I do like a good canal walk. They’re generally nice and flat, you don’t have to worry too much about getting lost, and there is usually the added bonus of being able to stop somewhere for food and drink along the way. Which, let’s be honest, is always a good incentive for me (or anyone!).
This particular walk had been on my list for a while. Many years ago, I walked the Union Canal from its start at Fountainbridge in Edinburgh as far as Linlithgow, so it felt about time I came back and tackled the next section.
So, this time we started in Linlithgow, with the plan to follow the Union Canal to the Falkirk Wheel before joining the Forth & Clyde Canal and continuing on to the Kelpies. It sounded like a good way to see two of Falkirk’s most recognisable landmarks while getting some serious miles into the legs at the same time.
The walk also formed part of my training for a 26-mile charity walk later in the year. As much as I enjoy getting out and exploring Scotland, there comes a point where you have to stop talking about long-distance walking and actually start putting in the miles.
A friend joined me for the day and, with a favourable weather forecast and several strategically planned refreshment stops, we set off from Linlithgow ready to tackle the 18.5-mile route.
And, importantly, there were plenty of opportunities for coffee, lunch and cake along the way.
The Walk
Start Point: Linlithgow
Finish Point: The Kelpies, Falkirk
Distance: 18.5 miles
Time: 6 – 7 hrs
Difficulty: Easy – mostly flat canal towpath
We started off in Linlithgow just behind the train station and made our way to the Union Canal, where we joined the towpath and headed in the direction of Falkirk.
The first part of the walk is very straightforward. You basically follow the canal, with the water beside you and the towpath stretching out ahead. It’s not particularly challenging in terms of terrain, although when you’re walking a decent distance, the miles do eventually start to catch up with you!
The weather was mostly cloudy with regular bursts of sunshine and a surprisingly balmy 16°C – pretty much perfect walking weather. There is something quite relaxing about being beside the canal, watching the boats go past and generally enjoying the fact that you’re not having to think too hard about where you’re going.
Well, apart from making sure we knew where the next coffee stop was.
Coffee in Polmont
Our first stop of the day was at Aran in Polmont, where we stopped for a coffee. Strangely for us, it was only coffee, as my friend had thoughtfully brought along Empire Biscuits from Stephens Bakery (or double shortbread, depending on where in Scotland you’re from!) for us to enjoy later on the walk.
This was a very welcome break and gave us the chance to sit down for a bit before continuing with the walk. I do think that strategically placed coffee stops are one of the great things about walking in this part of Scotland. It makes the whole thing feel a little less like exercise and a little more like a day out.
After our coffee, we headed back onto the canal towpath, biscuits in hand, and continued towards the Falkirk Wheel.
The Falkirk Wheel
After walking through a couple of tunnels, which were thankfully light, we eventually reached the Falkirk Wheel, which was our first major landmark of the day.
Even though I’ve seen the Falkirk Wheel before, it’s still quite an impressive sight when you arrive at it on foot. After walking along the canal for several miles, suddenly having this huge piece of engineering appear in front of you feels like you’ve actually got somewhere!
By this point we were more than ready for lunch, so we took full advantage of the café before setting off again.
This was probably the point where we could have called it a day. We’d already walked a good distance, we’d had coffee, we’d had lunch and we’d seen the Falkirk Wheel.
But, of course, that wasn’t the plan.
We still had the Kelpies to get to.
The Falkirk Wheel to the Kelpies
After lunch, we continued our walk, this time following the Forth & Clyde Canal towards Falkirk.
Again, this section was nice and flat and relatively easy going, although by this point we were definitely starting to feel the miles in our legs. The clouds also seemed to have disappeared along with the breeze so the sun was feeling a lot hotter!
Still, having the Kelpies as the final destination gave us something to aim for. There is always something quite satisfying about having a landmark at the end of a long walk. You can see it as the finish line rather than just wondering when the walk is actually going to end!
As we got closer, the Kelpies gradually came into view and, after all those miles, it was a welcome sight.
The Kelpies
We eventually made it to the Kelpies, which felt like a pretty good achievement after walking all the way from Linlithgow.
I had been looking forward to getting an ice cream when we arrived, but sadly, the ice cream van was closed. There is nothing worse than mentally planning your post-walk ice cream for the last few miles, only to discover that it isn’t happening!
Thankfully, all was not lost.
Instead, we grabbed a drink and a cake and sat down for a well-earned rest. It wasn’t quite the ice cream I had been hoping for, but after walking from Linlithgow to the Falkirk Wheel and then on to the Kelpies, I wasn’t exactly complaining.
Then again, after walking 18.5 miles, I felt I had probably earned both.
We ended our day by walking through the Helix Park to Falkirk FC Football Stadium, where a lift home was waiting for us (thankfully!). However, another 2 mile walk would see you at Falkirk Grahamston Station for the train back to Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this walk. It was a good way to link two of Falkirk’s most recognisable landmarks while exploring a stretch of the Union and Forth & Clyde Canals that I hadn’t walked before.
The route is mostly flat and straightforward, so there isn’t anything particularly technical about it. The main challenge is the distance, but with plenty of opportunities to stop for coffee, lunch and cake, it breaks the day up nicely.
From a training perspective, it was exactly the sort of walk I needed ahead of my 26-mile charity challenge. Eighteen and a half miles is enough to remind you that long-distance walking isn’t entirely effortless, but not quite enough to make you question all of your life choices.
Most importantly, it was a genuinely enjoyable day out. Good company, decent weather, two iconic landmarks and several food stops along the way are exactly my kind of day out.
Although I still think the ice cream van should have been open.