life less ordinary

What we do?

We must maximise the benefit we can bring to the canals through regeneration, astute development, estate management and commercialising our water asset.

We are creating refreshed and new canalside communities, commercial investment opportunities and exploring a world market for water sales and water based renewables.

floating home

Living on the water just got interesting

Scotland's canals have for many years been home to residential craft. We are currently developing opportunities for contemporary living in floating homes and creating more waterside communities.

Discover your next home
Yacht passing Mingulay house

Holiday in Historic Canal Properties

Scottish Canals has a portfolio of former lock keepers  cottages, a lighthouse and substantial canal managers houses, located in some of Scotland's most spectacular locations. We have been refurbishing these properties to make them available to let as holiday accomodation and the first of these properties are now available to let.

Plan your next holiday
Cascading locks

A Liquid Asset

We recognise the potential for water in a world market particularly in water sales and water based renewables. Core to our business is the ability to move vast qualtities of water across the country to the sea.

 

Tap into our potential
Aerial view of Applecross Street

Key Development Areas

Scottish Canals have key landholdings across the central belt including Glasgow, Falkirk and Edinburgh; in Argyll and across the Highland's from Fort William to Inverness. We will be working with partners and investors to develop these assets.

Interested in a development opportunity?
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Destination Development

Creating destinations in 8 key locations across Scotland including major city centres and highland tourist locations. Opportunities include commerical residential, leisure and waterbased schemes ranging from small developments to major regeneration projects.

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exterior of a houseboat

Living on the Water

The canal environment is an exciting and cost effective place to live with opportunities for city living or setting up a rural idyll.  Traditionally people have lived on boats however we are currently developing plans for cutting edge floating homes.

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Promoting our Liquid Asset

The Scottish Government recognises the value of water as an international commodity and sustainable resource. Scottish Canals, in partnership with Scottish Water, are developing exciting new ways to capture energy, heating, cooling, manage flood risk and creating an international market for water sales.

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Our Estate

Scottish Canals owns 1,500 hectares of land and water which includes 137 linear miles of canal network, 17 reservoirs and 4 lochs.

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Neptune's Staircase, Caledonian Canal

Learn More

Scottish Canals have been working with the Vivat Trust, a national charity and building preservation trust, to bring together a portfolio of historical canal buildings which will be promoted for short term holiday lets.

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Find out more about the Caledonian Canal Find out more about the Crinan Canal Find out more about the Union Canal Find out more about the Forth & Clyde Canal Find out more about the Monkland Canal

By the water

 

Latest news

 
Playing our part in a Hydro Nation

Playing our part in a Hydro Nation

If we are to see water assets across Scotland managed strategically, comprehensively and holistically within a new Hydro Nation, then the Scottish canals could feature strongly. They could contribute significantly through flood risk management, surface water drainage and international water sales. Find out more...

floating home

The home of your dreams

Living in a boat offers a greener, more relaxed and more individual way of life. It can also be significantly cheaper than living on land.

Explore the new Living on Water website to discover the residental, leisure and commercial opportunities along the Scottish Canals.

 
Award Winning Scottish Canal

Award Winning Masterplan

The plan to kick start the renaissance of the popular Union Canal won a prestigious national waterways award on 23 May. The Edinburgh Union Canal Strategy beat off strong competition from across the UK to scoop the 'Strategy & Masterplanning' category of The 2012 Waterways Renaissance Awards.