Maps and facilities on the Union Canal

In this section you can find information about locks and bridges you should plan for when going through Forth and Clyde Canal. Maps contain information about the how to navigate through Forth and Clyde Canal. You can also see facilities available for you. If you would like to see what attraction and activities are available in this locations please refer to Things to do page.

Using the locks

There are locks on this canal, find out how to use them and what you'll need to pass through safely.

Using locks

Scottish Canals Lowlands Skippers Guide [1175 kb]
start from
Edinburgh

1. Lochrin Basin to Ratho Bridge (15)

Time needed to pass through:
Approximately 2 hours, depending on traffic.

Bridges and locks:

  • Leamington Lift Bridge (this bridge isn’t open to visitor traffic)

https://d1hxd0sho1wxko.cloudfront.net/production/imager-transforms-cache/general/143390/Lochrin-Basin-to-Ratho-Bridge-map-min-2_compressed-1_fb7cadf5ae86dab2219678b3f9b2a76b.png

Download a map for Lochrin Basin to Ratho Bridge (15)

Lochrin Basin to Ratho Bridge map 845.269 KB

Ratho

2. Ratho Bridge to Almond Aqueduct (18)

Time needed to pass through:
Approximately 1/2 hour, depending on traffic.

https://d1hxd0sho1wxko.cloudfront.net/production/imager-transforms-cache/general/144156/Ratho-Bridge-to-Almond-Aqueduct-18_fb7cadf5ae86dab2219678b3f9b2a76b.png

Download a map for Ratho Bridge to Almond Aqueduct (18)

Ratho Bridge to Almond Aqueduct 18 198.842 KB

Old Philpstoun

3. Almond Aqueduct to Craigton Bridge (35)

Time needed to pass through:
Approximately 2 hours, depending on traffic.

Attractions: 

The John Muir way

https://d1hxd0sho1wxko.cloudfront.net/production/imager-transforms-cache/general/143392/Almond-Aqueduct-to-Craigton-Bridge-35-map-2-min-2_compressed-1_e8f8995103fb07301a3304b8f05af3b9.png

Download a map for Almond Aqueduct to Craigton Bridge (35)

Almond Aqueduct to Craigton Bridge 35 map 859.687 KB

Linlithgow

4. Craigton Bridge to Linlithgow

Time needed to pass through:
Approximately 2 hours, depending on traffic.

https://d1hxd0sho1wxko.cloudfront.net/production/imager-transforms-cache/general/143393/Craigton-Bridge-to-Linlithgow-map-min-2_compressed-1_fb7cadf5ae86dab2219678b3f9b2a76b.png

Download a map for Craigton Bridge to Linlithgow

Craigton Bridge to Linlithgow map 872.348 KB

Brightons

5. Linlithgow to Brightons Bridge (54)

Time needed to pass through:
Approximately 2 hours, depending on traffic.

Navigation:

Please take extra care at Causewayend Basin Entrance as there is a DEAD SLOW.

Attractions:

Muiravonside Country park

Linlithgow Palace

The Bo'ness and Kinneil railway

Linlithgow Canal Centre

https://d1hxd0sho1wxko.cloudfront.net/production/imager-transforms-cache/general/143394/Linlithgow-to-Brightons-Bridge-map-min-2_compressed-1_fb7cadf5ae86dab2219678b3f9b2a76b.png

Download a map for Linlithgow to Brightons Bridge (54)

Linlithgow to Brightons Bridge map 868.169 KB

Falkirk

6. Brightons Bridge to The Falkirk Wheel

Time needed to pass through:
Approximately 2 hours, depending on traffic.

Locks and bridges:

Lock 1 

Lock 2 

Navigation:

Voyaging through the Falkirk Tunnel

Attractions:

Callendar house

The Falkirk Wheel

Helix park (The Kelpies)

 

If you’re planning to continue your journey towards Glasgow or Grangemouth, you can find maps for the Forth & Clyde Canal and information on The Falkirk Wheel here:

Forth & Clyde Skipper's guide

Voyaging through the Falkirk Wheel

Navigational safety code - The Falkirk Wheel

https://d1hxd0sho1wxko.cloudfront.net/production/imager-transforms-cache/general/144237/Brightons-Bridge-to-The-Falkirk-Wheel-1_compressed-compressed1024_1_fb7cadf5ae86dab2219678b3f9b2a76b.png

Download a map for Brightons Bridge to The Falkirk Wheel

Brightons Bridge to The Falkirk Wheel 1.001 MB

Falkirk

half-circleicon-accessibleicon-adult-onlyicon-arrow-45icon-arrow-whiteicon-arrowicon-articon-boatingicon-campingicon-chandleryicon-charge-pointicon-checkmark-tickicon-chevron-thinicon-chevronicon-closedicon-closureicon-community-consultationicon-crossicon-cyclingicon-de-masting-craneicon-dog-friendlyicon-dog-walkingicon-downloadsicon-educationalicon-elsanicon-engineering-marvelicon-environmentalicon-eventsicon-facebookicon-family-friendly-pathicon-family-friendlyicon-fishingicon-food-drinkicon-fuelicon-grid-viewicon-hamburgericon-health-wellbeingicon-heritageicon-instagramicon-land-activitiesicon-landscaped-areaicon-laundryicon-linkedinicon-living-on-watericon-location-pinkicon-locationicon-menu-crossicon-navigation-affectedicon-nessieicon-newsicon-no-campingicon-no-swimmingicon-overnight-staysicon-paddlingicon-parkingicon-photo-pointicon-placemakingicon-playicon-plusicon-point-of-interesticon-pump-outicon-quotesicon-refuse-disposalicon-runningicon-safetyicon-searchicon-shoppingicon-showers-toiletsicon-storage-shedsicon-sustainabilityicon-swimmingicon-tickicon-ticketicon-toilets-neutralicon-toiletsicon-twittericon-volunteeringicon-walkingicon-warningicon-waste-oil-disposalicon-water-activitiesicon-water-supplyicon-wildlife-watchingicon-youtubelogo-bluelogo-white