Union Canal

This page shows an East to West sequence of photos.

Most of these images appear on other pages on the website in various districts.

	Lochrin Basin 52 1280 x 854 246K	September 2009. The revitalised Union Canal continues to thrive. This is one end; the Falkirk Wheel is at the other connecting to the Forth and Clyde Canal (the first one to span an entire country).
	Lochrin 63 1280 x 850 356K	January 2010. At the very end of the Union Canal. These boats aren't going anywhere yet, not until the ice melts.
	Lochrin Basin MT 0 1152 x 864 216K	July 2002. This is the end of the Union Canal 200M south of the Scottish Widows building. Following a leak in which millions of gallons of water flooded nearby streets, this section of the canal was emptied.
	Lochrin Basin MT3 1152 x 864 284K	Added later, this picture shows the view east from Leamington Lift Bridge whilst the canal was still empty. Some new buildings are under construction; others haven't started yet.
	Lochrin Basin 14 1152 x 864 203K	A similar view in June 2005 showing the canal full of water again and with new houses overlooking the canal basin.
	Lochrin Basin MT 1 1152 x 864 301K	July 2002. In this picture of the empty canal, we can see the recently restored lift-bridge connecting Gilmore Park and Leamington Road.
	Lochrin Basin 01 768 x 1024 186K	This is the view east from the bridge in the picture above. The bridge is now permanently closed to vehicles other than bikes.
	Lochrin Basin 08 1152 x 864 154K	A closer look at the building visible on the right hand side of the previous picture. A canal boat called Jeanie's Pride is moored here.
	Lochrin Basin 09 768 x 1024 151K	The Union Canal turns left here and stops. Originally it crossed the street called Fountainbridge and ended in a canal basin bounded by Semple Street, Morrison Street and Lothian Road. There are cafés and bars here, an ideal way to end a boat trip or even a stroll along the towpath.
	Same view in 2001 1024 x 768 136K	This is how the end of the canal looked on 29th May 2001. The Nissen hut is coloured with iron oxide. (Rust Never Sleeps - Neil Young) Photo taken on Nikon Coolpix 900 1.2Megapixel camera.
	Lochrin Basin 30 1280 x 901 251K	The last bend in the canal. It ends just round to the left. Earlier pictures on Tollcross - Fountainbridge area page 1 show the end of the canal.
	Lochrin Basin 31 1280 x 938 293K	These metal swan sculptures adorn the wooden walkway at the end of the canal.
	Lochrin Basin 12 768 x 1024 203K	The view from the end of the pier at the end of the canal. Jeanie's Pride is at the far bank on the right. The small column on the pier has a numeric keypad and other controls, presumably for controlling LEDs concealed in the boardwalk for lighting purposes.
	Lochrin Basin 13 1152 x 864 236K	This is the view back towards the end of the canal. An establishment called Cargo provides refreshments. One of Edinburgh's double-decker buses passes eastwards along Fountainbridge, approaching the roundabout at the south end of Gardner's Crescent.
	Lochrin Basin 15 1152 x 864 215K	A closer look at Cargo. The parked cars visible through the windows are at the other side of Fountainbridge.
	Lochrin Basin 16 1152 x 864 257K	A wider view of the scene above.
	Lochrin Basin 23 1152 x 864 288K	3 more shots taken on a different day. The Black Prince is tied up in front of the yet-to-be-occupied building.
	Lochrin Basin 24 1152 x 864 225K	Two minutes later and the Zazoo cruises by, starting off on a passenger pleasure cruise westwards.
	Lochrin Basin 25 1152 x 864 227K	At the helm of the Zazoo is a bearded gentleman wearing a psychedelic shirt.
	Lochrin Basin 28 1280 x 854 191K	There aren't many people about in the winter sunshine but this area is already popular and will be getting much busier soon.
	Lochrin Basin 29 1280 x 854 220K	At the end of the fence in the previous picture. It rather looked like the canal was going to be extended into this area.
	Lochrin Basin 42 1280 x 876 204K	A more attractive scene, just a few yards away from some graffiti.
