The Forth and Clyde Canal Pathway (also known as the
Edinburgh to Glasgow Canals Walk) runs between the Firth of Forth and the Firth
of Clyde and is a 66 miles (106 km) long footpath and cycleway that runs across
Scotland, between Bowling, west of Glasgow, and Lochrin Basin (Edinburgh Quay)
in Edinburgh. The path runs on the towpaths of the Forth & Clyde and Union
Canals and is entirely off road. The path is well maintained and its surface is
generally good, although there are some stretches where wet weather leads to
muddy conditions.
I will be walking nearly the entire length of this pathway, but
rather than following an unnecessary southern loop at Milngavie, I will pick up
the pathway at Westermains, on the north-eastern outskirts of Glasgow.
Following this route east I will pass the Antonine Wall, which is an ancient
Roman fortification and wall, near Twechar. Then the burgh of Kilsyth, with
Colzium estate and park; the Falkirk Tunnel (which is the oldest and longest
canal tunnel in Scotland) and the Falkirk Wheel and the Almond Aqueduct west of
Ratho (which takes the canal 75 feet (23 m) above the River Almond). Still
moving east, at Broxburn on the Union Canal the path runs between a number of large
red shale bings (pile built of accumulated waste materials); then west of
Linlithgow I’ll cross the Avon Aqueduct followed by the Slateford Aquaduct on
the outskirts of Edinburgh. The Forh and Clyde Canal Pathway ends in the centre
of Edinburgh at at Lochrin Basin, Edinburgh Quay, near Tollcross.
I have three reasons for going into the centre of Edinburgh. Firstly, Tollcross, Fountain Bridge a stone throw away, are the exact areas that several generations of my maternal ancestors, the Burnetts, worked as master tailors. Secondly, it was far easier in terms of route planning to join the Forth and Clyde Canal Pathway here from the Central Scottish Way. Lastly, I wanted to see Edinburgh Castle... simple as that.
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