Geo-Trips :: Walking the Union Canal between Linlithgow and Falkirk
Union Canal
A walk from Linlithgow, Mon, 26 Aug 2013 by Anne Burgess
preceding leg | This trip is part of a series. | next leg |
As part of my ongoing plan to walk the full length of the Union Canal, I set off from Linlithgow and made suitably slow progress, punctuated by several short diversions off the towpath to investigate this and that, and by taking lots of photographs, until I reached the far end of the tunnel at Falkirk. Then I returned to Linlithgow, retrieved my car, and took some more walks in Beecraigs Country Park. Total walking distance was about 20 kilometres.
Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
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Linlithgow Station
The station has two car parks, but I gather that I was lucky to find a space, as... more
Canal Centre and Narrowboats
The Canal Centre is on the opposite side of the canal from the towpath, and there... more
Strawberry Bank
Strawberry Bank is the road that diverges from the canal just west of the bridge.
Ross Doocot
This doocot was built by the Barons Ross of Halkhead. It dates from the 16th... more
'Victoria' at the Canal Centre
This boat seems to feature in quite a few images here.
Canalside Cottages
These cottages on Strawberry Bank have back doors on to the canal towpath, and the... more
Union Canal Reflections
A tranquil scene that could be in deepest England, but is actually just west of... more
Elwinside Cottage
The Georgian semi-detached sandstone house forms quite a contrast with its... more
Union Canal
The canal widens just west of the bridge that leads to Friar's Brae, presumably to... more
Bridge 44
Also known as Cadgers' Brae Bridge, apparently. Compare with [[[2923563]]], when... more
Under Repair
This is the rear of a terrace of council housing just off Preston Crescent. The... more
Play Area
A small adventure playground beside Preston Road, seen from the canal towpath. The... more
Union Canal at Preston Road Bridge
This stretch of the canal seems to be especially thickly covered in water weed.
Union Canal
You would never know from this view that the canal is still in the burgh of... more
Linlithgow Academy
A real 1960-ish concrete block type school building. Let us hope that the inside... more
Union Canal
The rural appearance of the canal here belies its route through the outskirts of... more
Linlithgow Academy
A real 1960-ish concrete block type school building. Let us hope that the inside... more
Union Canal at Linlithgow
From the slightly elevated vantage point of a pedestrian bridge that gives access... more
Union Canal near Preston House
This is the view from the same footbridge as [[[3646942]]] looking the other way.... more
Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum)
One of the numerous species of Hypericum to be found in this part of the world. I... more
Bridge on Union Canal
This seems to be an accommodation bridge, provided to allow a farmer to access... more
Not a Bridge
This structure seems to exist only to carry a pipe across the canal. The... more
Level Regulator
The white railing surrounds a spillway. I am not sure if this is the correct term... more
Canal Towpath
The towpath runs along the north side of the Union Canal, and has become popular... more
Canal Towpath
The towpath, though a bit muddy in some places, is very popular with cyclists;... more
Narrowboat on the Union Canal
As this narrowboat passed me, I noted with some amusement that it was hired from a... more
Xcite Linlithgow
Xcite seems to be the rather fanciful mis-spelling applied various leisure centres... more
Cyclists by the Union Canal
The towpath, though a bit muddy in some places, is very popular with cyclists;... more
Problem!
I watched this narrowboat slow down, then drift across the canal, then start up... more
Problem solved!
See [[[3647450]]]. The narrowboat, with propeller clear of weed, overtakes me and... more
Bindweed (Calystegia sp)
Probably Hedge Bindweed (C sepium), but might be one of several varieties or... more
View from the Canal
Not until I uploaded this did I see that there is a disused quarry mapped in the... more
Kettlestoun Bridge
This bridge carries the access to Kettlestounhills across the canal from the A706.... more
Bridge 47
The track across this bridge leads to Kettlestounhills and Williamcraigs before... more
Bridal Car
I was slightly bemused to come across a stretch limo lurking by the bridge beside... more
Union Canal
Looking west from Bridge 47.
Union Canal
Looking east from Bridge 47.
