Union Canal Walk

The Union Canal is a 31.5-mile (50.7 km) canal in Scotland, from Lochrin Basin, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh to Falkirk, where it meets the Forth and Clyde Canal.

Edinburgh (Lochrin Basin) to Broxburn

Friday 23 December 2011 - 12.5 Miles

ID23122011#23

My last day in Scotland so was great to get this canal walk started, unfortunately my da didn't come on this extravanganza coz still a bit crook from Kelvin Walkway.  From Haymarket Station I walked the short distance to Lochrin Basin, which is the slightly truncated terminus of the canal, and is being 'poshed up' with hotels, restaurants etc, capitalising on the revitalised canal.  Continuing on Westwards through Slateford, Kingsknowe, The Bronx (Wester Hailes), East Hermiston, then becoming much more rural in character, to pass through Ratho, where I had some lunch by the Bridge Inn, and got mugged by some nawty geese, who had a penchant for Worcestershire Sauce Crisps.  On to cross over the river Almond on a most impressive Aquaduct and eventually passing under the rebuilt Bathgate - Airdrie Line and M8 to arrive in Broxburn - a great walk but a bit depressing waiting in the drizzle for a late bus accompanied by mums enveloping  their broods in a carcinogenic fugue.  Whatever, caught bus eventually to Uphall, and got carcass repatriated to dad's gaff via Livingston North.  Next section will be on to Linlithgow.

Missing Link duz the Millenium Link - Lochrin Basin

Truncated and Poshed Up - don't you love regeneration?

Leamington Lift Bridge - I don't know if that refers to the location or manufacturer

The David Florence Canoe Club - nice idea, with those stripy pole things that go out across the water when being used - although they can't get much white water in these parts

Aquaduct over railway

Slateford Aquaduct

Wooden Things - Bill and Ben?

Under the railway at Kingsknowe

Wester Hailes - rudely interrupts the canal with a rather forlorn and protracted appearance, just rather stark and gladly dispensed with

Trolley in the water...par for the course but rather dangerous for boats - bleedin Neds

National Trust For Scotland Building - a little bit of civilisation

Rather nice from here on - bridges approaching Ratho.  Looks like some kind of health push is happening hereabouts - 'Adobe Active Week!'  Some geezer on a bmx asked me for the time (one of very few people about) and was relieved that he had time to finish his 44 mile round trip journey to Lochrin from Linlithgow before dark!

Seat at Ratho with canal info

The bridge Inn - Ratho.  Restaurant trips available from here

These Geese ganged up on me and demanded food with menaces - sweet

I love 'floaty boaty'

From Ratho for some distance there are cutouts of most childrens characters you could mention - presumably on cruises to keep the bairns under control - although if the tweenies existed when I was a nipper I think I would still be undergoing remedial therapy - they are rather sinister!

Presumably the climax of the Kiddie Cruz - Santas Grotto

Superb and rather vertigo inducing River Almond Aquaduct

River Almond

Strathclyde Passenger Transport Train near Broxburn

Don't know what this means - sort of thing Da Vinci would cook up

Leaving the Union at Broxburn - I kept thinking Blackburn in my noggin for some reason.  Anyway, that's it for this session in Scotland