Follow the history of the canal that was designed to provide an important commercial route from the forth estuary in the east to the clyde in the west. The forth and clyde canal pathway runs between the firth of forth and the firth of clyde and is a 106 kilometre long 66 mi footpath and cycleway that runs across scotland between bowling west of glasgow and lochrin basin edinburgh quay in edinburgh the path runs on the towpaths of the forth clyde and union canals and is entirely off road.
Compared to the union canal the forth and clyde canal seemed much more open and you get much better views all along the way especially of the hills on the right hand side.
Forth and clyde canal route. The forth clyde canal was designed by the eminent civil engineer john smeaton and completed in 1790. Forth and clyde canal ordnance survey map view and print off detailed os map forth and clyde canal open street map view and print off detailed map. The first steamboat ever built the charlotte dundas carried out trials in 1802 and later the canal carried vehicles on boats through the locks such as railway wagons the canal operated until 1963 but then fell into disuse.
It is 34 miles long and has 37 locks. The forth and clyde canal was constructed to accommodate sea going boats from the beginning and the locks are thus 60 feet long and 20 feet wide a canal boat it isn t. The forth clyde and union canal towpaths.
The canal forms part of our glasgow to balloch cycle route which takes you from the city centre to the banks of loch lomond on nice traffic free paths. The forth clyde canal is currently open to navigation with some restrictions in place. The forth and clyde canal is a canal opened in 1790 crossing central scotland.
There s nothing quite as invigorating or stress relieving as getting on a bike and cycling through miles of beautiful countryside. The union and forth clyde canals route 754 is an entirely traffic free cycle path from edinburgh to glasgow. The canal was opened in1790 and large enough for the sea going vessels of the time to navigate from the firth of forth to the firth of clyde.
The canal is 35 miles 56 km long and it runs from the river. Discover the forth clyde canal by bike cycling the forth clyde canal towpath has never been easier or safer and it s the perfect way to keep the whole family fit and healthy. It provided a route for the seagoing vessels of the day between the firth of forth and the firth of clyde at the narrowest part of the scottish lowlands this allowed navigation from edinburgh on the east coast to the port of glasgow on the west coast.
Along the route you ll pass interesting sights on the canal such as the falkirk wheel a rotating boat lift. Crossing the scottish lowlands at the narrowest part the canal runs for 56km and provides a route for sea going vessels between the firth of clyde and the firth of forth via a short stretch of the. The path surface is similarly decent though perhaps a bit more gravelly in places.
The path is well maintained and its surface is. At times it runs along the towpath of the union canal a wonderful wildlife corridor and recreational space. The forth and clyde canal runs from bowling on the river clyde in the west to grangemouth on the river carron in the east.