Cattle by the Canal
The field goes right down to the water's edge her - I wonder how often a cow has... more
Canalside Field
The edge of the canal here looks very unstable indeed. Kettlestounhills is hidden... more
Former Stables at Woodcockdale
The stables housed some of the horses that used to tow the canal barges. They are... more
Cattle near Craigs
This is the view from the steps to the upper level of . The Craigs Chalet Park is... more
Old Stables at Woodcockdale
Now enjoying a new lease of life as the premises of the 1st West Lothian Sea... more
Union Canal near Woodcockdale
Looking east towards Linlithgow from near Woodcockdale.
Weed-clearing Machinery
If only I had arrived half an hour earlier, I could have geographed this machine... more
Union Canal at Woodcockdale
The bridge at Woodcockdale carries the A706 over the canal.
Union Canal
A peaceful leafy reach of the canal, looking west from under the A706 overbridge.
Canal Basin
The canal widens here to allow boats to stop or to pass or overtake one another.
Union Canal
Grey skies reflected in the glassy surface of the Union Canal west of Woodcockdale.
Water Mint (Mentha aquatica)
This is reasonably easy to identify because it is the only species of mint to have... more
Approaching the Avon Aqueduct
This is the third of the three major aqueducts on the Union Canal, and it carries... more
Avon Aqueduct
The third of the aqueducts on the Union Canal, carrying the canal over the deep... more
Tree Tops
The dense tree cover along the river means that you don't get much of a view of... more
Weir on the River Avon
This is just about the only view you get of the river from the aqueduct. It is... more
Narrowboat on the Avon Aqueduct
This was quite a stroke of luck - a brightly coloured narrowboat on the Avon... more
Narrowboat on the Union Canal
The narrowboat is just reaching the west end of the Avon Aqueduct on its way from... more
Narrowboat Cruise
This narrowboat was cruising eastwards, with a running commentary from the boatman... more
Union Canal
This stretch of the canal is in a tunnel of green, where the trees on both sides... more
Beech Woods by the Union Canal
On the south bank of the canal, the beeches sweep down right to the water's edge.
Bridge 49
This bridge carries the B825 across the canal.
Bridge 49 from the West
The B825 crosses the canal by this bridge.
Bridge 49 Café Bar and Bistro
The [[[3338888]]] is now up and running, and seems to be popular, if the number of... more
Muiravonside Basin
The narrow entrance conceals the size of this basin off the Union Canal. The boat... more
Acorns
Acorns developing on an oak twig just beside the towpath.
Cyclist on the Towpath
The bridge carries Almond Road over the canal.
Almond Road Bridge
The map shows buildings beside the bridge, but they are concealed by the vegetation.
Former Railway Bridge
The masonry is the abutment of the bridge, now demolished, that carried the... more
Site of Railway Bridge
The masonry is the abutments of the bridge, now demolished, that carried the... more
Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes)
A common plant of shady crevices in masonry, growing in the former railway abutment.
Union Canal
Looking west from near the site of the Slamannan Junction Railway bridge.
Brambles
There are lots of ripening brambles all along the canal bank. In Scotland, the... more
Canalside Picnic Site
The picnic site is on the opposite side of the canal from the towpath, beside Bridge 51.
Bridge 51
The original bridge here, according to the mid-Victorian Ordnance Survey map, was... more
Union Canal from Bridge 51
Looking west along the tree-lined canal.
Muiravonside Parish Kirk
The present kirk was built in 1806, replacing an earlier building on the same... more
Muiravonside Parish Kirk
The original kirk was founded in 1648. This building dates from 1806, and was... more
War Memorial
The memorial stands close to the entrance to Muiravonside cemetery.
Towpath and Spillway
Curiously, this seems to be the only place on the canal where the spillway is not... more
Spillway and Towpath
Curiously, this seems to be the only place on the canal where the spillway is not... more
Kirk Bridge
The bridge seems to lead into a field, but the mid-Victorian map shows that it... more
Underneath Kirk Bridge
The bridge seems to lead into a field, but the mid-Victorian map shows that it... more
Almond or Haining Castle
The L-plan tower is 4 storeys high, and may date from the 15th century, but most... more
Signposted Paths
To the right is the canal towpath towards Linlithgow; straight ahead is to... more
Union Canal from Kirk Bridge
Looking north-west towards Polmont. The distant house on the left is at Almondhall Farm.
