Geo-Trips :: Walking the Union Canal between Ratho and Lin's Mill
Union Canal
A walk from Ratho, Wed, 15 Feb 2012 by Anne Burgess
preceding leg | This trip is part of a series. | next leg |
I set off west along the canal from Ratho, and at Lin's Mill turned back. On the return trip I made a couple of detours.
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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'Pride of the Union'
A narrowboat lies moored on the Union Canal east of the bridge at Ratho. The... more
Union Canal
Looking west from the road bridge along the Union Canal. As it is still winter,... more
Union Canal
Looking east along the canal from the road bridge at Ratho. The nearer narrowboat... more
Derelict Buildings
This is hardly an appealing view from the canal towpath, and right on the edge of... more
Walled Garden
A glimpse through the ivy-covered trees along the canal towpath. The wall encloses... more
Information Seat
This combined seat and information board stands beside the Union Canal towpath,... more
Union Canal
The towpath is popular with walkers and cyclists. These cyclists are about to have... more
Canal Obstruction
At several points along the Union Canal there are fallen trees in the water,... more
Canal Obstruction
This is the same fallen tree as in [[[2805305]]]. A patch of debris and scum has... more
A Really Useful Sign
This sign on the bank above the canal towpath has faded so much that it is all but... more
Edinburgh Indoor Climbing Arena
Just a few metres west of [[[2805321]]] is a short flight of steps leading into... more
Towpath Obstruction
This is the largest and probably the most inconvenient of several trees which have... more
Fallen Tree by the Towpath
Evidently trees falling on the towpath is not a new phenomenon. This one fell some... more
Reflected Tree
A tree on the far side of the canal, reflected among the ripples.
Cyclists on the Towpath
Two cyclists making good use of the towpath by the Union Canal.
Wilkie's Basin
The canal widens here, and at the back of the island are what look like the... more
M8 from the Union Canal
There is a complicated series of road junctions here. This is the view from the... more
Aqueduct
This is the aqueduct which carries the Union Canal over the B7030. I have no idea... more
Union Canal
Just west of the aqueduct over the B7030. The water's edge is lined with twiggy... more
Canal Weir
This must presumably be what controls the height of the water surface; if it gets... more
Union Canal
A straight reach of the canal near Clifton Hall.
Bridge over the Union Canal
Sparkling sunshine on the water beyond the gloom of the bridge which carries the... more
Canal Bridge at Clifton
The bridge carries the road from Clifton Hall to Clifton Mains.
Union Canal near Clifton
The canal curves gently at this point, just west of the overbridge at Clifton.
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)
One of many clumps of snowdrops naturalised along the bank beside the towpath.
Clifton Hall Bridge
It may or may not be officially called Clifton Hall Bridge; at any event it... more
Canal Obstruction
An ivy-wreathed fallen tree has blocked the canal right across, causing a drift of... more
Reflected Bridge
This bridge carries one of the drives to Clifton Hall across the Union Canal.... more
Union Canal
There have been quite a few fallen trees along the banks here, but most of them... more
River Almond
Looking downstream from Lin's Mill Aqueduct, the shadow of which lies across the... more
Lin's Mill Aqueduct
The aqueduct carries the Union Canal across the glen of the River Almond, 75 feet... more
House near Lin's Grave
The house can be seen from the canal towpath in winter, when there are no leaves... more
Poultry Farm
An extensive area of sheds for rearing chickens near Clifton Mains.
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)
There are swathes of snowdrops naturalised alongside the drive leading to Clifton... more
Winter Cereals near Clifton Mains
The fields here are large and wide, and the roadside hedges neatly clipped, apart... more
Poultry Farm
Some of the sheds for rearing chickens, viewed across the ivy-covered roadside dyke.
Clifton Mains
The farm house is all but concealed from the road by its farm buildings, but there... more
Chicken Farm
The east ends of some of the sheds at the poultry farm at Clifton Mains.
Ploughed Field
The field is just east of the chicken farm near Clifton Mains. The Union Canal... more
Cottages at Clifton Mains
A row of neat cottages beside the road at the entrance to Clifton Mains Farm. It... more
Union Canal near Clifton Mains
Looking east along the canal from the road overbridge between Clifton Hall and... more
M8 Motorway
Just east of the junction of the M8 with the M9. The sign indicating the eastbound... more
Beside the M8 Motorway
As well as the foreground, the motorway, and the farm building on the right, all... more
Crop by the Canal
A field of what looks like winter rape, with the Union Canal embankment beyond.... more
Union Canal Aqueduct
This aqueduct carries the canal across Cliftonhall Road, which, confusingly,... more
Wilkie's Basin
The Union Canal widens here to form Wilkie's basin, with a small island behind... more
Fake Castle at Wilkie's Basin
This object is a plastic model of a castle, and it stands on the island which... more
Walking the Towpath
Most of the towpath users I saw were cycling rather than walking, but this couple... more
Footpath round the Field
The waymarker on the canal bank suggested that this was an alternative route back... more
Hazel Catkins
Hazel (Corylus avellana) is one of the first trees to flower in early spring, its... more
M8 to M9 Motorway Spur
The motorway is well screened from view by trees and bushes, but there are one or... more
EICA
Just off the path, EICA is the acronym for 'Edinburgh Indoor Climbing Arena', and... more
Water Feature at EICA
Intrigued by the sign in [[[2812921]]] warning about deep water on the arid summit... more
Ratho Quarry
The climbing arena does not by any means fill the whole of Ratho Quarry. The east... more
M9 to M8 Motorway Spur
Viewed from the path behind the Edinburgh Indoor Climbing Arena, which follows the... more
Motorway Cutting
Well, the north side of the cutting; I am standing on top of the south side of it,... more
Waterlogged Walk
It was possible - just - to pick one's way dryshod round the widest part of the... more
Platt Hill
The hill isn't named as such on the maps, but the track here is waymarked at both... more
Agricultural Litter
A motley collection of agricultural equipment, which looks as if it has been... more
Abandoned Works
This is just labelled 'Works' on the map, and there is no indication what sort of... more
Near Ratho
Looking from the path along the north side of Platt Hill towards buildings on the... more
Church Hall
At least, I think that's what it is. It stands behind and above the church.
Ratho Parish Kirk
The kirk was dedicated to St Mary in the year 1243, though it almost certainly... more
Bridge Inn
The Bridge Inn is a popular restaurant, and offers canal cruises with dinner. The... more
The Outskirts of Ratho
Newish building extending conspicuously along the ridge east of Ratho. The crop in... more
Ransfield Farm
Looking across the fields of winter barley towards the farm buildings.
All images © Anne Burgess and available under a Creative Commons licence .