	Lochrin Basin 44 1280 x 854 216K	Looking west along the canal bank towards the Leamington bridge. Some services are available to boats parked here - metered electricity presumably...
	Lochrin Basin 45 1280 x 854 164K	In contrast to the hand-crafted look of the previous boat, this one looks like it's been rendered by a computer.
	Lochrin Basin 46 1224 x 1050 199K	Rapidly becoming a fashionable part of the city. There must always be an interesting view from these flats with the comings and goings of boats, cyclists and walkers - as well as vistas across the city rooftops.
	Lochrin Basin 51 1280 x 909 227K	I knelt down to compose the shot and a swan obligingly swam across to check me out, creating ripples in the reflection of the new building.
	Lochrin Basin 53 1280 x 854 307K	A lived-in houseboat moored at Lochrin Basin where there's services available, e.g. an electricity supply.
	Lochrin Basin 55 1280 x 899 352K	The bicycle at the bow will be very useful for quick travel along the canal towpath.
	Lochrin Basin 56 1280 x 918 363K	A look back along to the bridge. Further away, the stone bridge at Viewforth shows the way to Falkirk and beyond.
	Lochrin Basin 57 1280 x 1004 268K	There's a Bob Dylan song called Dignity, something there's maybe less of nowadays, generally. The boat by the same name looks quite dignified beside the graffiti adorned garages in Lower Gilmore Place,
	Lochrin Basin 58 1280x 854 299K	From further away, a final look (meantime) at the scene.
	Leamington 2 1152 x 864 158K	Not far away from Fountainbridge is the Leamington Lift Bridge connecting Gilmore Park to Leamington Road. The bridge is now closed to traffic.
	Leamington 5 1152 x 864 225K	The bridge from the other (east) side. This is very near the start of the Union Canal which leads all the way to the Falkirk Wheel which connects with the Forth and Clyde Canal.
	Leamington Bridge 01 1280 x 950 213K	Looking towards the city centre. The canal bends to the left and stops at Fountainbridge. The calm water reflect the pink haze of a winter sunset.
	Leamington Lift Bridge 8 1280 x 854 328K	I've wandered down this way often but this is the first time I saw the bridge raised to allow the passage of a canal barge. Behind, the old McEwan's Brewery still stands between here and Fountainbridge.
	Leamington Lift Bridge 9 1280 x 854 333K	Caution - Bridge Opening warns the sign on the chain. Pedestrian access across the canal is still available for those in a hurry. It's been some time since cars were able to cross here.
	Leamington Lift Bridge 10 1280 x 854 340K	Looking to the left a little reveals the sloping street Gilmore Park which leads down to Fountainbridge. The trees in front of the boarded-up windows have their autumn foliage.
	Leamington Lift Bridge 11 1280 x 914 281K	Facing west shows the bollards for stopping motorists creating a rat-run down Leamington Terrace and the short one-way Leamington Road from the traffic lights at Gilmore Place.
	Leamington Lift Bridge 12 1280 x 873 301K	Here is the RE-UNION canal boat sailing smoothly under the raised bridge.
	Leamington Lift Bridge 14 1280 x 891 308K	This barge is available for hire. The web address is painted on the side.
	Leamington Lift Bridge 16 1280 x 854 268K	A long lens shot shows the new canal-side houses for sale. The stone tenements behind are at St Peter's Place, part of Viewforth.
	Leamington Lift Bridge 16 1280 x 927 219K	A long-lens view of the Leamington Lift Bridge with the Viewforth bridge behind.
	Union Canal Gilmore 00 1152 x 864 401K	Since I added the previous picture, the landscape has indeed changed. This and the next picture also show the canal as it was in March 2003.
	Union Canal Gilmore 01 1152 x 864 348K	Behind the cars and the graffiti covered wall is a little old church with bricked-up windows.
	Union Canal Gilmore 03 1152 x 864 141K	The canal at sunset photographed from the Leamington Lift Bridge.
	Union Canal Gilmore 04 1152 x 864 193K	Another shot showing a closer view of the ducks.
