Edinburgh Canal Festival

  • Crowds of people watching raft race on Scottish canal with narrowboats moored on either side of the canal
  • raft race on Scotland
  • Display of artwork of canal
  • Two children wearing lifejackets pulling a narrowboat
  • Paddling along the canal in a raft race
  • raft race on Scotland
  • Crowds of people watching raft race on Scottish canal with narrowboats moored on either side of the canal
  • raft race on Scotland
  • Display of artwork of canal
  • Two children wearing lifejackets pulling a narrowboat
  • Paddling along the canal in a raft race
  • raft race on Scotland
    • Edinburgh quay is packed full!Local resident come in out in their thousands to help celebrate Edinburgh Canal Festival.
    Not for the faint hearted!A new concept in expert raft building (er sort of!!) as all the community teams get into the spirit of the canal festival!
    Children believe the canals are the future!Fantastic canal inpired artwork cretaed by local school children and on show at the Edinburgh Canal Festival.
    Hands-up if you have enjoyed the festival?Can we come back next year, mum?
    Paddles away!How would you build yours?
    Quick, man the lifeboats!

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    Top tips

    • Why was the canal built?
      The main reason for building the canal was to carry coal. The 11-lock flight at Falkirk joining the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals also provided a passenger service between the main cities.
    • How long did it take to build?
      Construction started in 1818 and the canal was opened in 1822.
    • Why did it close?
      With the Edinburgh & Glasgow Railway opening in 1842, and the lock flight at Falkirk demolished in the 1930s, the canal was finally abandoned in the 1960s.
    • When did it open again?
      In 2001, as part of the Millennium Link – the largest canal restoration in Britain. The construction of the 115ft high Falkirk Wheel meant the Union Canal and the Forth & Clyde Canals were once again reconnected in 2002.
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