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

Union Canal

A walk from Linlithgow, Sat, 1 Dec 2012 by Anne Burgess

preceding legThis trip is part of a series.next leg

I left the car in Broxburn and took a bus to Linlithgow with the idea of walking back to Broxburn, but it soon became obvious that my progress was far too slow and the available daylight much too short, so I went as far as Philpstoun and got a bus back to Broxburn. There are a few images taken around the airport on the way home.

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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NT0772 : Sts John Cantius and Nicholas Church by Anne Burgess
Sts John Cantius and Nicholas Church
This is the Roman Catholic Church serving the Broxburn area. The original 12th... more

NT0076 : Narrowboats at Linlithgow by Anne Burgess
Narrowboats at Linlithgow
Laid up for the winter, these narrowboats lie alongside a pontoon on the north... more

NT0077 : St Magdalene Distillery by Anne Burgess
St Magdalene Distillery
The distillery moved here in 1834 to take advantage of the Union Canal,deriving... more

NT0077 : Modern Houses at St Magdalene by Anne Burgess
Modern Houses at St Magdalene
A row of modern houses close to the Union Canal on the site of the St Magdalene... more

NT0177 : Aqueduct near Pilgrim's Hill by Anne Burgess
Aqueduct near Pilgrim's Hill
The wavy railings protect the far side of the aqueduct which carries the Union... more

NT0177 : The Suburbs of Linlithgow by Anne Burgess
The Suburbs of Linlithgow
Like most other towns Linlithgow has been expanding over recent decades, and has... more

NT0177 : Union Canal Towpath by Anne Burgess
Union Canal Towpath
The towpath along the north bank of the canal provides a pleasant walk, though it... more

NT0177 : Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Union Canal
Looking towards Linlithgow. The spire of St Michael's Kirk is just visible to the... more

NT0177 : Bridge at Wilcoxholm by Anne Burgess
Bridge at Wilcoxholm
This bridge carries the access road to the farm of Wilcoxholm, which is on the... more

NT0277 : Union Canal east of Wilcoxholm by Anne Burgess
Union Canal east of Wilcoxholm
The belt of trees at this bend is the only point between Linlithgow and Philpstoun... more

NT0277 : Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Union Canal
Despite the glorious weather the surface of the canal is still covered by very... more

NT0277 : Scots Pine by the Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Scots Pine by the Union Canal
Most of the trees along the canal bank are broadleaved trees, but at this point,... more

NT0277 : A Welcome Sign by Anne Burgess
A Welcome Sign
The sign, half hidden by a young beech hedge, draws canal users' attention to the... more

NT0277 : Park Farm House by Anne Burgess
Park Farm House
An elegantly proportioned traditional stone farm house set back from the Union... more

NT0377 : Park Farm Cottages by Anne Burgess
Park Farm Cottages
The cottages are on the opposite bank of the canal from the farm buildings. Notice... more

NT0377 : Union Canal near The Park by Anne Burgess
Union Canal near The Park
The tops of the Forth Bridge and Forth Road Bridge can just be seen in the... more

NT0377 : Icy Towpath by Anne Burgess
Icy Towpath
At least, with all the lying water frozen solid, it was dry underfoot. I wouldn't... more

NT0377 : Fields by the Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Fields by the Union Canal
There were few gaps in the hawthorns alongside the towpath, but this gap offered a... more

NT0377 : Union Canal at Oakwell by Anne Burgess
Union Canal at Oakwell
It looks as if some of the canalside vegetation has made a bid for freedom here,... more

NT0377 : Flooded Field by Anne Burgess
Flooded Field
The field between the canal and the railway has developed a young loch in recent... more

NT0377 : Flooded Field by Anne Burgess
Flooded Field
This is to the right of [[[3247460]]] and shows the extremity of the ephemeral... more

NT0377 : Winter Farmland by Anne Burgess
Winter Farmland
Leafless hawthorns in the foreground, stubble fields in the middle distance and... more

NT0377 : Railway Reflections by Anne Burgess
Railway Reflections
A passing train in First Scotrail livery is reflected on the icy surface of a... more

NT0377 : Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Union Canal
This stretch of the canal isn't frozen, but there's not a breath of wind and the... more

NT0377 : Ash Tree by Anne Burgess
Ash Tree
There are plenty of ash trees along the canal bank, and from what I could see they... more

NT0377 : Towpath Walkers by Anne Burgess
Towpath Walkers
This trio was one of just two parties of walkers I met using the towpath today.... more

NT0377 : A Varied Scene by Anne Burgess
A Varied Scene
From left to right, a healthy-looking ash tree, Knapweed seedheads, leafless... more

NT0377 : Canal Bridge near Pardovan by Anne Burgess
Canal Bridge near Pardovan
The minor road from Philpstoun to Park crosses the Union Canal here. Note more ash... more

NT0477 : Trains near Pardovan by Anne Burgess
Trains near Pardovan
I waited what felt like ages for a train to come along, and suddenly there were... more

NT0477 : Union Canal at Pardovan by Anne Burgess
Union Canal at Pardovan
The Union Canal widens out to form a basin here, though there's no sign of mooring... more

NT0476 : Union Canal from the Bridge near Pardovan by Anne Burgess
Union Canal from the Bridge near Pardovan
Looking down from the road overbridge to the east, as the canal curves towards Philpstoun.