Union Canal from Kirk Bridge
Looking south-east towards Linlithgow. The trees on the left conceal the large... more
Former Industry Park
Just a few years ago this area was busy with industrial activity, but the only... more
Castle of Haining
See [[[3663892]]] and follow the links for the progress of this 16th century tower... more
Union Canal and Towpath
The towpath is popular for walking and cycling, though this stretch was much... more
Field beside the Canal
The field seems to have been left in grass. The railway runs along the embankment... more
Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Just for a change, this is a seed head rather than a flower.
Race Track
I assume the meandering track on the slope beyond the field is some sort of race... more
New Canal Bridge
This bridge carries a relatively new road, the A801, across the canal. The... more
Canal Basin
The canal has been widened here at some time; it is not shown as a basin on the... more
Preparing for a Cast
An angler prepares to fish in the Union Canal basin near Almondhall Farm.
Bridge 52a at Almondhall Farm
This is not one of the original bridges over the canal, having been built to take... more
Canal Obstruction
The canal is obstructed by a clump of vegetation here near Bethankie. It looks as... more
Bethankie Bridge
This bridge takes a minor road underneath the canal near Bethankie. Just beyond... more
Steps down from the Towpath
This new flight of steps provides access from the towpath to Nicolton Road where... more
Nicolton
Rusty-red corrugated iron sheds at Nicolton, with some of the cooling towers and... more
Peaceful Grazing
A trio of horses grazes quitly, oblivious both to the railway running alongside... more
Cyclist on the Towpath
A cyclist, head down with determination, tackles the towpath near Bethankie.
Water Mint (Mentha aquatica)
Easily recognisable because of its globular flower clusters at the end of stems,... more
Rose Hips
A bunch of beautiful fat shiny rose hips alongside the canal. I can't identify... more
Towpath near Battock
Approaching Polmont, the towpath is getting busier again with walkers and... more
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
This is such a common and widespread plant that I am quite surprised to read that... more
Spear Mint (Mentha spicata)
I could be mistaken because there so many numerous species of mint, but M spicata... more
Waiting for the next Job
Small dumper trucks parked beside the canal towpath at Battock.
Bridge at Battock
The bridge carries farm tracks across the canal.
Fields at Battock
The corner of this field is just in square.
Train near Battock
The train doesn't seem to have a destination board, and I will need to rely on... more
Electricity Pylon
Carrying power lines across the Union Canal, and with a fine crop of Creeping... more
Canal West of Battock
In the lower right corner is the edge of the towpath at the Battock bridge.
Union Canal and Towpath
Two cyclists making use of the well-maintained towpath near Polmont.
Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum)
There are large swathes of Great Willowherb along the banks of the Union Canal.
Willowherb (Epilobium sp)
I have to admit to not knowing exactly which species of Willowherb this is, except... more
First Scotrail Train at Polmont
The train is on the main Glasgow to Edinburgh line, travelling east.
Marsh Woundwort (Stachys palustris)
A common plant of damp places, growing on the canal bank.
Canal Bridge at Polmont
This is Bridge 54, and it carries the B810 over the Union Canal.
Bridge and Footbridge
Bridge 54 is evidently too narrow to be safe for pedestrians, so a parallel... more
Canal Spillway
Another of the spillways that fill me with admiration. To get every one, all along... more
Footbridge over the Canal
A pedestrian bridge has been provided here to save pedestrians a detour of several... more
Houses in Stevenson Avenue
As I took these images I heard that song about 'Little Boxes' going through my... more
Rear of Stevenson Avenue
These houses have a grand view of the main Edinburgh to Glasgow railway line... more
At the bend in the canal
This is one of the sharper bends in the canal. The nearest house has a splendid... more
Caterpillar on Meadow Cranesbill
A flower of Meadow Cranesbill (Geranium pratense) with a green caterpillar,... more
Canal and Towpath
I think this was probably the busiest stretch of towpath I've been on so far - it... more
Canalside Building
This large grey building is the Grange Community Centre. See... more
B805 Overbridge
Obviously this is not one of the original canal bridges; it's of modern... more
Cruising Narrowboat
This is in fact the same narrowboat as in [[[3661706]]], on its return journey... more
Narrowboats at Redding
The canal is just about wide enough for two boats to pass beside the pontoon. The... more
Union Canal at Redding
Looking east along the canal from the overbridge. HM Young Offenders' Institution... more
Bridge at Redding
The bridge carries Redding Road over the Union Canal.