	Leamington Wharf 0 1280 x 896 288K	The "Stunning Townhouses" described in the sign appear to be almost ready for occupation. The ice on the canal hasn't yet fully melted in January 2010, creating interesting patterns and reflections.
	Leamington Wharf 2 1280 x 850 216K	Leamington Lift Bridge crosses the frozen canal here. People were walking on the ice recently but refrozen slush and snow made it a poor surface for skating. The thaw is now making the ice disappear.
	Lochrin 62 1280 x 953 266K	Water is filling parallel grooves on the surface, probably made by a sledge's runners in what was once snow.
	Leamington Wharf 4 1280 x 960 351K	Four days later and the ice has melted a bit more. A cyclist heads west into the setting sun. The bridge ahead is Viewforth.
	Viewforth 0808 Brewery 1280 x 938 166K	Photographed from the bridge over the Union Canal at Viewforth. A Lowland Canals van is parked beside recent fire damage to this corner of the old brewery.
	Viewforth 0808 Brewery 02 1280 x 854 155K	The driver returns to his van. On the south bank are new jetties and canal-side homes, still being constructed. The grey inverted U shape of the Leamington Lift Bridge is beyond.
	Leamington Bird 1152 x 873 212K	Photographed on March 2nd 2010 from the canal bridge at Viewforth. Thanks to @lynnbmackartist, @cassandra2020, @herbchapman34, @chdot, @rachelfleming and others on Twitter it's been confirmed this is a cormorant. More common birds on the canal are swans, ducks, coots and moorhens.
	Viewforth 0808 Bridge 1280 x 854 298K	The Viewforth bridge from the canal bank.
	Viewforth 0808 Bridge 3 1280 x 854	Under the bridge looking east.
	Polwarth Canal Bridge 1152 x 864 237K	Polwarth Crescent crosses the Union Canal and changes into Yeaman Place at this recently repainted bridge.
	Polwarth Crescent Canal Bridge 1152 x 864 213K	The same bridge as seen from the canal towpath. To get to the canalside from this bridge it's necessary to go Viewforth 360m to the east, or heading out of town, about double the distance to Harrison Road.
	Polwarth Crescent 06 Canal Bridge 1280 x 878 349K	A wider view of the same subject.
	Watson Crescent Canal 1152 x 864 330K	Looking back towards Yeaman Place with the rear of Watson Crescent visible on the left bank. Temple Park Crescent is out of sight on the right (south) bank behind the tree.
	Watson Crescent Canal 03 1152 x 864 312K	Facing the opposite direction (west) from the Yeaman Place / Polwarth Crescent bridge. The Union Canal is contiguous these days; consequently there's some traffic once again, specifically this colourful craft.
	Canal 03 IR 1280 x 854 341K	Another two views from the same bridge but in infrared. Watson Crescent is on the right.
	Canal 04 IR 1280 x 894 328K	Camera panned left showing how the vegetation at the back of Temple Park Crescent seems white under infrared. Any foliage will reflect infrared light and an R72 filter exploits the effect.
	Frozen Canal Watson Crescent 1280 x 960 274K	Winter of 2009/2010 and there are youngsters walking on the frozen canal. Under the bridge at Yeaman Place there is still a tiny unfrozen patch with a few ducks. Ice is supposed to be 20cm thick to support people safely.
	Canal 8 1280 x 944 307K	The sun was setting as I walked home from the ice rink so I grabbed a couple of snaps with my compact camera. The ice and snow had disappeared for a day or two but there's new patches of ice forming now.
	Canal 7 1280 x 851 315K	Zoomed in on the footprints made by coots and moorhens walking on a coating of snow on the thin ice.
	Yeaman Place to Viewforth 1234 x 1024 435K	At the other side of the bridge which connects Yeaman Place to Polwarth Crescent, facing east. More of the canal is frozen here and the footprints of birds are everywhere. The next bridge is at Viewforth and there's access to the canal towpath there, or at Harrison Road further south west.
