Geo-Trips :: Walking the Union Canal between Winchburgh and Philpstoun

Union Canal

A walk from Winchburgh, Sun, 29 Sep 2013 by Anne Burgess

preceding legThis trip is part of a series.next leg

This is part of my plan to walk the full length of the Union Canal. I set off from Winchburgh and followed the canal, with occasional diversions, to Philpstoun and back.

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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NT0676 : Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway by Anne Burgess
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
The view from the bridge at Stonecouple, with a train travelling towards... more

NT0676 : Bridge at Stonecouple by Anne Burgess
Bridge at Stonecouple
This is [[[1808178]]]. Just beside this accommodation bridge was a cottage at... more

NT0676 : Looking West from Bridge 33 by Anne Burgess
Looking West from Bridge 33
The Union Canal from the accommodation bridge west of Craigton Bridge.

NT0676 : Looking East from Bridge 33 by Anne Burgess
Looking East from Bridge 33
The view of the canal from the accommodation bridge west of Craigton Bridge.

NT0776 : Canalside Greenery by Anne Burgess
Canalside Greenery
From a rough track on the south side of the canal, the canal is almost enclosed by... more

NT0776 : Canalside vegetation by Anne Burgess
Canalside vegetation
From a rough track on the south side of the canal, the canal is almost enclosed by... more

NT0776 : Winter Cereal by Anne Burgess
Winter Cereal
The green shoots of next year's crop are already well grown.

NT0776 : Lady Walk by Anne Burgess
Lady Walk
Last time I was here, this path, or at least the east end of it, was under water... more

NT0776 : Lady Walk by Anne Burgess
Lady Walk
Last time I was here, this path, or at least the east end of it, was under water... more

NT0776 : Lady Walk by Anne Burgess
Lady Walk
Last time I was here, this path, or at least the east end of it, was under water... more

NT0776 : Auldcathie Kirk by Anne Burgess
Auldcathie Kirk
There is a [[[3254918]]] by the canal bridge pointing to 'permissive path to... more

NT0876 : A Bridge and a Bench by Anne Burgess
A Bridge and a Bench
The first few miles of the Union Canal from Edinburgh are quite well supplied with... more

NT0876 : Canal Curve by Anne Burgess
Canal Curve
One of the pleasant features of a contour canal is that it curves gently as it... more

NT0875 : Boundary Stone by Anne Burgess
Boundary Stone
The inscription on the tall stone reads, 'Division Between Second and Third... more

NT0875 : Water Weed by Anne Burgess
Water Weed
This stretch of the canal suddenly seems to have a lot of floating water weed.... more

NT0875 : Reflected Umbellifers by Anne Burgess
Reflected Umbellifers
The tall seed heads of Hogweed in [[[3682417]]] reflected in the almost calm water... more

NT0875 : Land Tame and Wild by Anne Burgess
Land Tame and Wild
There's quite a contrast between the riot of vegetation on the canal bank and the... more

NT0875 : View North from Bridge 33 by Anne Burgess
View North from Bridge 33
Looking towards Philpstoun and Linlithgow. On the left is a small basin to allow... more

NT0875 : View South from Bridge 33 by Anne Burgess
View South from Bridge 33
Looking south along the canal towards Winchburgh and Broxburn.

NT0875 : Bridge 33 in Autumn by Anne Burgess
Bridge 33 in Autumn
The trees and bushes beside the Union Canal are red with rose hips and hawthorn berries.

NT0875 : Union Canal Bridge 33 by Anne Burgess
Union Canal Bridge 33
The first bridge north of Winchburgh is an accommodation bridge, giving access to... more

NT0875 : View across the Canal by Anne Burgess
View across the Canal
The far bank here is devoid of tall vegetation, allowing views across the fields... more

NT0875 : Contraption in the Canal by Anne Burgess
Contraption in the Canal
It's probably just as well that this, whatever it is, is on the opposite side of... more

NT0875 : Hips and Haws by Anne Burgess
Hips and Haws
Autumn colour beside the canal towpath.

