The Glasgow And Return From Falkirk.php Canal Boating Cruising Route
Glasgow is one of Europe's most exciting destinations, combining the energy and sophistication of a great international city with some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery.
The marina is adjacent to the magnificent Falkirk Wheel visitor centre.
The Falkirk Wheel is one of Scotland's top tourist destinations and attracts visitors from all across the World.
The Scottish Lowland Canals are quite different from the canals typical of England and Wales.
The Forth & Clyde Canal is much wider than the average English canal. The Union Canal is a contour canal and has no locks at all nor bridges that have to be opened. British Waterways staff currently operate all of the locks and bridges and boaters are not allowed to operate the locks themselves, although help is happily accepted. Between Falkirk and Glasgow there are 4 locks and 3 road bridges, with a further 18 locks and a number of pedestrian bridges between Glasgow and the Clyde at Bowling.
Both the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals were closed in the early 1960’s and it was not until lottery funding was obtained in 1999 that restoration works rejoined the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh by canal. At a quarter of the cost of the overall £84.5 million project, the Falkirk Wheel is the most significant structure by far, but only one link in the scheme involving rebuilding bridges, clearing blockages and cutting new stretches of canal.
Cruising West:
If you are going west on the Forth and Clyde Canal, British Waterways staff will see you through
Bonnybridge road lift bridge and locks 17 to 20. You therefore need to contact British Waterways
(0845 676 6000) about a week before leaving home to let them know your plans. The locks are well spaced out so boaters can enjoy some of the finest views on offer with sizable hills, moorland and woodland providing a very quiet backdrop to savour . You are then on the summit reach with no more locks between here and Glasgow, but there are two more bridges.
At lock 20 let the British Waterways staff know where you intend to stop for the night, what time you plan to leave the following morning and how far you intend to go that day.
At Kirkintilloch it is an ideal place to stock up on provisions before the final section on the run to Glasgow, the canal passes directly through the centre of town which gives easy access to all its amenities.
To go into Glasgow you need to take the left fork when the canal splits at Stockingfield Junction. Down the Glasgow branch you can either moor at British Waterways headquarters at
Applecross Street or if you are going to arrive before 5.00pm you can go down to Spiers Wharf.
However, you need to have phoned 0845 676 6000 at least an hour in advance to get the Bascule Bridge opened for you at Applecross Street.
There is no shortage of ways to spend time in Glasgow, once Europe’s city of culture, a large amount of money has been spent redeveloping the city centre and old brownfield sites. There are numerous museums, parks, golf courses, shopping centres and restaurants in and around Glasgow and much of the city centre activities are within walking distance of moorings at Spiers Wharf.