Geo-Trips :: Walking the Union Canal between Muirhead and Broxburn

Union Canal

A walk from Broxburn, Tue, 19 Feb 2013 by Anne Burgess

preceding legThis trip is part of a series.next leg

From Broxburn I followed the canal eastwards for a few miles towards Ratho. Afterwards I investigated a few nearby squares by car.

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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NT0972 : East Mains Industrial Estate by Anne Burgess
East Mains Industrial Estate
This is a vast industrial and business park on the eastern outskirts of Broxburn.... more

NT0972 : Cherrypickers by Anne Burgess
Cherrypickers
Loxam offers cherrypickers for hire. Business must be good, because there are... more

NT0872 : Broxburn Parish Kirk by Anne Burgess
Broxburn Parish Kirk
Originally a United Presbyterian kirk, this was built in 1880 to a design by... more

NT0872 : Empty Buildings in East Main Street by Anne Burgess
Empty Buildings in East Main Street
A modern red brick development on the north side of East Main Street awaits a tenant.

NT0872 : West Main Street by Anne Burgess
West Main Street
The white van is turning into Greendykes Road. This is the point at which East... more

NT0872 : East Main Street by Anne Burgess
East Main Street
Mostly traditional houses, interspersed with occasional modern shop units, line... more

NT0772 : New Holygate by Anne Burgess
New Holygate
The original Holygate was a farm on the north side of what is now West Main... more

NT0772 : New Holygate by Anne Burgess
New Holygate
The original Holygate was a farm on the north side of what is now West Main... more

NT0772 : Union Canal and A889 Bridge by Anne Burgess
Union Canal and A889 Bridge
The bridge replaced the original canal bridge, which peoved inadequate for the... more

NT0771 : Union Canal Bridge by Anne Burgess
Union Canal Bridge
Originally built to provide access across the canal to the fields of either side,... more

NT0771 : Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Union Canal
The view from under an original canal bridge to the relatively modern bridge built... more

NT0771 : Jupiter by Anne Burgess
Jupiter
This is one of the eleven works of art making up the Kirkhill Pillar Project. It... more

NT0771 : Union Canal and Bridge by Anne Burgess
Union Canal and Bridge
This bridge, one of the original canal bridges, now provides a link for... more

NT0771 : Badger Meadows by Anne Burgess
Badger Meadows
In recent decades Broxburn has expanded to fill the fields between the old A8, now... more

NT0771 : A89 Bridge by Anne Burgess
A89 Bridge
This is not one of the original canal bridges, as can be seen from its shape and... more

NT0771 : Ryal by Anne Burgess
Ryal
at the end of the 19th century this row of cottages was the only building at Ryal.... more

NT0771 : Canal Overflow by Anne Burgess
Canal Overflow
The structure protected by the railings is a weir which controls the water level... more

NT0771 : Union Canal Bridge at Ryal by Anne Burgess
Union Canal Bridge at Ryal
This bridge provides access from both Ryal and Powflats across the canal. In the... more

NT0871 : Powflats by Anne Burgess
Powflats
The farm buildings, on the left, are of long standing, but the cottage on the... more

NT0871 : Saturn by Anne Burgess
Saturn
This is part of the Kirkhill Pillar Project, beautifully reflected by the water of... more

NT0871 : Depot near Bridge 23 by Anne Burgess
Depot near Bridge 23
The Union Canal widens here to provide a basin where barges can be moored without... more

NT0871 : Depot near Bridge 23 by Anne Burgess
Depot near Bridge 23
The Union Canal widens here to provide a basin where barges can be moored without... more

NT0871 : Learielaw Farm by Anne Burgess
Learielaw Farm
A cottage at Learlielaw, seen from the Union Canal towpath.

NT0971 : Bridge 21a by Anne Burgess
Bridge 21a
This new bridge was built in 2000 to carry the M8 motorway over the Union Canal,... more

NT0971 : Bridge over Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Bridge over Union Canal
This is another of the original bridges which provided access for farmers with... more

NT0971 : Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Union Canal
The next bridge carries the railway line from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Uphall,... more

NT0971 : Cycling the Towpath by Anne Burgess
Cycling the Towpath
A brightly clad cyclist provides a splash of colour as he cycles along the... more

NT0871 : Under the M8 by Anne Burgess
Under the M8
The canal here is very narrow, and the towpath rather wider than usual as it... more

NT0871 : Learielaw Farm by Anne Burgess
Learielaw Farm
Farm buildings at Learielaw reflected in the Union Canal. This is part of the... more

NT0871 : Union Canal at Learielaw by Anne Burgess
Union Canal at Learielaw
This shows where the bridge is in relation to the farm. The original line of the... more

NT0871 : Bridge at Learielaw by Anne Burgess
Bridge at Learielaw
One of the standard bridges built when the canal was originally constructed, this... more

NT0871 : Approaching the Depot by Anne Burgess
Approaching the Depot
It isn't clear from the map whether this is a place called Depot, or a canalside... more

NT0871 : Bridge near Park House by Anne Burgess
Bridge near Park House
Park House is down the road to the right from this bridge, which is Bridge 23.

