1. Cruise to Linlithgow & back
On a three-night weekend break canal boat holiday-makers can cruise the Union Canal to Linlithgow and back. The route begins by heading up through the first manned lock into the basin and going up the Falkirk Wheel. Then on through Roughmute Tunnel, followed by another two manned locks. The journey continues along the Union Canal, going through the Falkirk Tunnel and then crossing over the Avon Aqueduct. After enjoying miles of peaceful countryside, boaters will reach the historic town of Linlithgow and can visit the remains of Linlithgow Palace on the shores of Linlithgow Loch, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. The journey to Linlithgow and back takes around eight hours.
2. Travel through the Scottish Lowlands to Edinburgh
From Drifters’ canal boat hire base at Falkirk,Edinburgh Quay is a sedate 12-hour journey along the peaceful Union Canal. Perfect for a week’s holiday, the trip starts with a passage through the Falkirk Wheel, and then passes through the lovely lowland villages of Linlithgow, Broxburn and Ratho. Visitor moorings are available at Edinburgh Quay, just a five-minute walk from Princes Street. From there you can visit the City’s many attractions, including Edinburgh Castle and Mary King Close, frozen in time beneath the Royal Mile.
3. Glide along the Forth & Clyde to visit Glasgow
From Falkirk, it’s a peaceful nine-hour cruise along the Forth & Clyde Canal to the City of Glasgow – perfect for a four-night break. Along the way, boaters will travel 22 miles and will pass through four locks. There are also four bridges that must be pre-booked to be opened. This scenic route passes through Auchinstarry, the River Kelvin Valley with magnificent views of the Campsie Fells above, and the town of Kirkintillock. There are moorings at Applecross Street Basin, with access to Glasgow’s wealth of museums, galleries and cultural centres, including the Hunterian Museum.
4. Navigate to Bowling & back
On a 10-day or two-week break from Falkirk, narrowboat holiday-makers can travel along the Forth & Clyde Canal, following the Clyde Estuary all the way down to the old ship building village of Bowling in West Dunbartonshire. The route has a rich mix of industry old and new, as well as stunning views of the Clyde and relics of the ship building era. Along the way, boaters will pass through Auchinstarry, the site of a Roman fort, and Kirkintilloch, which dates back to the 13th century. The journey to Bowling and back travels 58 miles, passing through 48 locks and takes around 32 cruising hours. The journey from Lock 27 to Bowling Sea Lock must be booked in advanced and must be completed in one go. This takes eight hours. And you need to book it coming back as well.
5. See the largest pair of equine statues on the planet
At 30-metres high, the magnificent Kelpies stand at the gateway to the new extension to the Forth & Clyde Canal, by the River Carron. Based on the heavy horses that one plied the canal towpaths, these mythical water horses are an extraordinary site and form part of a new 350-hectare Helix park at the end of the canal extension at Grangemouth. Scottish Canals has launched the new Kelpies Experience allowing visitors to climb into the mouth of one of the statues, ascending 25 metres using a series of ladders, cable crossings, suspended platforms and nets. Visitors can descend by abseil or quick flight, giving the feeling of free falling before being gently lowered to the ground. Lock repair works in 2025 mean boaters can only cruise as far as Lock 16. From there it’s a three-mile walk down to the Kelpies. It takes just 15 minutes to cruise to Lock 16 from Falkirk Basin so this excursion can be added on to a trip to Edinburgh or Glasgow if booked for a week. From spring 2026, boaters will be able to cruise all the way to the Kelpies. This journey is four miles and passes through 14 locks. So the journey to the Kelpies and back takes around eight hours.
