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Home > Routes > Forth & Clyde

Forth & Clyde Canal

This Route covers:

  • Forth & Clyde Canal

Including:

  • Dalmuir Drop Lock
  • Glasgow Branch

See more with our  Great DVDs 

Description of the Route

Union Inn   © Andrew Balmer 2006

The Forth & Clyde Canal provides a through route between the east and west coasts of Scotland.  From the Firth of Forth in the East the route follows the tidal River Carron until reaching the seal lock at the end of the canal.

Climbing through 15 locks in the first 3 miles the canal reaches the Union Inn and the site of the former junction with the Union Canal.

After a further mile it reaches the new junction with the Union Canal which includes the Falkirk Wheel on its route to Edinburgh.

Wee Spark   © Andrew Balmer 2006

The Forth & Clyde Canal continues on the level for a further 3 miles before climbing through the 4 locks at Castlecary.  Now the summit pound stretches over 15 miles to Stockingfield Junction in Glasgow.

Here the Glasgow Branch diverges to the left for nearly 3 miles to Spiers Wharf, with an extension to Port Dundas basin.

Beyond Stockingfield Junction is Maryhill Viaduct, closely followed by the 5 Maryhill Locks starting the descent to the Clyde.

Descending towards Bowling   © Andrew Balmer 2006

The descent continues through a further 11 locks until Dalmuir.  Here the unique drop-lock allows boats to pass under the busy road bridge.

Two more conventional locks complete the descent to the basin at Bowling where the sea lock allows passage through Bowling Harbour onto the tidal River Clyde and on towards the Firth of Clyde.

 Buy great DVDs  to see more of the canal

DVDs

Forth & Clyde and Union Canals DVD   © Paul Balmer 2009 Falkirk Wheel   © Paul Balmer 2006

Waterway Routes has two DVDs covering the Forth & Clyde Canal.

Your chance to sit back and relax as you watch our progress.

Available in both Popular and Bowcam formats - or both together in one box.

Dimensions and Features

Openers = Opening Bridges

Hours = Single Journey

Forth & Clyde Canal
(Whole, inc Glasgow Branch)

68'  6"

16'  6"

9' 10"

40

39

14

0

4

26

River Carron -
Carron Basin (via River Lock)

68'  6"

19'  8"

NA  

1

0

0

0

4

1

Carron Basin -
Falkirk Junction

85'  3"

21'  0"

9' 10"

14

4

1

0

4

6

Falkirk Junction -
Stockingfield Junction

68'  6"

19'  8"

9' 10"

4

22

3

0

4

8

Stockingfield Junction -
Bowling Basin

68'  6"

19'  8"

9' 10"

18

10

9

0

4

8

Bowling Basin -
Bowling Harbour  (via sea lock)

85'  3"

21'  0"

NA  

1

0

0

0

4

1

Glasgow Branch
 

68'  6"

16'  6"

9' 10"

2

4

1

0

4

2

NOTES:  The locks and opening bridges are operated by BW staff and must be booked in advance.

Operator

British Waterways

Forth & Clyde Canal

Address:

Lowland Canals

Canal House

Applecross Street

Glasgow

G4 9SP

  

Phone:

 

Web:

 

Customer Services:

0141 332 6936

 

www.scottishcanals.co.uk

 

0845 676 6000

General

 

BW Customer Services:

BW Emergency:

0845 671 5530

0800 47 999 47