Friday, 27 September 2019
Wikipedia:
The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift in central Scotland, connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. The lift is named after Falkirk, the town in which it is located. In 2002 it reconnected the two canals for the first time since the 1930s.
The plan to regenerate central Scotland's canals and reconnect Glasgow with Edinburgh was led by British Waterways. Planners decided early on to create a dramatic 21st-century landmark structure to reconnect the canals, instead of simply recreating the historic 11-lock flight that would take at least a half-day to traverse.
The wheel raises boats by 24 metres (79 ft), but the Union Canal is still 11 metres (36 ft) higher than the aqueduct which meets the wheel. Boats must also pass through a pair of locks between the top of the wheel and the Union Canal. 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 other being the Anderton Boat Lift.
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In a few short weeks we would do the Anderton in our own boat (a rental).
The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift in central Scotland, connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. The lift is named after Falkirk, the town in which it is located. In 2002 it reconnected the two canals for the first time since the 1930s.
The plan to regenerate central Scotland's canals and reconnect Glasgow with Edinburgh was led by British Waterways. Planners decided early on to create a dramatic 21st-century landmark structure to reconnect the canals, instead of simply recreating the historic 11-lock flight that would take at least a half-day to traverse.
The wheel raises boats by 24 metres (79 ft), but the Union Canal is still 11 metres (36 ft) higher than the aqueduct which meets the wheel. Boats must also pass through a pair of locks between the top of the wheel and the Union Canal. 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 other being the Anderton Boat Lift.
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In a few short weeks we would do the Anderton in our own boat (a rental).
Our timing was good, we were able to watch a canal boat (in this case the multi-passenger boat from the visitor center) be carried the 79 ft up, completing the process in about 15 minutes.
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Finally, the boat moves out of the caisson, and onto the aqueduct, then onto the canal.
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| A pair of narrowboats enter the lift going "down" canal. And into a traditional lock at the bottom. |
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We drive on to see The Kelpies.
The Kelpies are 30-metre-high horse-head sculptures depicting kelpies (shape-shifting water spirits), located in Grangemouth, near Falkirk, standing next to a new extension to the Forth and Clyde Canal. The sculptures were designed by sculptor Andy Scott and were completed in October 2013. The sculptures form a gateway at the eastern entrance to the Forth and Clyde canal, and the new canal extension built as part of The Helix land transformation project. The Kelpies are a monument to horse-powered heritage across Scotland.
We drive on to see The Kelpies.
The Kelpies are 30-metre-high horse-head sculptures depicting kelpies (shape-shifting water spirits), located in Grangemouth, near Falkirk, standing next to a new extension to the Forth and Clyde Canal. The sculptures were designed by sculptor Andy Scott and were completed in October 2013. The sculptures form a gateway at the eastern entrance to the Forth and Clyde canal, and the new canal extension built as part of The Helix land transformation project. The Kelpies are a monument to horse-powered heritage across Scotland.
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Now heading to Edinburgh, we find a really big bridge and some more good beer.
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We end the day In Edinburgh and settle in for a few days. Back in a really big town once again.
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