your return; or cycle on to Broxburn to access Uphall Train Station or to Linlithgow for the town’s train station. Edinburgh's leafy western suburbs are quickly reached on the Union Canal. The unique Falkirk Wheel boat lift bridges the 35 metre vertical gap between the two canals. To reach the start from Haymarket follow the map to your left. You need to log in as a member of Walkingworld to access the details for this walk. The shopping, business and café complex is located at the end of the Union Canal off the A702/Fountainbridge road between Ponton Street and Gilmore Park. Cruise out of Edinburgh over the Slateford Aqueduct, through the Wester Hailes Linear Park to Ratho (home of Edinburgh Canal Centre). Afternoon Tea was invented by the Duchess of Bedford in 1840, by which time the Union Canal was already a busy route for haulage and commuters. However, we made the trip to the canal cruise from The Bridge Inn at Ratho and came away warmed by the experience. There is a network of paths around Ratho and the surrounding area, and you can also walk or cycle along the canal towpath. Click here for more details and booking. So why not combine the two? (walk estimate 2-3 hours return). The canal soon opens out at Wilkie's Basin, with a mock castle on the island in the middle of the winding hole used by a cruising company in nearby Ratho. We leave Ratho in the morning between 10.30am and 12 noon and return at approximately 2.30pm. Start: Edinburgh Quay in Fountainbridge. See www.thetrainline.com. The journey begins at the Falkirk Wheel, situated half way between Edinburgh and Glasgow and one of the most stunning backdrops to any canal in the UK. Extend the bike ride past Ratho to historic Linlithgow for a train, Coffee, snacks and meals at the Bridge Inn, Ratho. There’s a popular three-mile walk from Saltaire station to Bingley ‘Five Rise’ – five locks built in a staircase formation, known as the wonder of the waterways. The A8 and A71 run parallel to the north and the south of the village. This is a peaceful route with lovely countryside views. Towards Falkirk or back towards Edinburgh? The Union Canal, full name the Edinburgh and Glasgow 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, which opened in 1842, diminished its value as a transport medium. It follows the towpath of these two major canals and is traffic free for … Union Canal Walk, Ratho Ratho is a village in the outskirts west of Edinburgh, Scotland. The Union and Forth & Clyde Canals, Route 754 is an entirely traffic-free cycle path from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Along the route, you’ll pass interesting sights on the canal … Here you can explore some fascinating slices of industrial heritage which makes for an exceptionally rewarding walk. At its western end the Union Canal links with the Forth & Clyde Canal by virtue of the Falkirk Wheel (see Walk 3192). The final section of the canal leads into Edinburgh and ends at Lochrin Basin, near Haymarket. I am planning to go for a canal walk starting from Ratho. Finish: The Bridge Inn, Ratho. See a variety of apartments to let in Canal Walk, Edinburgh EH3 from top letting agents. You soon come to Slateford Aqueduct which carries the canal over the Water of Leith. These are two of the major roads running into Edinburgh. Being the only the pub in the village, The Bridge Inn is a community pub in the heart of the village. Terrain Walk 7034 invites you to take the train and bus from Edinburgh to Ratho Village and stroll back eastwards on the pleasant, mostly tree-lined towpath of the last eight miles of the canal. Returning to woodland a path leaves the towpath on the left leading up to the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena - there is a cafe and outdoor equipment shop onsite if a quick bouldering session doesn't appeal. 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