Falkirk
Canal CANAL BOAT HIRE

Forth and Clyde Boating Holidays

Explore the lowlands of Scotland with easy cruising and very few locks from Falkirk Canal. While you’re there, you can also experience the incredible Falkirk Wheel, seamlessly linking together the Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde Canal. Learn more about canal boat holidays from Falkirk now.

Phone: 01324 627212
Phone to book: 0330 3330 590 (Free UK calls)
Address: Falkirk Base, Scotland, FK1 4RS
Berths: 2-8

Maps / Guides


A 'Skippers Guide' will be provided on arrival or you can buy the Heron/GEO Forth & Clyde map or the IMRAY Scottish Canals map.

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Falkirk Canal Boat Hire


The Scottish Lowland Canals are quite different from the canals typical of England and Wales. The Forth and Clyde canal is much wider than the average English canal, and the Union Canal is a contour canal which has no locks at all or bridges that have to be opened. 

Nestled in the heart of the Falkirk Canal is the Falkirk Wheel. At a quarter of the cost of the overall £84.5 million project, the Falkirk Wheel is the most significant structure so far, and is a must-see on your Scotland canals bucket list. From Falkirk, you can travel by water to various parts of Scotland, including Glasgow on the Forth and Clyde Canal, or venture over to Edinburgh on the Union Canal:

Information about your Scotland boating trip

Scottish Canals staff currently operate all of the locks and bridges and boaters are not allowed to operate the locks themselves, although help is happily accepted.

For more information on the Falkirk Canal, and what to do while you're there, visit thefalkirkwheel.co.uk or call 01324 619888. In summary the 25m level difference between the canals is traversed via a pair of gondolas which carry 600 tonnes of water to the 100m aqueduct at the top of the 35m diameter wheel. Not one to miss!

Rover Ticket at Falkirk

A Rover Ticket will be charged by Scottish Canals for use of the canals.

This will be a flat charge of £25 for any holiday over 3 nights. If your trip is 3 days or less, you will be charged £15. This ticket will be administered by Scottish Canals and payable on the first day of your holiday via the Falkirk Office.

Directions to Falkirk Marina

 

BY ROAD

For directions by road from Edinburgh and Glasgow, please click here.

FROM AIRPORTS

Landing at either Edinburgh or Glasgow airport you can take a bus to the city centre and then a train as above. From Edinbugh airport a taxi directly to Falkirk takes about 30 minutes.

BY RAIL

From Glasgow Queen Street or Edinburgh station take a train to either Falkirk High or Falkirk Grahamston station (about 30 minutes). The most frequent service is to Falkirk High Station. Either station in Falkirk is a short taxi journey to the Falkirk Wheel.

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USEFUL LINKS

Here are some useful resources for information regarding Falkirk Marina.

Train times & tickets
Glasgow Airport
Edinburgh Airport

 

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Featured Routes

Featured routes from Falkirk Canal, Forth and Clyde

Bowling & return

A boating adventure along the world’s first sea-to-sea canal, this cruise offers a chance to discover the heritage of Scotland’s boating past. You’ll uncover world-class engineering, aqueducts that inspire poetry, speedy passenger boats and even ships fit for a queen.

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best canals in uk
Edinburgh and Glasgow

Complete the width of Scotland, and back, visiting both cities in a one week holiday. 

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Short Breaks

The following are suggested routes for short break canal holidays from Falkirk Canal

Edinburgh & return

An awe-inspiring encounter with a world-renowned masterpiece of engineering is followed by a route through tunnels and over aqueducts. This tranquil cruise mixes nature and wildlife with castles and the demise of a monarch.

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Glasgow & return

The majestic Campsie Fells rise from the valley that the canal shares with the River Kelvin and the scenery is superb as the canal then follows contours for the rest of its journey to Glasgow.

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Featured Boats

Featured Boats from Falkirk Canal, Forth and Clyde

Six to eight berth Boats

Alvechurch Lark

Max: 6 People

Length: 66ft (63ft from Falkirk)

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Alvechurch Sanderling

Max: 8 People

Length: 60ft

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Alvechurch Sandpiper

Max: 6 People

Length: 66ft

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Falkirk Mist

Max: 8 People

Length: 63ft

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Falkirk Spirit

Max: 6 People

Length: 57ft

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Two to Five berth Boats

Alvechurch Wren

Max: 4 People

Length: 49ft

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