Glasgow
to Falkirk on the Forth & Clyde Canal Glasgow
to Falkirk on the Forth & Clyde Canal
From Falkirk High we got the train to Glasgow Queen Street, with a view to cycling back along the Forth and Clyde Canal.
From the station it is just under a mile to the tranquillity of Spiers Wharf,
where the canal now ends, formerly it continued from here south west to the
Monklands Canal, but it now terminates at the M8 motorway, which is located 100m
south of this sign. However look north east from this sign...
A
superb example of 18 century architecture. This substantial building now marks
the end of the "Glasgow Branch" of the Forth and Clyde Canal.
Beside
the above building the warehousing has been turned into highly appointed flats,
with a pleasant waterfront view.
We head north west up the Glasgow Branch. The towpath is on the South west side of the canal.
Note
this original bridge on Applecross Street, dual leaf bascule, with the
semicircular mechanism whose style was used for the details on the new concrete
bridges build for the Millennium Link
We followed the canal past Stockinfield junction, round to the west, Maryhill Locks and the Kelvin Aqueduct.
The aqueduct was the largest in the world when completed, this view shows the view back to Maryhill.
We turned at this point and headed back to Stockinfield.
At Stockinfield Junction the towpath crosses under the canal on Lochburn Road, and resumes the rest of the journed east on the north bank.
This picture is looking south down Lochburn Road.
The canal quickly heads north east out of the city, becoming more tranquil and rural - surprisingly quickly!
Balmore Road, Possil, Glasgow.
The
old bridge at Cadder, conservation village.
The
first point of refreshment, The Stables at Glasgow Bridge...
with
boats at mooring.
Kirkintilloch.
A boathouse of the Seagull Trust in the foreground, and new canalside
construction in the background.
This
substantial aqueduct is unusual in that as well as a pedestrian underpass
(formerly a railway line) it also carries a burn under the canal, this paraphet
for the burn is in the bottom right of the picture.
Still
in Kirkintilloch, just a little east, this 1930s swing bridge has been
re-furbished as part of the Millennium Link.
Auchinstarry,
this local with his sons makes the most of the canal.
At
Craigmarloch the main water supply for the canal flows south from the Kilsyth
Hills.
Past the Dullatur Bog, under the A80, and the next watering hole, Underwood Lockhouse.
Notice the anti-candle housings that have been added to the paddle winding
mechanisms.
The
hydraulically operated vertical lift bridge at Bonnybridge.
The Falkirk Wheel site, three weeks away from the official opening by Her
Majesty the Queen. This panorama shows the site from the Forth and Clyde Canal
Towpath, the original is 5400x1350 pixels. Note the
erection of a small grandstand at the right of the panorama.
Traffic jam! The Govan Seagull and Likhubal pass between The Wheel and Lock 16.
At Lock 16 we cycled north following the path of the original 11 locks joining the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals, then continued east along the Union Canal the short distance to our start at Falkirk High Station, just before the Glen Tunnel.
Photographs: James Gentles