Celebrating the re-opening of the Forth & Clyde Canal

Published: Wednesday, 30 January 2019

A CARNIVAL is being arranged to celebrate the re-opening of the Forth & Clyde Canal.

The canal that has been closed mainly due to the breakdown of its bridges, will re-open early this year, as work is completed, bringing the waterway back to life as a coast to coast route, and to celebrate the event, Scottish Canals, in conjunction with various canal-focused voluntary bodies, are holding a flotilla-cum-carnival over the Bank Holiday weekend of the 24th to 26th May.

Extended campaign

The event is in recognition of the joint effort in getting funding from the Scottish Government and to say thank-you to the government, together with local authorities, MSPs and all those who supported the extended campaign to see the navigation re-opened.

In demonstrating that the Lowland Canals are once again alive, this occasion will set the tone for coming events celebrating 2020β€”The Year of Coasts and Waterways in Scotlandβ€”and 200 years since the opening of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal that will occur in 2022.

falkirk WheelFalkirk Wheel

The format is for a gathering at The Falkirk Wheel on the evening of Fri 24th May, travel to Auchinstarry on Saturday 25th May for another gathering that evening and then on to Kirkintilloch (Canal Capital of Scotland) for a buffet lunch on Sunday 26th May, hosted by East Dunbartonshire Council.

If previous celebratory happenings on the Lowland Canals are anything to go by, the chance to sample the legendary Scottish hospitality is an opportunity not to be missed, making the journeyβ€” in whatever form it may takeβ€”well worth while!