	Dorset Place 0 1280 x 857 310K	Accessible from Merchiston Mews off Granville Terrace or from Horne Terrace off St Peter's Place. This is a housing development featured in one of Ian Rankin's Rebus books.
	Dorset Place 1 1280 x 850 247K	This is the view west from the canal bank shown in the picture above. The blue bridge in the distance connects Polwarth Crescent to Yeaman Place.
	Dorset Place 2 771 x 1024 258K	The ice was broken here by a drunk who fell in early one morning in February 2010. He had no recollection of the incident and consequently the circumstances are vague. Maybe he thought it was a road and tried to walk on it... The bridge 160m east is at Viewforth.
	Dorset Place 3 1280 x 850 310K	Another east facing view showing the promontory in the first picture from a few metres to the west. The ice, which looks tempting for skating, was too thin and, in any case, it snowed and rained the next day.
	Dorset Place 4 1280 x 850 329K	On the north side of the canal are some factory-type buildings. A decorative barrier was erected here to slow down cyclists.
	Gibson Terrace 1280 x 850 351K	One of two cul-de-sacs opposite Fountainpark Leisure Centre.
	Murdoch Terrace 699 x 1024 234K	This is the other cul-de-sac. There are more of these dead-end roads in this part of town because, as well as the canal, there are several railway lines still in use. (At the other, bottom end, of Murdoch Terrace is the Telfer Subway across Dundee Street. This pedestrian underpass gives access below the West Approach Road to Dalry Road, and to two bus stops on the West Approach Road.)
	Dorset Place 8 1280 x 937 313K	The notice on the gate says "Access For Residents Only". The blue bridge connects Polwarth Crescent to Yeaman Place. Dalton's scrapyard is on the right of the picture.
	Nola's Ark 1280 x 854 227K	The Union Canal had a thin skin of ice on Christmas Day 2007. Photograph of Nola's Ark taken beside Harrison Park.
	Shandon 1024 x 768 230K	Looking down from the bridge at Ashley Terrace in May 2001.
	Ashley Terrace canal bridge 1280 x 854 303K	Cycling under some of the canal bridges has an element of risk, most cyclists ping their bells to warn other cyclists and pedestrians of their approach. It would be easy to fall into the water if not careful!
	Canal 613 x 515 110K	A study of reflections in the Union Canal between Colinton Road and Ashley Drive. Steps opposite Craiglockhart Terrace lead up to the canoeists' building. (Dec'99 or Jan'00)
	Union Canal frosty grass 1280 x 854 307K	Near Craiglockhart I took this shot of the frosty grass on the canal bank. The building is the same one in the earlier picture with the reflections.
	Meggetland 1 1280 x 910 314K	Two photos of an approaching pleasure barge taken in August '09.
	Meggetland 2 1280 x 1016 432K	A family of ducks move out of the way to the left bank.
	Slateford 13 1152 x 864 334K	This stretch of the canal is popular with canoeists. (This location: Craiglockhart Gardens is behind the opposite bank. On the left, out of view, is Allan Park Drive.)
	Slateford 12 1152 x 864 260K	Now that the Union Canal is navigable again from Tollcross to the Falkirk Wheel it's possible for families to travel by motorboat. Careful navigation can be needed to avoid ducks, swans, coots etc, as well as other boats and people fishing. In this picture the voyagers are approaching the Slateford Aqueduct.
	Aqueduct 800 x 600 89K	This is the footpath / cycle-path over the Slateford Aqueduct - which carries the Union Canal over the Water of Leith and Inglis Green Road. Photographed on a rainy day as we walked back towards town.
	Viaduct Aqueduct 1024 x 768 194K	Looking south-east towards Slateford Road from the new section of the Water of Leith Walkway, underneath the railway viaduct and Union Canal aqueduct. The visitor centre opposite the Tickled Trout pub has interactive models demonstrating flood plains etc.
	Slateford Walkway 1024 x 768 205K	Photographed from the aqueduct seen at the back of the picture above. Looking down on the railway viaduct with the Water of Leith and walkway passing beneath it.
