Forth & Clyde Canal

Description: A 35 mile canal, with 39 locks, from Bowling on the northern bank of the Clyde to the southern side of the Forth near Grangemouth.

History: Surveyed in 1726 and 1764, authorised by an Act of 1768, opened in 1790, closed in 1963. opened by the Queen on the 24th May 2002, is part of the £78 million Millennium Link project to restore the Forth & Clyde and the Edinburgh & Glasgow Union canals.
For more details see the History page

Subordinate Waterways:

• Forth & Clyde Canal - Glasgow Branch

Navigation Authority: Head Office: British Waterways, Main Office: British Waterways Scotland, Canals Manager: Lowlands, Rosebank House, Mainstreet, Camelon, Falkirk FK1 4DS: Telephone 01324 671217 : Fax 01324 671225 :

Related Books

• The Canals of Scotland by Jean Lindsay , Edition: 1st edition ISBN 7153 4240 1 :238 pages, Published by David & Charles 1968 Order now from .

• Scotland's Millennium Canals by Guthrie Hutton , ISBN 1 84033 181 X :160 pages, Published by Stenlake 2002 The story of the Forth & Clyde and the Union canals and their restoration. Order now from .

• Nicholson/Ordnance Survey Guide to the waterways - 8 by Not known , ISBN 0007136714 :88 pages, Published by Nicholson 2003 Scotland, the Highland and Lowland Waterways. Covers Caledonian Canal, Crinan Canal, Forth and Clyde Canal, River Clyde (Bowling to Dumbarton), Monkland Canal, Union Canal, River Leven and Loch Lomond. Order now from .

• The Forth and Clyde Canal: A History by T J Dowds , ISBN 1 86232 232 5 :128 pages, Published by Tuckwell Press 2004 A history of this recently re-opened canal. Order now from .

• From Sea to Sea: A History of the Scotish Lowland and Highland Canals by Len Paterson , ISBN 1-903238-94-3 :216 pages, Published by Neil Wilson Publishing 2006 Covers the Forth & Clyde, Monkland, Crinan, Caledonian and Edinburgh and Glasgow Union canals. Order now from .

Related Videos

• Boat Lifts of Europe Released in : 2002 1 hour 8 minutes approx., Produced by VideoActive Covers several boat lifts in France and germany as well as the Anderton Lift and the Falkirk Wheel in the UK. Available on tape and DVD. Order on DVD from

Related External Web Sites

• Cygnus narrowboat holidays : Boat hire on Scotland's Forth & Clyde and Union canals.
• Re-Union Canal Boats : Re-Union operates a canal boat on the Union Canal. We provide a unique space for a range of activities. From training sessions to youth groups, staff meetings to relaxing retreats.
• James's Canal Pages : Information on the Scottish Lowland Canals
• The Falkirk Wheel : Everything you might want to know about the only rotating boat lift in the world.
• The Millennium Link - 2 : An information and picture resource of the restoration of the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals in Scotland, including construction of the Falkirk Wheel.
• Linlithgow Union Canal Society : Linlithgow is on the Edinburgh & Glasgow Union Canal which is 31½ miles long and links the centre of Edinburgh to the Forth & Clyde Canal at Falkirk.
• Scottish Canal Cruising : Boat builders on the Millennium Link canals.
• Capercaillie Cruisers : Canal Boat Hire in Scotland
• Hazel's Photos : Contains some good shots of the Falkirk Wheel.
• The Forth and Clyde Canal Society : Formed in 1980 to campaign for the canal's restoration.

Other Related Pages

• My Holidays on Inland Waterways - Cruise XXV : The Forth & Clyde Canal. By P Bonthron. First published 1916.
• New Wonder of the Waterways : Pictures of the Falkirk Wheel by Hazel Phillips.

