Geo-Trips :: Walking the Union Canal between Broxburn and Winchburgh
Union Canal
A walk from Winchburgh, Sun, 17 Feb 2013 by Anne Burgess
preceding leg | This trip is part of a series. | next leg |
As part of walking the whole towpath, I left the car at Winchburgh and followed the canal to Broxburn, then returned by country roads. Afterwards I made a short diversion to Uphall on the way back to Edinburgh.
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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Humbie Reservoir
It's named on the maps as Humbie Reservoir, though it also seems to be known as... more
Carmelhill Reservoir
Marked on the map as Humbie Reservoir, but also known as Carmelhill Reservoir; not... more
Auldcathie Landfill Site
This area just looks like hummocky waste ground until you get a bit closer, and... more
Waste Land near Auldcathie
Though the maps suggest this area was fields, it is some time since this corner at... more
Former Magazine
I am reliably informed that what is shown as a triangle of woodland, and marked... more
Former Magazine
I am reliably informed that what is shown as a triangle of woodland, and marked... more
Housing Development
I understand that this, if the planners have their way, will be the first of many... more
Flood or Pond?
When does a flood become a pond? This is just beside where the Auldcathie track... more
Pond or Flood?
When does a flood become a pond? This is in a corner of a field just beside where... more
Tally-Ho Hotel
The pub stands immediately opposite the road from Broxburn.
Winchburgh War Memorial
The figure of a drummer boy is a change from the usual cross, obelisk of statue of... more
Main Street
Formerly the main A9 trunk road between Stirling and Edinburgh, Main Street is now... more
Gargoyle
An elaborate cast iron gargoyle adorns the top of the rone pipe on the former... more
Footbridge at Winchburgh
The footbridge is relatively modern, compared to the road bridge beside which it... more
Union Canal
Looking towards Linlithgow from the bridge at Winchburgh. For the summer version... more
Canal Bridge at Winchburgh
This bridge carries the former A9, now the B9080, over the Union Canal at Winchburgh.
Union Canal at Winchburgh
Looking north-ish towards the bridge that carries the B9080 (former A9) over the canal.
Canal Bridges
The nearer bridge is a footbridge linking the parts of Winchburgh on either side... more
Canal Bridge
One of the original bridges over the Union Canal, this one carrying the B8020 to Broxburn.
Bridge 19-40
The green portacabin seems to be the headquarters of Bridge 19-40, a conservation... more
Niddry Burn
The Niddry Burn passes underneath the Union Canal, and is seen here from the... more
Union Canal near Niddry Castle
Looking north-west towards the outskirts of Winchburgh.
Canal Basin and Faucheldean Bing
I'm not sure if it's a genuine basin, but the Union Canal widens just north of the... more
Union Canal
This stretch of the canal, north of the bridge near Niddry Castle, is showing... more
Railway Bridge at Niddry
Three cyclists cross the modest-looking bridge that carries the minor road across... more
Getting out into the Country
Two horse riders going one way pass three cyclists going the other way, two on the... more
Riders on the Towpath
One on horseback, and one on a bicycle. There's plenty of room for all. The bridge... more
Walking the Dogs
These three dogs out enjoying the Union Canal towpath were some of the... more
Union Canal
A bend in the canal, necessary to maintain the level. In the background is a... more
Union Canal near Niddry
Looking across the canal from the towpath to the open field beyond. The buildings... more
Union canal and Greendykes Bing
The huge bing dominates the landscape around Broxburn. It is spent shale dumped... more
Niddry Farm
Looking over the Union Canal and fields towards Niddry Farm. On the left is the... more
Union Canal
Looking north-east, with the lareg bing at Niddry forming the skyline in the distance.
Using the Towpath
As the day wore on, and the nearer I got to Broxburn, the more people I... more
Niddry Farm
The smartly whitewashed farm house at Niddry Farm, with the edge of the... more
Union Canal and Greendykes Bing
Walkers on the canal towpath are dwarfed by the Greendykes shale bing.
Waste Land
I am rather puzzled to know why this piece of land looks like waste ground. None... more
Bridge Abutments
Scrutiny of the historic maps reveals that these abutments are the remnants of a... more
Union canal and Greendykes Bing
The bridge in this view pre-dates the bing. It was built to allow access across... more
Canal Reflections
Trees on the north bank of the Union Canal reflected in millpond-calm waters. The... more
Industrial Waste
The far bank of the Union Canal is occupied by waste, possibly from the former... more
Site of Former Albyn Oil Works
The sheds on the north bank of the Union Canal are on the site of the former Albyn... more
Union Canal at Albyn Oil Works
It is actually just the site of the former Albyn Shale Oil Works that is visible... more
Slipway at Stewartfield
The original Union Canal incorporated no slipways, but this one was added when the... more
Stewartfield Slipway
The original Union Canal incorporated no slipways, but this one was added when the... more
Union Canal at Stewartfield
The original Union Canal incorporated no slipways, but this one was added when the... more
Lunar Landscape?