NT0477 : Brussels Sprouts by Anne Burgess
Brussels Sprouts
Intrigued by the crop in the foreground of [[[3247502]]], I couldn't resist... more

NT0477 : Brussels Sprouts by Anne Burgess
Brussels Sprouts
A close look at two of the plants. The only way I could tell that they are... more

NT0477 : Cottages at Pardovan by Anne Burgess
Cottages at Pardovan
There are probably just two cottages in this row beside the road, though there may... more

NT0477 : Haugh Farm by Anne Burgess
Haugh Farm
The white cottage is at Haugh Farm, just beside the field of brussels sprouts.... more

NT0477 : Haugh Farm by Anne Burgess
Haugh Farm
A smart white cottage, rather dominated by a range of large metal sheds.

NT0477 : Canal Bridge near Pardovan by Anne Burgess
Canal Bridge near Pardovan
The bridge carries the minor road from Park to Philpstoun over the Union Canal

NT0476 : Canal Obstruction by Anne Burgess
Canal Obstruction
Curious that such a large island of vegetation seems to have become detached from... more

NT0476 : Icy Scene by the Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Icy Scene by the Union Canal
On the right, the frozen canal. On the left, the frozen towpath. At least there is... more

NT0476 : Philpstoun by Anne Burgess
Philpstoun
A large area of new housing on the west side of the village of Philpstoun.

NT0476 : Curved Parapet by Anne Burgess
Curved Parapet
The parapet is over what seems to be a dry tunnel beneath the Union Canal.

NT0476 : Church Court by Anne Burgess
Church Court
Church Court seems to be a large cul-de-sac with several long blocks of council... more

NT0476 : Church Court by Anne Burgess
Church Court
This is another long terrace of council housing, at right angles to [[[3247545]]],... more

NT0476 : Garages by Anne Burgess
Garages
An assortment of mostly wooden garages with felt roofs in Church Court.

NT0476 : Union Canal at Philpstoun by Anne Burgess
Union Canal at Philpstoun
It looks as if the canal bank is rather better cared for here than along much of... more

NT0476 : More Garages by Anne Burgess
More Garages
These garages seem to have been designed into Church Court at the outset, unlike... more

NT0476 : Castlepark by Anne Burgess
Castlepark
The house stands high above the Pardovan Burn which runs alongside the canal... more

NT0576 : Union Canal at Philpstoun by Anne Burgess
Union Canal at Philpstoun
East of Philpstoun the north bank of the canal is wooded, but the south bank is... more

NT0576 : Canal and Bings by Anne Burgess
Canal and Bings
The white railings in the foreground protect [[[3247566]]] which controls the... more

NT0576 : Canal Spillway by Anne Burgess
Canal Spillway
This spillway controls the level of water in the Union Canal by providing an... more

NT0576 : Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Union Canal
East of the overbridge from which this photograph was taken, the canal passes... more

NT0576 : Union Canal by Anne Burgess
Union Canal
The view from the overbridge east of Philpstoun. [[[3247566]]] is on the right... more

NT0576 : Woodland Track by Anne Burgess
Woodland Track
This track is the access to the canal bank at [[[3247566]]].

NT0577 : Railway Cottages by Anne Burgess
Railway Cottages
These cottages just have a look of railway architecture about them. They're in... more

NT0577 : Philpstoun Station House by Anne Burgess
Philpstoun Station House
Instantly recognisable railway architecture, with corresponding fence, and a... more

NT0577 : Wyndford Brae by Anne Burgess
Wyndford Brae
A short street of modern houses in the gap between the railway and the road.

NT0477 : Pardovan Crescent by Anne Burgess
Pardovan Crescent
Pardovan Crescent is a cul-de-sac just north of the main road on the east side of... more

NT0477 : Pardovan Crescent by Anne Burgess
Pardovan Crescent
Pardovan Crescent is a cul-de-sac just north of the main road on the east side of... more

NT0477 : Philpstoun Community Education Centre by Anne Burgess
Philpstoun Community Education Centre
As it was Saturday, I could not work out whether this is an active school, or a... more

NT0477 : Play Area by Anne Burgess
Play Area
A well-equipped, but remarkably deserted, play area next to the community... more

NT0477 : Railway Embankment by Anne Burgess
Railway Embankment
A First Scotrail local train using the embankment north of Philpstoun Village. In... more

NT1372 : Ingliston Showground West Gate by Anne Burgess
Ingliston Showground West Gate
Quieter than usually seen by most people when they are part of the crowds surging... more

NT1373 : Edinburgh Airport by Anne Burgess
Edinburgh Airport
Seen through the perimeter fence, and no doubt under the observation of the... more

NT1373 : Crash Gate and Windsock by Anne Burgess
Crash Gate and Windsock
No 2 gate, getting on for the west end of the airport, and a droopy windsock... more

NT1473 : Perimeter Fence by Anne Burgess
Perimeter Fence
Some of the acres of chain-link and miles of barbed wire that protect the airport... more

NT1473 : Airport Installations by Anne Burgess
Airport Installations
I couldn't begin to enumerate the different facilities strewn about just outside... more

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

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