Forth to Firth Canal Pathway

The Firth to Forth canal pathway runs from the Firth of Clyde to Firth of Forth and is a 106 kilometre (66.5 mile) long footpath and cycleway that runs across Scotland, between Bowling, west of Glasgow, and Lochrin Basin (Edinburgh Quay) in Edinburgh. The path runs on the towpaths of the Forth & Clyde and Union Canal and is entirely off road. The path is well maintained and its surface is generally good, although there are some stretches particularly between Falkirk and the outskirts of Edinburgh where wet weather leads to muddy conditions unsuitable for road minded bicycles. It is well used by walkers and cyclists. Accessing the path is very easy since there are railway stations close to the path for its entire length. The path is best followed from the Clyde to the Forth because the prevailing wind is from the south west.

Route of the path

The path begins at Bowling Basin where the Forth & Clyde Canal enters the Firth of Clyde. The canal runs east through Clydebank, Boghouse Locks, Clobberhill Locks, Temple Locks and Maryhill Locks. It passes close to the former Singer Sewing Machine Works which once employed 19,000 people and exported sewing machines all over the world, including many to pre-Revolutionary Russia. At Stockingfield Junction near Maryhill is the 'Glasgow Branch' a spur which originally connected to the Monkland Canal (which connected with Port Dundas, close to the city centre of Glasgow. This branch however is not part of the path network.

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