One of the other contributors to this square has described this as a lunar... more
Outlandish Scenery
One of the other contributors to this square has described this as a lunar... more
Looking East from the Greendykes Road Bridge
Or, to be more accurate, east-north-east, along the Union Canal. In the distance... more
Greendykes Road Bridge
There was a bridge here when the Union Canal was originally built, but it has been... more
Greendykes Road
Until the 1950s or so, Greendykes Road ran between north-south orientated streets... more
Bridge Place
This is actually signposted as Greendykes Road Car Park, though the map suggests... more
West Kirk
This was originally a Free Kirk, and it is described by Colin McWilliam in 'The... more
Behind Schedule
The sign on the gate of this former school site announces that work is due on site... more
Victorian Semis
A pair of solid stone Victorian semidetached houses (or should I call them villas,... more
Buchan Memorial Chapel
This tiny chapel was built in memory of the twelfth Earl of Buchan, who died in... more
Wrought Iron Grille
My eye was caught by the wrought iron grilles on the windows of this house, now a... more
Holygate Place
A cul-de-sac of two-storey houses just off West Main Street.
Port Buchan
The Union Canal widens here to provide space for loading and unloading barges.... more
A889 Bridge
The bridge is obviously a moern one, replacing the original bridge over the canal... more
Houses at Holygate
Holygate is the old name for the area through which the Union Canal passes.... more
Pyothall Court
These modern houses in Pyothall Court back on to the bank of the Union Canal.
Pyothall Court
These modern houses in Pyothall Court back on to the bank of the Union Canal.
Union Canal at Broxburn
To the right is the housing estate off Greendykes Road, and the Greendykes Bing is... more
Inside a Shale Bing
Apart from birches, which seem to thrive, vegetation is slow to colonise this... more
Post-industrial Landscape
Low winter sun brings out the red colour of the spent shale inside the bing near... more
Albyn Industrial Estate Gate
The industrial estate is where the Albyn Shale Oil Works once operated. Being... more
Gap in the Fence
Those wishing to disport themselves on motor cycles in the bing are clearly not in... more
Albyn Place
The houses here are some of those built for those working at the Albyn Shale Oil... more
Albyn Place
The houses in Albyn Place were built by the company to house workers at the Albyn... more
Greendykes Bing
Looking across the fields to the western slopes of one of West Lothian's largest... more
North Greendykes
North Greendykes stands on top of a low ridge above Broxburn, with an open view to... more
Cottages at North Greendykes
This pair of cottages stands beside the B8020 north of Broxburn. Curiously, the... more
Barton Chemicals
Industry in a rural setting -a throwback, perhaps, to the heyday of the oil shale... more
Wet Field Entrance
Like so many others after recent wet weather, the entrance to this field, even... more
A View Through the Trees
Looking south-ish from the minor road near North Greendykes over a fine vista... more
Greendykes Bing
The steep western slope of the Greendykes Bing covers the continuation of the... more
Looking towards Faucheldean Bing
The red shale exposed on the far side of this rough ground is part of Faucheldean... more
Greendykes Bing
I had been advised by some local residents not to walk into the Greendykes Bing at... more
Greendykes Bing
The west side of the bing is crossed by several tracks made by motorcyclists. I... more
Motor Cyclist on Greendykes Bing (1)
I was fortunate enough to be able to watch an experienced motor cyclist ride his... more
Motor Cyclist on Greendykes Bing (2)
I was fortunate enough to be able to watch an experienced motor cyclist ride his... more
Motor Cyclist on Greendykes Bing (3)
I was fortunate enough to be able to watch an experienced motor cyclist ride his... more
Motor Cyclist on Greendykes Bing (4)
I was fortunate enough to be able to watch an experienced motor cyclist ride his... more
Corecut Limited
The company, whose premises are well protected by a stout security fence,... more
Red Shale
This is an especially bright red face on the edge of the Greendykes Bing. I gather... more
Greendykes Bing
The north end of the large Greendykes Bing is also marked by a steep motorcycling... more
Union Canal
Looking south from the bridge carrying the B8020 over the canal at Winchburgh. The... more
Niddry Road
Modern houses on the east side of Niddry Road, not, fortunately, in a boring... more
Craigton Place
This is the southernmost of a series of rows of cottages built by Hopetoun Estate... more
Minor Road near Faucheldean
A tree-lined rural road, being well used for recreational purposes on a fine... more
Near Faucheldean
The minor road, lined with mature trees, drops gently towards Faucheldean. The red... more
Looking towards Glendevon
For the avoidance of doubt, this is Glendevon in the parish of Kirkliston, West... more
Near Hillend
A stubble field, as yet unploughed, near Hillend. The farm buildings at Hillend... more
A Tumbledown Dyke
From the state of the dyke it's easy to see that this field isn't used for... more
Covered Reservoir
The circular structure is marked on the map as a covered reservoir. It's well... more
Hillend Farm
There must be dozens of farms named Hillend, but in this case it's easy to see... more
Dargai Place
There are several terraces like this in Dargai Place. They are all made up of an... more
St Nicholas Parish Church
Parts of the building, including the tower, date back to the 12th century, but it... more
Strathbrock Parish Kirk
Strathbrock is the old name for the parish of Uphall. The kirk is dedicated to St... more
Fields near East Bangour
The land rises gently from Uphall village towards Law at top right. The 1:50,000... more
Wet Field
Just off the track north of the west end of Uphall. The 1:50,000 map shows the... more
Near Upper Uphall
Fields rise to a gentle ridge above the west end of Uphall village. Binny Craig,... more
Outskirts of Uphall
There has been some development of housing here on the fringe of Uphall, close to... more
Uphall Community Education Centre
Presumably a relatively new purpose-built facility.
All images © Anne Burgess and available under a Creative Commons licence .