- Location: Lime Road, Falkirk, FK1 4RS
- Opening times: Monday to Sunday, 9.45am – 6.00pm
- Entry: Adult £17.50, concession £15.50, child (5 – 15) £9.50, under 5s free
- Access: Onsite parking, no charge.
I am aware that this website has a lot of old stones in the shape of abbeys, castles, standing stones, and so on, and this is because Scotland has a lot of old stones, many of which have brown signs pointing to them. But today I wanted something new, something twenty-first century, and more importantly, something completely lacking in stones, and the Falkirk Wheel ticked all three boxes.
When the Falkirk Wheel opened in 2002 it reconnected the Forth and Clyde and the Union canals for the first time since the 1930s. The link between the two had previously been a stairway of eleven locks which could take up to eight hours to traverse, but these fell into disrepair after canal usage declined following the rise of the railway. When British Waterways spearheaded the process of regenerating central Scotland’s canals, it was decided to create a new landmark structure rather than rebuilding the historic locks system. The result was the Falkirk Wheel, the first rotating boat lift in the world.
The Wheel was opened by Queen Elizabeth II, but her own security team denied her the opportunity of having a go on it. This wasn’t due to any problems with the Wheel, but because of tightened security in the wake of the September 11 attacks the previous year. Initially the Wheel was seen only as something that would be used by barge owners; incredibly, it seems no one had thought of it being a tourist attraction in its own right. It was only when people flocked to see this new architectural and engineering wonder that it dawned on the owners to offer boat trips allowing non-canal users to also experience the Wheel. On average, half a million people visit the Wheel every year.
I arrived in time for the 10.40 sailing but the lady at the ticket desk very considerately informed me that this time slot was full of school children, so I opted for the quieter 11.20 boat. That boat, the Antonine, was still busy, about 90% full I reckoned, but the demographic leaned more toward the other end of the age spectrum, so was mercifully shrillness-free.
After an introductory talk by a member of the crew (Stephen, in this case), the boat was piloted into one of the Wheel’s ‘gondolas’ and then we had lift off! (Warning: ‘Lift-off overdramatises the experience. I am not sure if there is a precise term for the opposite of a thrill ride, but the Falkirk Wheel pretty much defines the concept. The 27 metre ascent is so slow and silent I was barely aware we were moving). We then sailed along the aqueduct connecting the Wheel to the Union Canal, passing first through Roughcastle Tunnel. This is named after a nearby old Roman fort called Rough Castle, and the tunnel carried us under the Roman Antonine Wall. This information comes courtesy of the pre-recorded audio commentary, which also detailed the mechanics of the Wheel as well as historical information regarding the use of the canals. We exited into a basin of the Union Canal, and if we were sailing further east the boat would have to pass through two immediate locks that would lift it a further eight metres. After this, it is plain sailing all the way to Edinburgh 32 miles away without another lock in sight. However, our boat turned in the basin and headed back to the Wheel, where Stephen returned to point out local landmarks – the Kelpies can just be seen five miles distant – and give further information about the Wheel. Then we completed the revolution by being carried down to rejoin the Forth and Clyde Canal.
The Falkirk Wheel is elegantly designed and is in a lovely location and both can be appreciated in and of themselves, but no trip here would be complete without a shot on the Wheel. Even although I booked my trip upon arrival I was surprised at just how busy the Wheel was on an overcast Monday in June before the school holidays. So online booking in advance is recommended. There are various other activities onsite (see below), as well as a gift shop, a café, and toilets.
Destination or Diversion?
There are other canal-based activities available such as kayaking and paddle boarding, as well as a boating pond, a splash play area, an adventure play park, mini golf, and archery. There are also a series of walkways, one of which leads to the Roman fort at Rough Castle (under one mile) and another to the Kelpies (five miles), so depending on how much you want to do would determine whether this was a destination or diversion.