NT0871 : Union Canal from the Bridge near Park House by Anne Burgess
Union Canal from the Bridge near Park House
Looking west from Bridge 23 towards Powflats, which is just beyond the curve in the canal.

NT0871 : Playing Fields by Anne Burgess
Playing Fields
There was one man making use of the playing fields to practise his golf swing, but... more

NT0771 : Union Canal at Ryal by Anne Burgess
Union Canal at Ryal
Looking west-north-west from the bridge at Ryal that gives access to Powflats. On... more

NT0771 : Ryal by Anne Burgess
Ryal
Newish houses not far from the canal at Ryal. The outskirts of Broxburn are in the... more

NT0771 : Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Union Canal
This is probably the nearest the canal gets to winding. On the far bank is the row... more

NT0771 : Canal Overflow by Anne Burgess
Canal Overflow
The structure protected by the railings is a weir which controls the water level... more

NT0771 : Badger Meadows by Anne Burgess
Badger Meadows
In recent decades Broxburn has expanded to fill the fields between the old A8, now... more

NT0771 : Cul-de-sac off Queens Road by Anne Burgess
Cul-de-sac off Queens Road
One of the modern housing developments that have spread south to the bypass, seen... more

NT0771 : Badger Brook by Anne Burgess
Badger Brook
In recent decades Broxburn has expanded to fill the fields between the old A8, now... more

NT0772 : New Holygate by Anne Burgess
New Holygate
The original Holygate was a farm on the north side of what is now West Main... more

NT0772 : Port Buchan by Anne Burgess
Port Buchan
The Union Canal widens here to provide space for mooring, and for loading and... more

NT0772 : Union Canal at Port Buchan by Anne Burgess
Union Canal at Port Buchan
There seems to be a pair of resident swans here. The canal continues... more

NT0772 : Port Buchan by Anne Burgess
Port Buchan
The ugly black structure is a portacabin containing toilets. It is to be hoped... more

NT0872 : Station Road by Anne Burgess
Station Road
A through street leading south from the town centre to where the station used to be.

NT0872 : Architectural Detail by Anne Burgess
Architectural Detail
An intriguing carved panel above the door of No 17 Station Road. Knysna, as far as... more

NT0872 : Flats in Almondell Road by Anne Burgess
Flats in Almondell Road
Concrete blocks don't come much more unsightly than these. Tired-looking concrete... more

NT0772 : Kirkhill House by Anne Burgess
Kirkhill House
Said to date back to the 15th century, but the existing L-plan building is... more

NT0672 : Freeland Avenue by Anne Burgess
Freeland Avenue
One of the routes into a rabbit warren of housing estates north of the main street... more

NT0672 : Uphall Cemetery by Anne Burgess
Uphall Cemetery
Laid out in Victorian style, the cemetery replaces the kirkyard at Strathbrock... more

NT0672 : Uphall Cemetery by Anne Burgess
Uphall Cemetery
Laid out in Victorian style, the cemetery replaces the kirkyard at Strathbrock... more

NT0671 : Cul-de-sac off Loaninghill Road by Anne Burgess
Cul-de-sac off Loaninghill Road
Modern housing like this has spread to occupy the ground south to the A89 Uphall... more

NT0470 : Giant Poppy Seedheads by Anne Burgess
Giant Poppy Seedheads
This sculpture stands beside the A89 roundabout on the edge of the parking area at... more

NT0470 : Dobbie's Garden Centre by Anne Burgess
Dobbie's Garden Centre
The Dobbie's chain of garden centres is the largest such in Scotland, and it is... more

NT0370 : Dechmont Main Street by Anne Burgess
Dechmont Main Street
This used to be the A8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow, which accounts for the... more

NT0470 : Cottages in Dechmont by Anne Burgess
Cottages in Dechmont
Modest houses lining the north side of Main Street.

NT0471 : Farmland at Dechmont by Anne Burgess
Farmland at Dechmont
The minor road leads up the hill and eventually towards Linlithgow. The farm at... more

NT0571 : Houstoun House by Anne Burgess
Houstoun House
The house was built from around 1600 for Sir Thomas Shairp, and added to in the... more

NT0571 : Houstoun House Doocot by Anne Burgess
Houstoun House Doocot
A lectern-style doocot of 17th century type, lacking some of its upper structure.

NT0670 : Uphall Station by Anne Burgess
Uphall Station
There is a station here, but the name Uphall Station is applied to the whole... more

NT0570 : Houses in Nettlehill Road by Anne Burgess
Houses in Nettlehill Road
This is the rear of the last two blocks in Nettlehill Road, seen from the path... more

NT0670 : Nettlehill Road by Anne Burgess
Nettlehill Road
A last blink of afternoon sun illuminates the houses on the east side of Nettlehill Road.

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

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