Redding Industrial Estate
For a short distance here the canal emerges from its quiet leafy course and passes... more
Old Swivel Bridge
It took me a few moments to realise that the ironwork on the far side of the canal... more
Canal Basin at Redding
Looking east towards the widening of the canal opposite what is now the industrial... more
Swivel Bridge
The curved edge of the towpath was what alerted me to the existence of this... more
Swans on the Canal
The parents and four cygnets came over to take a look at me, but lost interest... more
Houses by the Canal
These houses are in the imaginatively named Canalside Drive, on the south side of... more
Devils' Bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis)
There were quite a few of these late summer flowers along the towpath.
A Peaceful Scene
Just a few hundred metres from the industrial estate, young offenders'... more
New Housing Estate
This is from the exact same spot as [[[3669769]]], but a few degrees to the right.... more
Beneath Bridge 57
This is an original canal bridge and it carries a track between Pirleyhill and... more
Bridge 57
Looking at the bridge from the west.
Union Canal
A quiet stretch of the canal between Polmont and Falkirk.
Bridge to Nowhere
This original bridge now just links two fields. The 1860s map shows a road... more
Train passing Hallglen
The train has emerged from the tunnel, which is a couple of kilometres to the... more
Rough Pasture
The field between the canal and the railway is not under cultivation, but is in... more
Beside Bridge 59
Bridge 59 is anotheraccommodation bridge, built to give the farmer access to his... more
Looking East from Bridge 59
Looking east, there are open fields to the south, and a moble phone mast to remind... more
A Distant View of Bridge 59
West of Bridge 59, the canal bank is tree-lined on both sides.
Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum)
There is almost a hedge of seeding stalks of Great Willowherb along the towpath... more
Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum)
Detail of some seed pods against the light.
Reinforced Towpath
It looks as if the towpath here has been reinforced with setts, presumably to... more
B8028 Overbridge
As the canal here approaches the cutting and tunnel, the overbridges have to be... more
Last Chance Fork
If you are heading west, this is your last chance to leave the towpath before the tunnel.
Highest Bridge
This bridge probably has the highest span of any overbridge on the canal,... more
Sandstone and Shale
One advantage of cuttings is that you get to see what the rock looks like! The two... more
The Tunnel
Both canal and railway resort to tunnels to get through the ridge of rock south of... more
Emerging From the Tunnel
In a few metres I will emerge from the tunnel into the light, and this was the... more
Union Canal
The tunnel is behind me, and this is the start of the final couple of miles to the... more
Falkirk High Station
From the canal, it's a well-signposted hop, skip and jump under the road and into... more
Falkirk High Station
The approaching train is westbound for Glasgow. I've crossed the footbridge from... more
Near Parkley
Ripening crops sweep down the brae towards the Haugh Burn.
Mountjoy
The fields are interrupted by outcrops of volcanic rocks, characterised by scrubby... more
Crags above Parkley
Presumably the crag from which Parkley Craigs takes its name. One of the many... more
Cattle near Riccarton
The land here drops quite steeply into a glacial channel before rising again to... more
Beecraigs Country Park
The road here is a signposted walk which visitors are invited to use to 'see the... more
Viewing Gallery
You don't have to go up and over the gallery to access the country park, but it's... more
Island in Beecraigs Loch
The island is mirrored in the motionless water, but the disadvantage of that was... more
Beecraigs Loch
The loch was originally named Balvormie Reservoir. It was built between 1914 and... more
Mint
I think it is some sort of mint. It looks like the illustration of Pennyroyal in... more
Landing Stage in Beecraigs Loch
The boats are all tied up for the night, but you can still enjoy the last of the... more
Spillway at Beecraigs Loch
The loch was created by damming the Riccarton Burn, and the spillway channels... more
Outflow from Beecraigs Loch
The channel takes water from the spillway tidily down to the rump of the Riccarton... more
Outflow Channel
This is the reciprocal view of [[[3671716]]], looking up the channel towards the... more
Track towards Beecraigs Hill
The foreground here, up to the point where the track disappears is in square, but... more
Beecraigs Hill
Beecraigs Hill is a modest affair, one of several such that make up the Riccarton... more
All images © Anne Burgess and available under a Creative Commons licence .