	Slateford Yard 1024 x 768 177K	My map indicates Back Row as the actual name. This is between the railway viaduct and the Union Canal aqueduct where they cross Inglis Green Road and the Water of Leith.
	Slateford Yard 2010 985 x 1080 406K	A later snapshot of the same scene.
	Slateford 02 1024 x 768 170K	The wide angle lens is pointing west over the aqueduct where the Union Canal crosses the Water of Leith and Inglis Green Road. (November 2000)
	Redhall 03 1280 x 960 244K	A similar shot from August 2009.
	Redhall - canal view east 1280 x 850 361K	The canalside path is tarmac now to better cope with walkers and cyclists, whose numbers have grown as commuters switch from cars and buses. A December Sunday means it isn't busy.
	Redhall 1280 x 851 370K	Standing near Redhall Park. The footbridge overhead crosses Lanark Road and links to the Water of Leith Walkway.
	Longstone 1024 x 768 115K	Just north of Kingsknowe Crescent, the Union Canal passes below the railway line. A short distance further west, the canal is blocked by Kingsnowe Road, next to the level crossing.
	Wester Hailes 1024 x 768 163K	This is Hailesland Road as seen from the footbridge. As far as I can tell, this road is built on top of the Union Canal, shortly to be reinstated hereabouts. May 2000.
	W H Canal 1 800 X 600 122k	This new bridge carries Wester Hailes road across the forthcoming Union Canal reinstatement between the Murray Burn and Dumbryden Road.
	W H Canal 2 661 x 768 160K	This is how it looks facing north towards Corstorphine. Soon, the residents of Murrayburn and Wester Hailes will have a canal running through their midst.
	Westburn Canal 1024 x 768 204K	The new section between Wester Hailes Road and Calder Road. To the left is Westburn district; beyond that is the A720 Edinburgh bypass.
	W H Canal 3 1024 x 768 124K	Work in progress on the Union Canal as seen from Wester Hailes Road looking east. Murrayburn Road is to the right, behind a fence. Further along is the yellow roof of the Shell filling station next to the roundabout at the junction of Murrayburn Gate.
	W H Canal 4 1024 x 768 149K	The canal-to-be as seen looking east from the footbridge over Hailesland Road.
	W H Canal 5 664 x 768 93K	Facing the opposite direction, looking west along Hailesland Road from near the junction with Dumbryden Drive.
	W H Canal 6 1024 x 768 153K	The deep excavations behind the fence will soon be filled with canal water and pleasure-seekers on boats.
	W H Canal 7 1024 x 768 74K	This section to the west of Wester Hailes Road has already been linked up with the old canal running past Calder Grove and Calder Crescent.
	W Hailes 00 1024 x 768 108K	Heavy lifting gear continues the work of reinstating the canal along Hailesland Road near Walker's Wynd.
	W Hailes 02 1024 x 768 142K	Buses turn the corner of Murrayburn Road. Soon this area will be under water and the traffic will cross the new canal bridge visible in front of the Shell Service Station.
	W Hailes Rd 1024 x 768 176K	The water stops here. The canal runs eastwards from Hermiston and Ratho, past Calder Crescent and above Wester Hailes Education Centre and comes to an abrupt halt at the dual-carriageway.
	A720 - Calder 1024 x 768 146K	Looking the other way from the Scott Russell Aqueduct towards the Calder Road. The Pentland Hills can be seen in the distance.
	A720 from Bonaly 1280 x 935 288K	A long lens shot from the Pentland Hills shows the Calder Road and Scott Russell Aqueduct crossing the bypass.
	Dumbryden - Kingsknowe 1024 x 768 190K	Looking east along the Union Canal from the Dumbryden Road bridge, just north of Tesco. The original construction didn't have the advantage of plastic sheets to keep the water in.
	Hailesland Park 1024 x 768 157K	Hailesland Park where the multi-storey flats overlook the canal running along Hailesland Road. This photograph was taken from the same bridge at Dumbryden Road.
	'C' Division 1024 x 768 196K	Wester Hailes Police Station 'C' Division at 49 Dumbryden Drive as seen from the south bank of the canal. There's more work to be done before water is allowed into this section.
