The canals give an almost entirely traffic-free and nearly flat ride between Scotland's two biggest cities. From Edinburgh the Union Canal towpath crosses the great aqueducts over the Almond and the Avon and passes Ratho and Linlithgow to the Falkirk Wheel, the rotating boat lift that joins the two canals.
From there the Forth & Clyde Canal runs west past Kirkintilloch into Glasgow, finishing at Speirs Wharf near the city centre. Towpath surfaces vary, and some stretches are narrow, so allow a full day. ScotRail trains between the cities carry bikes; booking ahead is recommended.
Turn-by-turn directions
Lochrin Basin Lane120 yd0.0 mi
Turn right onto Lower Gilmore Place30 yd0.1 mi
Turn left onto Lower Gilmore Place150 yd0.1 mi- Turn right onto Leamington Road10 yd0.2 mi
- Continue straight onto Leamington Lift Bridge20 yd0.2 mi
- Continue straight onto Gilmore Park10 yd0.2 mi
- Turn left onto Union Canal Towpath1.3 mi0.2 mi
Bear right onto Union Canal Towpath0.8 mi1.5 mi- Bear right onto Union Canal Towpath1.6 mi2.3 mi
- Turn right onto Union Canal Towpath10 yd3.9 mi
Show all 109 turns
- Turn left onto Union Canal Towpath0.3 mi3.9 mi
Bear left onto Union Canal Towpath0.6 mi4.3 mi- Bear left onto Union Canal Towpath3.1 mi4.9 mi
- Bear left onto Union Canal Towpath20 yd8.0 mi
- Bear left onto Union Canal Towpath10 yd8.0 mi
- Bear left onto Union Canal Towpath130 yd8.0 mi
Sharp right onto Baird Road0.1 mi8.0 mi- Bear right onto Main Street0.1 mi8.2 mi
- Turn right onto North Street0.1 mi8.3 mi
Turn around onto North Street0.1 mi8.4 mi- Turn left onto Main Street0.1 mi8.5 mi
- Bear left onto Baird Road0.1 mi8.6 mi
- Turn right onto Union Canal Towpath1.3 mi8.8 mi
- Bear left0.2 mi10.0 mi
- Turn right onto Cliftonhall Road, B70301 mi10.2 mi
- Turn left onto Newbridge Road0.3 mi11.2 mi
- Turn right50 yd11.4 mi
- Turn left0.1 mi11.5 mi
- Continue straight onto Old Liston Road170 yd11.6 mi
- Continue straight onto Lonehead Drive20 yd11.7 mi
- Bear left1.8 mi11.7 mi
- Bear right40 yd13.5 mi
- Turn right onto Dunnet Way0.2 mi13.5 mi
Enter roundabout60 yd13.7 mi
Take second exit onto Dunnet Way0.2 mi13.7 mi- Turn left onto Youngs Road30 yd13.9 mi
- Turn right onto Clifton View150 yd13.9 mi
- Turn left onto Clifton View30 yd14.0 mi
- Turn right170 yd14.0 mi
- Sharp right onto Union Canal Towpath7.3 mi14.1 mi
- Turn right30 yd21.4 mi
- Bear right120 yd21.5 mi
- Turn right onto St Magdalene's10 yd21.5 mi
- Turn left onto Edinburgh Road, B9080130 yd21.5 mi
- Continue straight onto High Port20 yd21.6 mi
- Bear right onto High Port, B9080170 yd21.6 mi
- Enter roundabout onto A803 (roundabout)10 yd21.7 mi
- Take second exit onto High Street, A80340 yd21.7 mi
Sharp left0.1 mi21.7 mi- Bear right30 yd21.9 mi
- Turn around40 yd21.9 mi
- Bear right110 yd21.9 mi
- Turn left90 yd22.0 mi
- Bear left50 yd22.0 mi
- Turn right onto Station Road60 yd22.1 mi
- Bear right onto Station Road0.1 mi22.1 mi
- Turn left onto Manse Road10 yd22.2 mi
- Turn left onto Manse Road20 yd22.3 mi
- Bear right onto Union Canal Towpath0.5 mi22.3 mi
- Bear left onto Union Canal Towpath3.6 mi22.8 mi
- Bear left onto Union Canal Towpath2.7 mi26.4 mi
- Bear left onto Union Canal Towpath3.2 mi29.1 mi
- Bear right onto Union Canal Towpath0.5 mi32.3 mi
- Sharp right onto Lime Road0.1 mi32.8 mi
- Bear left onto Maryfield Place110 yd32.9 mi
- Bear left onto Lime Road0.3 mi33.0 mi
- Bear right170 yd33.3 mi
- Bear right onto NCN National Route 75410 yd33.4 mi
- Sharp left50 yd33.4 mi
- Turn left50 yd33.4 mi
- Turn right100 yd33.4 mi
- Turn left onto NCN National Route 75470 yd33.5 mi
- Continue straight onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath10 yd33.5 mi
- Turn left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath120 yd33.5 mi
- Bear left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath50 yd33.6 mi
- Bear left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath4.3 mi33.6 mi
- Bear right onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath90 yd37.9 mi
- Bear right onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath50 yd37.9 mi
- Bear right onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath10 yd37.9 mi
- Bear left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath3.4 mi37.9 mi
- Bear left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath1.2 mi41.4 mi
- Bear left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath120 yd42.5 mi
- Bear left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath50 yd42.6 mi
- Turn left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath1.6 mi42.6 mi
- Bear right onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath3.4 mi44.2 mi
- Continue straight onto Car storage area50 yd47.6 mi
- Turn left onto Car storage area20 yd47.6 mi
- Turn left onto Cowgate20 yd47.6 mi
- Turn around onto Cowgate20 yd47.6 mi
- Bear left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath1.4 mi47.6 mi
- Bear left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath0.8 mi49.1 mi
- Bear right onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath0.7 mi49.8 mi
- Continue straight onto Parking aisle70 yd50.5 mi
- Bear left onto Cadder Road120 yd50.6 mi
- Bear right onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath0.8 mi50.6 mi
- Bear left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath3 mi51.4 mi
- Bear left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath70 yd54.4 mi
- Continue straight onto Stockingfield Bridge170 yd54.4 mi
- Turn right onto Forth and Clyde Canal Glasgow Spur Towpath0.4 mi54.5 mi
- Bear left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Glasgow Spur Towpath0.8 mi54.9 mi
- Bear right onto Forth and Clyde Canal Glasgow Spur Towpath50 yd55.7 mi
- Bear right onto Forth and Clyde Canal Glasgow Spur Towpath0.4 mi55.7 mi
- Turn left onto Garscube Bridge100 yd56.1 mi
- Bear right0.3 mi56.1 mi
- Continue straight onto Applecross Street30 yd56.4 mi
- Turn right70 yd56.4 mi
- Turn left onto Forth and Clyde Canal Glasgow Spur Towpath0.5 mi56.5 mi
- Bear right60 yd56.9 mi
- Turn left onto Speirs Wharf0.1 mi57.0 mi
