Canal champions celebrate 200th anniversary

Well done to our Canal 200 Challengers!

More than 300 people signed up to celebrate the 200th anniversaries of the Union and Caledonian Canals’ by taking part in a series of outdoor challenges across Scotland.

Scottish Canal’s invited canal users to set themselves a challenge which incorporated 200 or took place on the Union or Caledonian Canals between 1st January 2022 and 31 December 2022.

The Challenge attracted a wide variety of entries from paddling the length of the Union Canal, cycling along The Crinan, running, walking and litter picking on the Forth & Clyde Canal. Some of our furry friends even joined in with walks along the various canals and even some holiday, boat trips along The Caledonian Canal (with their humans in tow!).

During the year participants covered an incredible 6,075 miles! That’s the equivalent of Scotland to Peru!

Taking part in the challenge was Martina Johnston-Gray of Hamiltonhill, North Glasgow.

Martina has lived next to the Forth & Clyde Canal for more than 18 years, and was delighted to clock up 200 walks along the towpath throughout the year.

Watch the video below.

The Network Manager for North West Glasgow Voluntary Sector Network (NWGVSN) told us: 

The canal is a huge part of my life, when my son Dexter was born I used to walk along the towpath pushing him in his buggy. As he grew up he learned to ride his bike here. He’s now 12 and we are still very much using the canal on a daily basis.

We use the canal regularly and during lockdown it was great for my mental wellbeing just being able to walk along the towpath, take a deep breath and enjoy all that was around you including the fabulous wildlife.”

Martina, along with her husband Andy and son, also take part in regular litter picks organised by Hamiltonhill Claypits Local Nature Reserve.

She added: 

People are extremely passionate about looking after the area, the canal has become part of an extension to our family. The volunteers celebrated with me as a I got my final walk in for the challenge.”

Scottish Canal’s Estates Surveyor, Yvonne Hay also rounded off the year by completing the challenge.

She and a group of friends cycled the Crinan Canal in its entirety and returned while visiting the two mountain bike trail networks within 200 minutes.

Yvonne braved the freezing temperatures and also managed to take in a tour of the empty lock chambers on the Crinan Canal.

Members of Dunbar Coastal Rowing Club also clocked up the miles when they rowed from Edinburgh to The Falkirk Wheel and back.

Twenty-five members of the club took part in the challenge across four days. For more details of their challenge log onto: Dunbar Canal Rowing Club – Dunbar Coastal Rowing Club