Lock Sizes and maximum craft dimensions: Length 68 foot 6 inches, beam 19 foot 8 inches. NOTE: For more details of maximum lock and craft sizes and the basis of these figures see Craft and Lock Sizes Page

Forth & Clyde Canal: Table of distances			Miles	Locks	Navigable (N)	Grid ref	OS Map No
Sea Lock No 2	Junction with the River Carron Navigation leading to the Firth of Forth.		0.0	1	N
Carron Cut Lock No 3			.3	2	N
Abbotshaugh Lock No 4			1.0	3	N
Bainsford Lock No 5	Bainsford Bridge.		1.5	4	N
Falkirk Top Lock No 6			1.6	5	N
Falkirk Bottom Lock No 16			3.1	15	N
Junction with the Union Canal	Junction with Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal		4.1	15	N
Bonnybridge Lift Bridge			6.0	15	N
Underwood Lock No 17			7.4	16	N
Castlecary Lock No 18			8.0	17	N
Castlecary Lock No 19			8.3	18	N
Wyndford Lock No 20	Rising to the Summit Level		9.4	19	N
Auchinstarry Bridge			12.9	19	N
Cadder Bridge			20.9	19	N
Stockingfield Junction	Junction with the branch to Glasgow Basin.		24.6	19	N
Maryhill Top Lock No 21			25.3	20	N
Maryhill Bottom Lock No 25			25.6	24	N
Temple Lock No 26			26.4	26	N
Temple Lock No 27			26.5	27	N
Cloberhill Top Lock No 28			27.8	28	N
Cloberhill Bottom Lock No 32			28.3	32	N
Boghouse Top Lock No 33			28.9	33	N
Boghouse Bottom Lock No 36			29.4	36	N
Dalmuir Drop Lock and Bridge	Constructed during the restoration of the canal to get the navigation under an exsisting bridge.		31.1	37	N
Dalnottar Lock No 37			32.9	38	N
Bowling Lock No 38			34.0	39	N
Bowling Basin and Sea Lock			34.1	40	N

NOTE: N and U in the Navigable column above indicates that the node is navigable or unnavigable. If a D appears here it means that navigation is difficult or restricted to smaller craft.

 

Forth & Cart Canal

Description: Was a half-mile canal, with 3 locks, connecting the Forth & Clyde Canal to the River Clyde at a point opposite the River Cart, which could be navigated to Paisley.

History: Authorised by an Act of 1836 and completed in 1840, transferred to the Forth & Clyde company in 1855 and closed in 1893.
For more details see the History page

Related Books

• The Canals of Scotland by Jean Lindsay , Edition: 1st edition ISBN 7153 4240 1 :238 pages, Published by David & Charles 1968 Order now from .

Forth & Clyde Canal - Glasgow Branch

Description: A 3¾ mile branch from Stockingfield Junction to Glasgow Basin.

Waterway Group: This waterway is part of the Forth & Clyde Canal

Lock Sizes and maximum craft dimensions: Maximum Craft sizes are 68 feet 6 inches long, 16 feet 6 inches beam and 4 feet 6 inches draught. NOTE: For more details of maximum lock and craft sizes and the basis of these figures see Craft and Lock Sizes Page

Flint Coal Canal

Description: A canal which was promoted to serve various metal works, mines and cotton manufacturers in the Holywell and Greenfield area of Flintshire and to connect them to a deep anchorage on the Dee estuary at Pentre Rock.

History: A company was started around 1784 and a line was proposed in 1785 followed by an authorising Act in 1788 but no work seems to have been carried out.
For more details see the History page

Related Books

• The Canals of the West Midlands (2nd Ed) by Charles Hadfield , 352 pages, Published by Augustus M Kelley 1 1969

Fletcher's Canal

Description: A 1½ mile canal connecting the Wet Earth Colliery at Clifton, near Salford, with the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal.

History: About 1790 or 1791 Matthew Fletcher widened some earlier water channels used to for water power into a navigation. Completely closed by 1952.
For more details see the History page

Related Books

• The Canals of North West England (1) by Charles Hadfield & Gordon Biddle , ISBN 07153 49562 :236 pages, Published by David & Charles Volume 1. Order now from .

• The Canals of North West England (2) by Charles Hadfield & Gordon Biddle , ISBN 07153 49929 :260 pages, Published by David & Charles Volume 2. Order now from .

Fossdyke Canal

Description: Runs just over 11 miles from Torksey Junction, on the River Trent, to Lincoln High Bridge, where it joins the River Witham Navigation.

