Frequently asked questions

If you would like to request to light up The Falkirk Wheel, The Bowline at Bowling Harbour or The Kelpies see the light our landmarks section.

Looking to host an event on our canal click here to complete our event application form.

Looking to carry out works on our property for example install signage or request a towpath closure please contact property@scottishcanals.co.uk to discuss your requirements.

Our opening times may vary across our canal network please look at our attractions on the Visit section for specific opening times

Local canal offices are generally open Monday to Thursday 8.30am-5pm and Friday 8.30am-4.30pm (these times may vary seasonally). 

You can contact our offices on the details below.

Please note at times, staff may be out on the canal and unable to answer the phone, in this case please leave a voicemail and we will respond to you as quickly as possible. 

To report an issue with navigation email reportanavissue@scottishcanals.co.uk

General information on boating including our skippers guides click here.

To purchase a navigation licence for the Canals click here.

To enquire about a new mooring click here 

For queries relating to current moorings email moorings@scottishcanals.co.uk.

To find out more about volunteering on Scotland’s canals, see our Volunteer Hub or email Volunteers@scottishcanals.co.uk.

For media enquiries, see the contact details on our Media Centre or email the Corporate Affairs team at Media@scottishcanals.co.uk.

Scottish Canals do not accept incoming sales calls of any nature. 

As a Non-Departmental Government Body, the vast majority of our purchasing and procurement activity sourced and delivered under the relevant Scottish Government framework.

Scottish Canals advertise contract opportunities on Public Contracts Scotland (PCS). 

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/register/register_start.aspx 

This site is provided by the Scottish Government and is designed to allow a consistent approach to advertising contract opportunities across the public sector in Scotland. 

The site is free of charge to register with and use and can be set up to provide alerts when contracts of a specific type or from a particular organisation are posted.

This site gives details of past, current and future tender activity of Scottish Canals as well as providing access to the Scottish Canals Contract Register.Find out more about our procurement here.

We have a number of opportunities available along our canal network find out what they are here.

Find out more about our ongoing regeneration projects here.

Have a proposal for us? Send us an email at enquiries@scottishcanals.co.uk.

Find everything you need to know about activities on our canals and towpaths on our visit section.

For the latest update on magnet fishing click here.

Find out more information about how we manage our assets, ongoing works and how we prioritise what we do here.

Scottish Canals is committed to furthering the conservation of biodiversity (plants and animals and their habitats) in and around the waterways. We have to balance this with the need to maintain the towpaths and waterways for everyone to use safely. 

Where possible, we undertake low intensity vegetation management on our land as we are keen to encourage a range of habitats from open water to grassland, woodland and scrub where this does not impinge on the safe operation of the canal. 

In other areas, particularly those of high use, this approach is not appropriate and more frequent management is required, for example, around lock chambers. We have to balance our statutory obligation to maintain and preserve the built and natural heritage of these 200 year old asset whilst also ensuring they are safe for our customers to use and remain navigable to boating traffic.

We cut the vegetation along the canals several times a year as part of our annual planned maintenance and the timing of these cuts can be partially dictated by the weather. The winter cut back of vegetation on the canals is part of our routine maintenance to prevent the establishment of woody vegetation that could cause damage to the built elements of the canal network which is a nationally important scheduled ancient monument.  This work is also carried out to ensure that the waterways remain navigable and that vegetation does not restrict boat movements or mooring. 

Overgrowing Trees 
Scottish Canals will cut back / rectify trees that are damaging (or at risk of damaging) or affecting operation of our assets, overgrowing the towpath, access routes and / or restricting lines of sight, or are imposing a Health & Safety hazard. Members of the public are entitled to trim back vegetation/trees that encroach or overhang into your garden, provided you follow health and safety advice and ensure that the tree does not have a Tree Protection Order.

Please contact environment@scottishcanals.co.uk for more information.