Scotland: Falkirk Wheel

Have you heard of Falkirk Wheel? It is the world's first and only rotating boat lift!

It is sited in a countryside of Scotland, approximately 23 miles (37 km) from both Glasgow or Edinburgh. To be precise, it is situated in the Falkirk Town, Central Lowlands of Scotland, historically within the county of Stirlingshire.

Falkirk Wheel was the only point of interest I earmarked for my trip in Scotland, after I stumbled upon. [My entire trip plan is free and easy and by that mean, the rest of the plan is blank of places-to-go, only the places-to-stay].

I was very impressed with such a futuristic structure, in the middle of nowhere, just for the purpose of connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. For the first time, I heard of Falkirk, for the first time I learnt about canals' history (brief) of Scottish. For this case here, the two canals had been historically joined at Falkirk by a flight of 11 locks that stepped down across a distance of 1.5m (since 1800s), but these were dismantled in 1933, breaking the link.

Falkirk Wheel was meant more than just to restoring navigability across Scotland actually.
It was also to provide corridor of regenerative activities through and along the canals.

And it does. Falkirk Wheel has transformed Scotland's once-forgotten and neglected canal system into a thriving recreational and tourist attraction and revived water transport between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Falkirk Wheel relives the countryside, in fact- fishing, cycling, wildlife discovering, paddle sporting, various of outdoor fun, etc.

According to the board (below), two hundred years ago, canals were as vital to Scotland as motorways are today. Lowland Scotland's first canal was the Forth & Clyde (completed 1790), which provided a cargo and passenger highway across Central Scotland. It was followed by the Union Canal (completed 1822), which connected with the Forth & Clyde at Falkirk. The Union's main purpose was to get cheap coal into Edinburgh. By the late 1800s, however, the canals were in decline. Railways were cheaper and easier to build. Both waterways eventually closed in the 1960s when roads were built over them. Not long afterwards, there was an upsurge of interest in pleasure boating, canoeing and fishing. The £84.5million Millennium Link project completed their revival. It restored water travel across Central Scotland in 2002 and rejoined the canals at the Falkirk Wheel.

Waterbodies were essential way of transport from one place to another, long before railway was existed.

We took about one hour of driving time from Edinburgh via M9. Once arrived, there was a £2 charged for the car parking. We did not check the boat trip timing prior to our arrival, I was quite confident that we could reach the place within the opening hours and the interval of each boat trip was less than an hour. We could wait for next if we missed any upon arrival. While waiting in the visitor centre(indoor), an outdoor playground caught the girls' eyes.

A beautiful waterpark too. The girls were trying to find fun out of it.

We rode on 13.30 boat. Once everyone on board, the boat was cruised and secured in the gondola and waited for the lift (pic below).

Some introduction was made by one humor boat crew. He briefly walk us through facts of the Wheel. Pretty sophisticated piece of engineering:

The unique shape of the structure is claimed to have been inspired by various sources, both manmade and natural, such as a Celtic double headed spear, a vast turning propeller of a Clydebank built ship, the ribcage of a whale or the spine of a fish. The canal network as a 'backbone' connecting Scotland, east to west seems appropriate and there is a true beauty in the repetitive sweeping shape of the aqueduct. The arches over the aqueduct also add to the drama of the structure, forming a complete circle with the reflection in the canal to extend the feeling of the tunnel. The fact the canal literally ends in mid air creates a thrilling sense of sailing off the edge in to the spectacular scenery of the horizon. - Design and Engineering.

The 35-m high, 1,500-tonne structure is recognised as an engineering marvel globally! Can you imagine such a gigantic structure would only consume energy of boiling 8 household kettles- 1.5kWh?!

...boat moving into aqueduct.

Accordingly, boats accessed the gondolas from circular basin or the aqueduct above while the Wheel was stationary. Steel gates at both ends of the gondolas tilt open and shut hydraulically, allowing a boat to enter from one end and leave through the other.

You've gotto read how hydraulics being the gatekeeper for the boat(s) in the gondolas here. 

When our boat moved from aqueduct into Union Canal, we were greeted by tranquility. The calming surrounds of the open countryside recharged us from 2 hours drive (from Edinburgh). The boat trip was marvellously calming.

We had simple lunch in the cafe thereafter. And the girls can't wait for playground time again. Lucky them, they got to have some water play fun this time, on top of slides and swings.

Panoramic view towards the Wheel (and the Visitor Centre) from the playground.

"This outline design was then reappraised to create a functional lift that could raise and lower boats swiftly whilst celebrating the reconnection of the two historic canals with a structure worthy of a new millennium." - Design and Engineering 

Location: Lime Road, Tamfourhill, Falkirk FK1 4RS.

How to get there: detail here. 

Admission fee: Adult: £8.95 | Child:  £4.95 | With 2 adults and 2 children, we gotten 10% off of total bill.

Opening hours: Opening 7 days a week, from 10am everyday. Closing at different timing between weekday- 5.30pm, and weekend- 6.30pm. [Summer]