History: Originally a Roman navigation dating back to AD 120, and deepened by Henry I in 1121.
For more details see the History page

Navigation Authority: Head Office: British Waterways, MD's Office: Northern Waterways, General Manager: East Midland Waterways, The Kiln, Mather Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 1FB : Telephone 01636 704481 : Fax 01636 705584 :

The Glory Hole, Lincoln

Related Articles

• More than a Mooring - Burton Waters
• Oxford to Boston

Related Books

• The Waterways of Lincoln and Boston by Christine Richardson & John Lower , ISBN 1 874718 172 :96 pages, Published by Hallamshire Press 1997 A guide to the Witham, Fossdyke and the connecting waterways. Order now from .

• Nicholson/Ordnance Survey Guide to the waterways - 6 by Not known , ISBN 0007136692 :190 pages, Published by Nicholson 2003 Nottingham, York & the North East. Includes the Aire & Calder, Chesterfield, Pocklington, Derwent, Fossdyke, Witham, Ouse, Ure, Rippon, Selby, Sheffield & South Yorkshire and Trent navigations. Order now from .

• The Canals of Eastern England by John Boyes & Ronald Russell , ISBN 0 7153 7415 X :368 pages, Published by David & Charles 1 1977 Order now from .

• Tugs & Towing Barges on the Humber Waterways by Mike Taylor , ISBN 0 7524 3804 2 :128 pages, Published by Tempus 2006 Order now from .

Related Photographs

• Fossdyke Canal: Burton Lane Burton Waters Marina
• Fossdyke Canal: Burton Lane Burton Waters Marina
• Fossdyke Canal: Lincoln High Bridge The Glory Hole

Related External Web Sites

• Lincoln Boat Club : A small non-profit-making club based in the City of Lincoln.
• Burton Waters Marina : Located on the Fossdyke close to Lincoln.

Related Cruising Logs

• 3rd July 1996
• 4th July 1996
• 21st June 1996
• 3rd June 1998
• 4th June 1998
• 28th May 1998
• 2nd September 2002
• 3rd September 2002
• 7th September 2002
• 8th September 2002

Other Related Pages

• My Holidays on Inland Waterways - Cruise XXIII : The Fossdyke Canal. By P Bonthron. First published 1916.
• Cruising Times

Lock Sizes and maximum craft dimensions: Length 74 foot 6 inches, beam 15 foot 2 inches. NOTE: For more details of maximum lock and craft sizes and the basis of these figures see Craft and Lock Sizes Page

Fossdyke Canal: Table of distances			Miles	Locks	Navigable (N)	Grid ref	OS Map No
Torskey Junction	Junction with River Trent		0.0	0	N	SK833781	121
Torksey Lock			.3	1	N	SK838780	121
Hardwick	Site of former ferry		3.0	1	N	SK865752	121
Drinsey Nook			3.8	1	N	SK872743	121
Saxilby Bridge			5.4	1	N	SK897751	121
Stanley Drain Junction			6.3	1	N	SK913749	121
River Till Junction			6.5	1	N	SK917748	121
Burton Lane			8.1	1	N	SK933736	121
Skellingthorpe			8.9	1	N	SK941727	121
Lincoln, West end of Brayford Mere	Junction with River Witham Navigation		10.8	1	N	SK970713	121
Junction with River Witham	Junction with Fossdyke Canal		11.3	1	N	SK972711	121
Lincoln High Bridge	Junction with Fossdyke Canal		11.3	1	N	SK973712	121

NOTE: N and U in the Navigable column above indicates that the node is navigable or unnavigable. If a D appears here it means that navigation is difficult or restricted to smaller craft.

 

Galton's Canal

Description: Was a 1 mile 3 furlong cut from the River Brue, in Somerset, with one small lock.

History: Built by Mr E Galton in about 1801 for the carriage of silt for fertiliser. abandoned in 1897.
For more details see the History page

Related Books

• The Canals of South West England by Charles Hadfield , ISBN 0 7153 4176 6 :206 pages, Published by David & Charles 1 1967 Order now from .

General Warde's (Dafen) Canal

Description: A short canal from Tireinon and Llwynhendy to Dafen pill.

History: Probably opened prior to 1770.
For more details see the History page

Related Books

• The Canals of South Wales and the Border by Charles Hadfield , Edition: 2nd Edition 272 pages, Published by David & Charles 1 1967

 

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.