Facts and Figures
Pipe band playing at Crinan sea lock surrounded by people and boats

Did you know...

... that over 25 million people visit the Scottish canals each year, boosting our tourism economy!

Facts and Figures

With the Scottish canals on your doorstep, improve your knowledge and check out these fast facts!

There are five Scottish canals, together making 137 linear miles of waterway network:

  • 60 miles - Caledonian Canal
  • 9 miles - Crinan Canal
  • 35 miles - Forth & Clyde Canal
  • 2 miles - Monkland Canal
  • 31 miles - Union Canal

Between them, the canals contain 7,766 ML (megalitres) of water

The Scottish canals are supplied by 21 reservoirs, holding a total of 18,304 ML of water

We have the navigation rights to four lochs, including Loch Ness

We are guardians of:

  • 1,500 hectares of land and water
  • 88 locks
  • 98 road bridges
  • 77 accommodation bridges
  • 50 foot bridges
  • 8 railway bridges
  • 2 towpath bridges

The world's first - and only - rotating boat lift is the Falkirk Wheel, which links the Union and Forth & Clyde Canals

View of The Falkirk Wheel and basin

The Falkirk Wheel

The Falkirk Wheel is 35 metres tall, the equivalent of 8 double decker buses stacked on top of each other!

Find out more quirky facts about the Falkirk Wheel!

Our Annual Report and Accounts are produced after each financial year-end and then laid before the Scottish parliament in June.

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