Forth & Clyde and Union Canal Towpath
The Forth & Clyde and Union Canal Towpath is a 93 km traffic-free route from Bowling on the Clyde to Edinburgh — following the Forth & Clyde Canal and then the Union Canal across the central belt of Scotland through some of its most interesting industrial heritage.
About Forth & Clyde and Union Canal Towpath
Scotland's two great Lowland canals — the Forth & Clyde (1790) and the Union Canal (1822) — together span the width of Scotland from the Clyde at Bowling to Edinburgh. The towpath route following both canals is one of the flattest and most unusual long-distance routes in the country, passing through the heart of the central belt past the remarkable Falkirk Wheel (the rotating boat lift connecting the two canals), the Kelpies (giant horse-head sculptures) and the Antonine Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For runners it is a fast, flat, traffic-free route — ideal for long training runs. The industrial heritage is genuinely fascinating.
The route
Bowling to Falkirk (~50 km, Forth & Clyde Canal): From the Clyde sea lock through Glasgow suburbs, Maryhill Locks, Kirkintilloch and Falkirk. The Kelpies at Helix Park near Falkirk are a highlight.
Falkirk Wheel: The remarkable rotating boat lift connecting the two canals — a must-see engineering marvel.
Falkirk to Edinburgh (~43 km, Union Canal): Through Linlithgow (palace) and the Avon Aqueduct to the Edinburgh terminus at Fountainbridge.
Getting there & logistics
Start: Bowling. Train from Glasgow Queen Street to Dalmuir or Singer.
Finish: Edinburgh Fountainbridge or Princes Street. Excellent transport connections.
Best time: Year-round. The towpath surfaces are excellent.
Safety
The canal towpaths are low-hazard but involve paths immediately adjacent to water. Keep children and dogs under control near the canal edges. In an emergency: call 999 or 112. Good mobile signal throughout the central belt.
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