NT0875 : Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Union Canal
Trees and bushes reflected in the calm waters near Winchburgh.

NT0875 : Arboreal Archway by Anne Burgess
Arboreal Archway
The arching branches frame a view of a not-very-inspiring field beside the canal.

NT0875 : Cottage by the Canal by Anne Burgess
Cottage by the Canal
Maybe the 'For Sale' sign applies to the cottage rather than to [[[[3682384]]]. Or... more

NT0875 : Ruin for Sale by Anne Burgess
Ruin for Sale
The old building with red pantiled roof is in a precarious state, but I'm sure it... more

NT0875 : Gate on the Towpath by Anne Burgess
Gate on the Towpath
The gate prevents four-wheeled vehicles but allows pedestrians and cyclists to... more

NT0875 : Union Canal at Winchburgh by Anne Burgess
Union Canal at Winchburgh
Looking north from the bridge at Winchburgh. Compare this leafy summer view with... more

NT0974 : Oakbank Place Rear by Anne Burgess
Oakbank Place Rear
The rows of brick cottages south of the main road in Winchburgh are some of the... more

NT0974 : Oakbank Place by Anne Burgess
Oakbank Place
The rows of brick cottages south of the main road in Winchburgh are some of the... more

NT0974 : Miners' Rows by Anne Burgess
Miners' Rows
The rows of brick cottages south of the main road in Winchburgh are some of the... more

NT0975 : Once a School by Anne Burgess
Once a School
Having been replaced by a concrete box more conveniently sited for most pupils in... more

NT0975 : Old School Building by Anne Burgess
Old School Building
Having been replaced by a concrete box more conveniently sited for most pupils in... more

NT0975 : Former School by Anne Burgess
Former School
Having been replaced by a concrete box more conveniently sited for most pupils in... more

NT0776 : Steps by the Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Steps by the Union Canal
Unusually, Bridge 35 at Craigton is provided with a proper flight of steps for... more

NT0776 : Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Union Canal
For some reason the vegetation between the towpath and canal here is not as tall... more

NT0776 : Approaching Bridge 35 by Anne Burgess
Approaching Bridge 35
The canal widens here, and the mid-Victorian six-inch map shows that there was a... more

NT0676 : Looking towards Craigton Bridge by Anne Burgess
Looking towards Craigton Bridge
Between trees, lush vegetation and floating water weed, it's not so easy to see... more

NT0676 : Stonecouple Bridge by Anne Burgess
Stonecouple Bridge
This is probably not the proper name of this bridge, not least because the now... more

NT0676 : There's a Quarry in them thar Trees by Anne Burgess
There's a Quarry in them thar Trees
The reduction in density of the trees on the opposite bank here is because there... more

NT0676 : Union Canal near Cockmuir by Anne Burgess
Union Canal near Cockmuir
Looking west along the canal.

NT0676 : Shady Waters by Anne Burgess
Shady Waters
Eastwards from here the canal runs through woodland to both north and south,... more

NT0676 : Track to Cockmuir by Anne Burgess
Track to Cockmuir
This is shown on the maps as a track. Given that Cockmuir has been long abandoned,... more

NT0676 : Rolling the Ground by Anne Burgess
Rolling the Ground
This field has been harvested and ploughed and was being rolled to produce a fine... more

NT0676 : Bridge 37 by Anne Burgess
Bridge 37
This bridge is crossed by what has only ever been a path rather than a road as far... more

NT0676 : A Tranquil Scene by Anne Burgess
A Tranquil Scene
This stretch of the canal towpath is much less busy than some; I saw only a... more

NT0676 : Near Fawnspark by Anne Burgess
Near Fawnspark
East of Fawnspark the canal leaves the sunshine and enters the deep shade of a... more

