The Falkirk Wheel

The Falkirk Wheel

An inspiring tribute to the canals and to the ingenuity of British Engineering, The Falkirk Wheel  links together the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals.

Waterways and canals have seen a renowned interest in them, a renaissance in their role of communication. 

Today’s canals bear the essence of our industrial heritage while rendering the fruits of years of work and progress: 

Canals thrive with life, they are at the centre of people seeking outdoors activities, developers have found canals to increase property value and a there is a happy community of people who live in the canals. Some have made it their way of life, and people from all walks of life have joined this peculiar community of boat dwellers.

The Falkirk Wheel is the only rotating boat lift of its kind in the world, and one of two working boat lifts in the United Kingdom.

The Falkirk Wheel, rotating.

A  21st century engineering marvel, takes its name from the nearby city of Falkirk.

In 2002, the world’s first and only rotating boat lift was opened by Her Majesty, The Queen, and more than 5.5million visitors have taken a trip to visit The Wheel since it opened.

Before the wheel these two canals were linked by a staircase of 11 locks which took nearly a day to transit. These were dismantled in 1933.

Entrance to the visitor centre is free, and inside you will find a range of background material on the Millennium Link and on the Falkirk Wheel itself. 

You will also find a large shop and a cafe selling a range of good value food.

And while some will enjoy just watching the wheel and having a break at the visitor centre, it’s the actual workings of the wheel that attracts many visitors, with its 35m or 115ft high, the height of eight double-decker buses, each gondola contains 300 tonnes of water, meaning that the wheel moves 600 tonnes on each lift, and because the gondolas are always in balance (because boats displace their own weight of water) moving them takes surprisingly little power. Up to eight boats can be carried at any one time.

To get the full experience of the wheel, it is recommended that you board your hour long trip in front of the Visitor Centre before being lifted in the wheel to the length of canal through Roughcastle Tunnel. Beyond the tunnel your boat turns, before returning through it and descending via the wheel. 

Advance booking of boat trips is highly recommended. 

The Falkirk Wheel is the epicentre for a lot of activities associated with the canals and the big net of towpaths, paths and parkland. 

With activities for children like waterwalking, or enjoying a ride by the canal bank, or be it a trip on a boat, the Falkirk Wheel has something for everybody. 

If you want to dig deeper in history, you are also ideally located to explore footpaths from the Falkirk Wheel that will take you a little over half a mile to Rough Castle Roman Fort, complete with one of the best preserved stretches of the Antonine Wall.

       

On the way back, we will get to see the impressive Kelpies, famous monumental statues celebrating the working horses in Scotland and their relation to the canals and the development of the early industries.

  

The Kelpies

You can tailor your day trip to best suit your preferences according to your group’s particular requirements. 

A1 Coaches Day Trips.  Just call 01592 713443 or e-mail info@a1coaches.com or visit www.a1coaches.com

Walking, Hiking, Munro Bagging

Whether for a family day out or for those of you who like to enjoy “firsthand” the sheer natural beauty of the British Isles trail walking, mountain walking or both, in Scotland there are as many as 26 marked trails, and bens, Munros and Grahams will challenge you to do some “Munro bagging”, that is, climb to the top and you will be able to claim you have “bagged a Munro”.

Bagging Munros is a trend started by Hamish Brown in 1974, completing the first round of Munros (Munros are Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet).

For a friendly approach to trail walking, among all the famous 26 way marked trails in Scotland, in Fife we have the Fife Coastal Path, which can be undertaken in eight different sections, as follows:

The Kincardine to Limekilns section offers a varied landscape from industrial activities to cultural heritage, natural reserve spaces and historic architectural icons, including beautiful bridges. Stretching for 11 miles or 17.5km, allow 4 - 5 hours to complete the whole route.

Limekilns to Burntisland. Impressive scenery, nature reserves and WWII historic sites can be found on this 17 mile/27.4km section of the path.  Allow 6 - 7 hours.

Burntisland

Burntisland to Buckhaven. Starting at Burntisland, a 14 mile (22.5 km) stretch of path with historic towns, botanically significant coastal grasslands and interesting geological features.  Allow 5 - 6 hours.

Buckhaven to Elie.  A 13 miles long (20.0 km) section, modern towns, picturesque villages, historic monuments, and varied wildlife will captivate your attention throughout the path. Allow 4 - 5 hours.

Elie to Cambo (also known as Kingsbarns) section is 16 miles long (25.8 km) and can be rough underfoot. It has geological, historical and wildlife interest, but it also has short sections of stone steps that may be uneven or slippery. This path will also lead you through quaint little fishing villages. Robust footwear is recommended, particularly in winter. Allow 5 - 6 hours.

The Cambo Sands (also known as Kingsbarns Beach) to Leuchars stretch of the Fife Coastal Path follows the coast over some rough terrain. The coastal path is tidal in places so please check tides before setting off and be aware that dogs should be kept under control as livestock will be present in some areas. A challenging and rewarding 14 miles (22.5km) which should take around 5 - 6 hours.

Leuchars to Wormit Bay.  This section of the Fife Coastal Path is 16 miles (25.8 km) long and goes along some beautiful areas.  It takes in the Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve, passes through Tayport village and finally arrives at Wormit Bay after passing the Tay Road Bridge.  Allow 6 - 7 hours.

Wormit Bay to Newburgh. A 15 mile (24.1 km) section passing over rough terrain and culminating at the commemorative Arch at Mugrum Park, Newburgh.
For convenience, split it in two sections as the landscape and path quality is very different in each. Allow 3 - 5 hours.

The Wormit Bay to Balmerino 2.6 miles (4.2km) section starts at Wormit Bay Car Park and weaves a lovely undulating route which runs just above the shoreline of the Tay leading to Balmerino. Passing through fields and woodland, some sections are steep although not very long.

The Balmerino to Newburgh 11 mile (17.5km) section is a long and quite strenuous passing through a length of the path that almost reaches the summit of Normans Law.

There is an ample choice to select from the 26 way marked trails in Scotland, all of them offer everlasting impressions of Scotland’s essence.

A very iconic trail is without any doubt the Arthur’s Seat, in Edinburgh.

Arthur’s Seat, in Edinburgh a friendly path for casual walkers, this cosmopolitan trail is located in the middle of Scotland’s capital city, where nature blends with the city in a very harmonious manner. Arthur’s Seat is the remnant of an extinct volcano and stands 251m tall. There’s a gentle road for casual walkers who don’t mind missing out on the very peak, while experienced hikers will prefer to take the more difficult route right to the summit.

Hiker's club: you can easily organize your trail walking trip to any trail of your choice.

A1 Coaches Day Trips.  Call 01592 713443 or e-mail info@a1coaches.com or visit www.a1coaches.com