Geo-Trips :: Walking the Union Canal between Muirhead and Broxburn
Union Canal
A walk from Broxburn, Tue, 19 Feb 2013 by Anne Burgess
preceding leg | This 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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East Mains Industrial Estate
This is a vast industrial and business park on the eastern outskirts of Broxburn.... more
Cherrypickers
Loxam offers cherrypickers for hire. Business must be good, because there are... more
Broxburn Parish Kirk
Originally a United Presbyterian kirk, this was built in 1880 to a design by... more
Empty Buildings in East Main Street
A modern red brick development on the north side of East Main Street awaits a tenant.
West Main Street
The white van is turning into Greendykes Road. This is the point at which East... more
East Main Street
Mostly traditional houses, interspersed with occasional modern shop units, line... more
New Holygate
The original Holygate was a farm on the north side of what is now West Main... more
New Holygate
The original Holygate was a farm on the north side of what is now West Main... more
Union Canal and A889 Bridge
The bridge replaced the original canal bridge, which peoved inadequate for the... more
Union Canal Bridge
Originally built to provide access across the canal to the fields of either side,... more
Union Canal
The view from under an original canal bridge to the relatively modern bridge built... more
Jupiter
This is one of the eleven works of art making up the Kirkhill Pillar Project. It... more
Union Canal and Bridge
This bridge, one of the original canal bridges, now provides a link for... more
Badger Meadows
In recent decades Broxburn has expanded to fill the fields between the old A8, now... more
A89 Bridge
This is not one of the original canal bridges, as can be seen from its shape and... more
Ryal
at the end of the 19th century this row of cottages was the only building at Ryal.... more
Canal Overflow
The structure protected by the railings is a weir which controls the water level... more
Union Canal Bridge at Ryal
This bridge provides access from both Ryal and Powflats across the canal. In the... more
Powflats
The farm buildings, on the left, are of long standing, but the cottage on the... more
Saturn
This is part of the Kirkhill Pillar Project, beautifully reflected by the water of... more
Depot near Bridge 23
The Union Canal widens here to provide a basin where barges can be moored without... more
Depot near Bridge 23
The Union Canal widens here to provide a basin where barges can be moored without... more
Learielaw Farm
A cottage at Learlielaw, seen from the Union Canal towpath.
Bridge 21a
This new bridge was built in 2000 to carry the M8 motorway over the Union Canal,... more
Bridge over Union Canal
This is another of the original bridges which provided access for farmers with... more
Union Canal
The next bridge carries the railway line from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Uphall,... more
Cycling the Towpath
A brightly clad cyclist provides a splash of colour as he cycles along the... more
Under the M8
The canal here is very narrow, and the towpath rather wider than usual as it... more
Learielaw Farm
Farm buildings at Learielaw reflected in the Union Canal. This is part of the... more
Union Canal at Learielaw
This shows where the bridge is in relation to the farm. The original line of the... more
Bridge at Learielaw
One of the standard bridges built when the canal was originally constructed, this... more
Approaching the Depot
It isn't clear from the map whether this is a place called Depot, or a canalside... more
Bridge near Park House
Park House is down the road to the right from this bridge, which is Bridge 23.
Union Canal from the Bridge near Park House
Looking west from Bridge 23 towards Powflats, which is just beyond the curve in the canal.
Playing Fields
There was one man making use of the playing fields to practise his golf swing, but... more
Union Canal at Ryal
Looking west-north-west from the bridge at Ryal that gives access to Powflats. On... more
Ryal
Newish houses not far from the canal at Ryal. The outskirts of Broxburn are in the... more
Union Canal
This is probably the nearest the canal gets to winding. On the far bank is the row... more
Canal Overflow
The structure protected by the railings is a weir which controls the water level... more
Badger Meadows
In recent decades Broxburn has expanded to fill the fields between the old A8, now... more
Cul-de-sac off Queens Road
One of the modern housing developments that have spread south to the bypass, seen... more
Badger Brook
In recent decades Broxburn has expanded to fill the fields between the old A8, now... more
New Holygate
The original Holygate was a farm on the north side of what is now West Main... more
Port Buchan
The Union Canal widens here to provide space for mooring, and for loading and... more
Union Canal at Port Buchan
There seems to be a pair of resident swans here. The canal continues... more
Port Buchan
The ugly black structure is a portacabin containing toilets. It is to be hoped... more
Station Road
A through street leading south from the town centre to where the station used to be.
Architectural Detail
An intriguing carved panel above the door of No 17 Station Road. Knysna, as far as... more
Flats in Almondell Road
Concrete blocks don't come much more unsightly than these. Tired-looking concrete... more
Kirkhill House
Said to date back to the 15th century, but the existing L-plan building is... more
Freeland Avenue
One of the routes into a rabbit warren of housing estates north of the main street... more
Uphall Cemetery
Laid out in Victorian style, the cemetery replaces the kirkyard at Strathbrock... more
Uphall Cemetery
Laid out in Victorian style, the cemetery replaces the kirkyard at Strathbrock... more
Cul-de-sac off Loaninghill Road
Modern housing like this has spread to occupy the ground south to the A89 Uphall... more
Giant Poppy Seedheads
This sculpture stands beside the A89 roundabout on the edge of the parking area at... more
Dobbie's Garden Centre
The Dobbie's chain of garden centres is the largest such in Scotland, and it is... more
Dechmont Main Street
This used to be the A8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow, which accounts for the... more
Cottages in Dechmont
Modest houses lining the north side of Main Street.
Farmland at Dechmont
The minor road leads up the hill and eventually towards Linlithgow. The farm at... more
Houstoun House
The house was built from around 1600 for Sir Thomas Shairp, and added to in the... more
Houstoun House Doocot
A lectern-style doocot of 17th century type, lacking some of its upper structure.
Uphall Station
There is a station here, but the name Uphall Station is applied to the whole... more
Houses in Nettlehill Road
This is the rear of the last two blocks in Nettlehill Road, seen from the path... more
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 .