NT0576 : Union Canal at Fawnspark by Anne Burgess
Union Canal at Fawnspark
The 19th century maps show a quay on the right where the canal widens. Just beside... more

NT0576 : Into the Sunlight by Anne Burgess
Into the Sunlight
The narrowboat is about to emerge from the gloom between the Philpstoun bings into... more

NT0576 : Narrowboat between the Bings by Anne Burgess
Narrowboat between the Bings
A narrowboat passes along the Union Canal east of Philpstoun. In the background is... more

NT0576 : Philpstoun North Bing by Anne Burgess
Philpstoun North Bing
The earlier of the bings at Philpstoun Oil Works. When they ran out of space here... more

NT0576 : North Buttress by Anne Burgess
North Buttress
This is the top of the buttress opposite [[[3684254]]]. It's not easy to see now... more

NT0576 : South Buttress by Anne Burgess
South Buttress
This buttress is matched by another on the north bank of the canal. It supported... more

NT0576 : Union Canal and Bridge 39 by Anne Burgess
Union Canal and Bridge 39
The bridge was used by the Philpstoun Oil Works for transporting material across... more

NT0576 : Bridge 39 and the North Bing by Anne Burgess
Bridge 39 and the North Bing
This bridge is the one that was used by the Philpstoun Oil Works to carry material... more

NT0576 : Burs by Anne Burgess
Burs
Seed heads of Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus) showing the hooked bracts that enable... more

NT0576 : Union Canal near Philpstoun by Anne Burgess
Union Canal near Philpstoun
This is the view eastwards from the bridge at the site of Philpstoun Oil works.... more

NT0576 : Spent Shale by Anne Burgess
Spent Shale
After heating to extract the oil, the shale is the characteristic red colour seen... more

NT0576 : Site of Philpstoun Oil Works by Anne Burgess
Site of Philpstoun Oil Works
The woods at the far side of the canal are where the Philpstoun Oil Works stood.... more

NT0576 : Philpstoun Bing by Anne Burgess
Philpstoun Bing
Looking from the large bing south of the canal to the smaller bing on the north... more

NT0576 : Union Canal near Fairniehill by Anne Burgess
Union Canal near Fairniehill
The view of the canal from the top of the large shale bing west of the B8046. With... more

NT0576 : Deadly Nightshade (Atropa bella-donna) by Anne Burgess
Deadly Nightshade (Atropa bella-donna)
I had never seen Deadly Nightshade before, but recognised it instantly. There were... more

NT0576 : Gullying by Anne Burgess
Gullying
The gully has been formed by water erosion. Run-off from higher up during heavy... more

NT0576 : Fairniehill by Anne Burgess
Fairniehill
This farm is named on the Ordnance Survey 19th century six-inch maps as Easter... more

NT0576 : Effects of Erosion by Anne Burgess
Effects of Erosion
Following the removal of some of the spent shale from the bing, erosion has... more

NT0576 : Gullying by Anne Burgess
Gullying
The gully has been formed by water erosion. Run-off from higher up during heavy... more

NT0576 : Shale Shapes by Anne Burgess
Shale Shapes
The spent shale comes in a range of shades of red, and in this view you can see... more

NT0576 : Interior of the Shale Bing by Anne Burgess
Interior of the Shale Bing
The big bing is almost like a miniature mountain landscape. This is the result of... more

NT0576 : Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum) by Anne Burgess
Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum)
A few late flowers of Tutsan were among the plants that have colonised the bing.

