Kilsyth to Falkirk (11 miles)
This long stretch takes us to the junction of the Forth & Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. Barges previously had to negotiate a flight of 11 locks in order to be raised up to the Union waterway but this lengthy procedure was eliminated when the Falkirk Wheel - a rotating boat lift - was constructed at the turn of the century to tie in with the reopening of the canals.
We begin at the Auchinstarry Marina on the outskirts of Kilsyth. A quiet trek ensues and there are long straight sections of canal. We parallel the River Kelvin for some distance which forms the historic boundary between Lanarkshire and Stirlingshire. The towpath dips under the M80 and we pass through the middle of Bonnybridge. Do take the time to have a look at the tunnel under the canal, known as the Radical Pend. In 1820, an insurrection took place in Bonnybridge and the perpetrators were marched through the tunnel en route to Stirling Jail. Information boards tell the story.
The undoubted highlight of the walk is the Falkirk Wheel. Boat trips can be booked and there is also a visitors centre with a cafe and shop. It's also worthwhile just to stand and watch the boat lift in action. Beyond the wheel the walk passes through a tunnel almost 200 yards long and we then encounter a pair of old-style locks. We are now on the Union Canal which opened in 1822 and provided a link to Edinburgh. The Forth & Clyde continues towards the river bearing its name, via The Helix which features the now world-famous Kelpies.
As we approach Falkirk, another tunnel appears in the distance. This one is a 696-yard monster and the sparse lighting ensures an atmospheric passage. Stalactites have formed on the walls and this is a fantastic monument to Scotland's industrial heritage. Unfortunately, this has to wait until the next stage and we jump off the towpath just before the portal where you can catch a train from the nearby Falkirk High to Croy, which lies a mile from our starting point.
