What we care for
Scottish Canals cares for environmental conservation, biodiversity, sustainable practices, community well-being, historic heritage, active travel, wildlife habitat, water quality, and cultural initiatives across a broad range of canals and spaces.
Scottish Canals is responsible to the Scottish Government for the management and development of five Scottish canals - 141 miles of inland waterways - as well as the surrounding estates, The Falkirk Wheel, The Kelpies river navigation rights and 14 feeders.
The reservoirs cover an area equivalent to 7,494 football pitches and supply the canals with the 332 million litres of water which flow through them each day.
The Forth & Clyde, Union and Monkland canals in the Lowlands, the Crinan Canal in Argyll and the Caledonian Canal in the Highlands, together extend over 141 miles from coast to coast, across country and into the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.
Built two hundred years ago to fire the Industrial Revolution, today the canals contribute to the Scottish Government agenda of developing a Greener; Healthier; Smarter; Safer and Stronger; and Wealthier and Fairer Scotland by acting as a catalyst for sustainable economic development, regeneration and tourism.
The canals also make an important contribution to education, biodiversity, heritage and promoting active living and healthier lifestyles.
The Forth & Clyde, Union, Monkland, Caledonian and Crinan canals are recognised as Scheduled Monuments and attract 20 million visits per year.
Fast facts
With the Scottish canals on your doorstep, improve your knowledge and check out these fascinating facts and all that Scottish canals' care for
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Our environment and heritage
The environment and heritage of the canal network is integral to our role as guardians of the Scottish canals.
Scheduled monuments and historic buildings
The Scottish canals and their historic buildings are an important part of our national heritage.