NT0576 : Inside the Philsptoun South Bing by Anne Burgess
Inside the Philsptoun South Bing
The big bing is almost like a miniature mountain landscape. This is the result of... more

NT0576 : Inside the Shale Bing by Anne Burgess
Inside the Shale Bing
The bing must have been quarried, perhaps for road or building material. You can... more

NT0576 : Uphill Track in the Bing by Anne Burgess
Uphill Track in the Bing
This is in the extensive shale bing west of the B8046. It's a steepening straight... more

NT0676 : Cottage at Fawnspark by Anne Burgess
Cottage at Fawnspark
An attractive traditional cottage in the steading at Fawnspark. It is constructed... more

NT0676 : Seven-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) by Anne Burgess
Seven-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)
There were two ladybirds sunning themselves on a fence post beside the track. This... more

NT0676 : Fawnspark by Anne Burgess
Fawnspark
The house and older buildings are partly hidden by trees, but the large red byre... more

NT0676 : Union canal near Fawnspark by Anne Burgess
Union canal near Fawnspark
This is taken from the accommodation bridge between Cockmuir and Fawnspark,... more

NT0676 : Union Canal near Cockmuir by Anne Burgess
Union Canal near Cockmuir
This is taken from the accommodation bridge between Cockmuir and Fawnspark,... more

NT0676 : Field at Cockmuir by Anne Burgess
Field at Cockmuir
The field has been harvested, ploughed and is about to be rolled before being... more

NT0676 : Field at Cockmuir by Anne Burgess
Field at Cockmuir
The field has been harvested, ploughed and is about to be rolled before being... more

NT0676 : Cockmuir by Anne Burgess
Cockmuir
The farm house and buildings at Cockmuir are no more than an empty shell. If I... more

NT0676 : Old Window at Cockmuir by Anne Burgess
Old Window at Cockmuir
This window frame is the only one at Cockmuir to survive, perhaps because it had... more

NT0676 : Cockmuir by Anne Burgess
Cockmuir
The farm house and buildings at Cockmuir are no more than an empty shell. If I... more

NT0676 : Stones by Anne Burgess
Stones
Why did I take an image of some large round grey stones? Because, and I know it... more

NT0676 : Cockmuir Quarry by Anne Burgess
Cockmuir Quarry
The 1:25,000 map shows a large flooded quarry here, but try as I might, I could... more

NT0874 : Rear of Abercorn Place by Anne Burgess
Rear of Abercorn Place
The rows of brick cottages south of the main road in Winchburgh are some of the... more

NT0874 : St Philomena's Church by Anne Burgess
St Philomena's Church
This is the Roman Catholic church serving Winchburgh and environs. It has a web... more

NT0874 : Niddry Burn Nature Area by Anne Burgess
Niddry Burn Nature Area
Nature was certainly flourishing profusely here, mostly in the form of Willowherb... more

NT0874 : A Fine Specimen by Anne Burgess
A Fine Specimen
I was very taken by this magnificent tree which, I am told, is a Wych Elm. Thanks... more

NT0874 : Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) by Anne Burgess
Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum)
Two remaining flowers, with the empty calyxes of several more.

NT0874 : Cottages in Faucheldean by Anne Burgess
Cottages in Faucheldean
Faucheldean consists of a dozen or two houses lining the south side of the minor... more

NT0874 : Tippet Knowes by Anne Burgess
Tippet Knowes
The various small clumps of trees in the fields north of Faucheldean are labelled... more

NT0874 : Fields near Faucheldean by Anne Burgess
Fields near Faucheldean
Fields ready for their 2014 crop between Faucheldean and Winchburgh. The houses... more

NT0774 : Faucheldean Woodland Strip by Anne Burgess
Faucheldean Woodland Strip
My eye was caught by the [[[3684615]]] half-hidden among the leaves.

NT0774 : Fields near Faucheldean by Anne Burgess
Fields near Faucheldean
A textbook rural scene which belies the surrounding industrial history. Only a... more

NT0774 : Old Glendevon Farm Cottages by Anne Burgess
Old Glendevon Farm Cottages
Traditional pantiled cottages beside the road from Glendevon to Faucheldean.

NT0774 : Fields at Old Glendevon Farm by Anne Burgess
Fields at Old Glendevon Farm
Harvested fields, still waiting for ploughing.