	Dumbryden 800 x 600 142K	The old and new bridges can be seen side by side here at Dumbryden Road.
	Hailesland 1024 x 768 168K	An LRT bus travels east along Hailesland Road on the north bank of the canal. This is the same section as above and was still dry in June 2001.
	Hailesland 2 1024 x 768 166K	The canal is going to be right next to Hailesland Road under the footbridge at Murrayburn. This means temporary traffic lights while work is in progress.
	Shell 1024 x 768 176K	The old Shell Service Station at 50 Murrayburn Road still remains. This section of canal (now filled with water) runs behind it towards Wester Hailes Road, visible in the background.
	Murrayburn Drive 1024 x 768 170K	This road nestles just below this newly flooded part of the canal and leads under Wester Hailes Road to Wester Hailes Education Centre at 5 Murrayburn Drive.
	Canal 0908 1280 x 869 299K	Nine years have made a difference to the canal which is now mature with plant life and is populated by swans, ducks, coots etc.
	Canal 0908a 1280 x 869 299K	A cyclist heads east towards the city. It can be a bit risky cycling under some of the bridges as the surface is often still cobbled there. Most cyclists will ping their bell when going under bridges as a warning to other cyclists and walkers.
	Canal 0908b 1280 x 869 299K	The view a few yards further west. Wester Hailes is looking much nicer these days since the canal was reinstated.
	Canal 090c 1280 x 869 299K	Sunlight reflects on the underside of this bridge. In the distance there are swans, cygnets and ducks.
	Canal 0908d 1280 x 869 299K	The canal is wider here and there's an assortment of waterfowl. Not far away is Hailesland Road and a single decker LRT bus.
	Union Canal Boat May 2004 1152 x 864 223K	A long canal boat cruises westwards through Hermiston towards Ratho. This is a pleasure cruise running parallel to the M8 motorway, but sufficiently distant from it so as not to be troubled by it.
	to Ratho 1024 x 768 221K	On the way to Ratho. Nikon Coolpix 1.2 Megapixels. Photographed in 2000.
	Ratho 1024 x 768 201K	The view west from the bridge over the Union Canal at Baird Road.
	Ratho Inn 1024 x 768 164K	Looking back towards the bridge from further along the canal path. The Bridge Inn is a popular starting point for boat cruises along the canal.
	Ratho Canal 2 1024 x 768 122K	Along the canal towards Broxburn is this island. Two strange artifacts are on this tiny island, more details in the next two pictures.
	Ratho Canal 3 1024 x 768 203K	There appears to be a gentleman wearing a bow tie and goggles, driving a car resembling the one in the film 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'.
	Ratho Canal 4 1024 x 768 176K	The island is 'protected' by this wee castle. The banner proclaims Murder and Mystery Dinner Cruises and gives the phone number 0131 333 1320
	Aqueduct 1024 x 768 177K	The Almond Aqueduct carries the Union Canal over the River Almond between Ratho and Broxburn. Down below the Almond flows from left to right heading north to Newbridge, Kirkliston and Cramond.
	Aqueduct 2 1024 x 768 208K	This second picture is looking down from the aqueduct to the River Almond. There's a glimpse of the arches of the railway viaduct that crosses the A89 road west of Newbridge. The aqueduct pictures were taken in 2000 on a Nikon Coolpix 1.2 Megapixels.
	M8 Canal bridge 1024 x 768 149K	When the M8 motorway was built, the canal was ignominiously confined to a pipe below it. This is the new bridge which carries the canal under the M8. Its construction caused some traffic disruption.
	Under M8 1024 x 768 140K	This is what it's like under the M8. Cars and lorries thunder by only about 1 metre above. A slower pace down here, where it will soon be possible to sail right across Scotland once more.
	Under M8 (2) 1024 x 768 131K	Looking out the other side towards the footpath to Broxburn.

Bruntsfield and Beyond A-Z or Main Edinburgh Index or Water of Leith

Union Canal

This page shows an East to West sequence of photos.

Home