📌 Union Canal, Falkirk
★★★
On a dull and damp day you might be tempted to stay indoors… or you could head underground and explore Scotland’s longest canal tunnel! Stalactites have been growing inside from the constant dripping for nearly 200 years since the tunnel’s construction – these and atmospheric reflections in the still canal water create a fascinating underworld, accessible by foot or by boat. Beyond the tunnel exit, look out for the Laughin’ Greetin’ Bridge. Its arch is adorned on the Edinburgh and Glasgow sides with happy and miserable faces respectively: referring to the comparatively easy time canal navvies had in building east over flat ground, compared to the numerous locks (many now replaced by the Falkirk Wheel) and the long tunnel lying ahead to the west. The overland return route through suburbs and scrub doesn’t quite compare, but a decent view over Falkirk to the Ochil Hills is a nice bonus.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Falkirk High railway station, 0.5 mi south of Falkirk town centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 881792
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.992660,-3.794763
🚆 Falkirk High | 🚌 Slammanan Road / High Station Road
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 3 km / 2 mi | ▲ 30 m | ⌛ 45 min
Features: 💧 Union Canal; 🕸 Falkirk Tunnel; 🎭 Laughin’ Greetin’ Bridge
⬤ Easy | Surfaced paths (wet in tunnel), some pavements.
Download file for GPS➡️ Circuit: start – Falkirk Tunnel – Laughin’ Greetin’ Bridge – double back left up bank, then return to start above ground (mostly signposted)
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Mallard ducks, small birds.
Weather: Dull with just a little sunshine breaking through cloud in places; just above freezing. The faintest trace of snow on the ground in places, left from the previous night – more snow on hills.
November 2015