NT0774 : A Tight Fit by Anne Burgess
A Tight Fit
A tractor eases a folded-up seed planting machine through a narrow gap beside Old... more

NT0774 : Glendevon Cottages by Anne Burgess
Glendevon Cottages
These cottages are relatively recent, probably built in the early 20th century and... more

NT0774 : Fields near Glendevon by Anne Burgess
Fields near Glendevon
The fields west of the road between Glendevon and Faucheldean have been prepared... more

NT0774 : Ford at Glendevon by Anne Burgess
Ford at Glendevon
The ford and accompanying footbridge cross the burn at Glendevon Farm. On the far... more

NT0774 : Bridge at Glendevon by Anne Burgess
Bridge at Glendevon
Not so much a bridge, really, as a wall with gaps for the burn to flow through.

NT0774 : Glendevon Pond by Anne Burgess
Glendevon Pond
The pond at Glendevon Farm is home to a large flock of Mallard.

NT0775 : It was a Flood by Anne Burgess
It was a Flood
For an explanation of this title see [[[3341507]]] and [[[3341502]]].

NT0875 : New Houses beyond the Fields by Anne Burgess
New Houses beyond the Fields
Just a year or two ago, this was a fully agricultural view. Since then, two... more

NT0775 : Landscaping by Anne Burgess
Landscaping
This is a bit of conundrum. According to the maps and satellite view, the land... more

NT0775 : Cage for What? by Anne Burgess
Cage for What?
If it is supposed to be a cage or a no-entry area, for whatever reason, it has... more

NT0775 : A Muddy Mess by Anne Burgess
A Muddy Mess
According to all the maps, and the satellite view, there is a building here, so it... more

NT0875 : Ground Marker by Anne Burgess
Ground Marker
There are several of these fixed firmly in the ground beside the track across the... more

NT0876 : East from Priestinch Bridge by Anne Burgess
East from Priestinch Bridge
It looks much more appealing under summer skies than in dead of winter. Compare... more

NT0876 : Looking west from Priestinch Bridge by Anne Burgess
Looking west from Priestinch Bridge
The canal here is shaded and gloomy. When I visited it in winter [[[3254855]]] I... more

NT0776 : Bedlam Paintball by Anne Burgess
Bedlam Paintball
I caught sight though the trees near the canal of what looked like a building... more

NT0776 : Bedlam Paintball by Anne Burgess
Bedlam Paintball
I caught sight though the trees near the canal of what looked like a building... more

NT0776 : Bedlam Paintball by Anne Burgess
Bedlam Paintball
I caught sight though the trees near the canal of what looked like a building... more

NT0776 : Bedlam Paintball by Anne Burgess
Bedlam Paintball
I caught sight though the trees near the canal of what looked like a building... more

NT0776 : Bedlam Paintball by Anne Burgess
Bedlam Paintball
I caught sight though the trees near the canal of what looked like a building... more

NT0876 : Union Canal Towpath by Anne Burgess
Union Canal Towpath
Looking westwards from the bridge at Priestinch, through the part of the canal... more

NT0776 : Stone Bench by Anne Burgess
Stone Bench
Seats and benches are quite scarce along this stretch of the canal.

NT0776 : In the Shade by Anne Burgess
In the Shade
On the right is [[[3683596]]], and the canal is in deep shade.

NT0776 : Rolling the Field by Anne Burgess
Rolling the Field
As well as rolling, this operator was using the forks to pick up some large... more

NT0776 : Detail of Bridge 35 by Anne Burgess
Detail of Bridge 35
Most of the Union Canal Bridges are very plain, but for some reason Craigton... more

NT0776 : Detail of Bridge 35 by Anne Burgess
Detail of Bridge 35
As well as [[[3684433]]], and unlike most if not all of the canal bridges,... more

All images © Anne Burgess and available under a Creative Commons licence external link.

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