Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Beyond is the red sandstone block of Linlithgow Palace, built in the 15th century for James
I, birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots. Cumberland's soldiers gutted it when occupying it in
1746. The 1960 aluminium crown on St Michael's church to the right looks strangely out of
place, a modern metal sculpture on a Gothic 13th century sandstone building.
Near the 69ha Muiravonside Country Park is Causewayend, the site of the Almond Iron-
works, bringing passengers from Glasgow and coal from the Slamannan coalfield to be taken
to Edinburgh.
The bridge on the stretch between Whitecross and Brightons is of Armco culvert, with rub-
bing strips inside for cruisers and narrowboats. Adjacent to this bridge is an open area of bank
laid out with picnic tables.
Bridges are of sandstone, flat arches meeting vertical abutments almost at right angles.
Each bridge has a projecting stringline just above the arch. It may be an optical illusion
caused by the arch but each of these projecting courses appears to dip, making the whole
bridge appear to sag.
The Glen High Laughin' & Greetin' Bridge is named after the faces on the keystones, a
happy contractor facing the easy run to Edinburgh and the miserable face of the one needing
to construct the 620m long Falkirk Tunnel under Glen Village. This was necessary as William
Forbes of Callendar House would not let the canal pass through his grounds. The only rock
tunnel in Scotland, it is wide and takes the towpath through. It is largely unlined so that water
drips in places, pouring through in a jet just inside the west portal. Passage through is easy
because the far end is clearly visible from the start. Lighting is placed through the tunnel,
allowing the limestone features to be seen. Far from taking thousands of years to form, there
are curtains, 120mm straws and even longer stalactites that have developed since the tunnel
was cut. Sloping rock beds on each side of the exit increase its grandeur. The ghost has been
seen of a Glasgow man murdered in the tunnel because of gambling debts.
Lady Kilmarnock had been the unwilling hostess of the Government army's General Haw-
ley in 1746 but ensured that he had plenty of wine ahead of the Battle of Falkirk. Around the
next corner on the left bank is the Battle of Falkirk monument. Here Bonnie Prince Charlie
beat the English, who were facing driving rain and not expecting the Highlanders to make the
first move.
On the right, across Falkirk, is the best view over the Firth of Forth to the hills on the Fife
side. A 500m extension added in 1823 shortened the distance passengers had to walk between
the two canals.
The 11-lock flight down to the Forth & Clyde Canal was lost under a road. After the
Falkirk Wheel Top Locks the canal turns a corner and passes in the recent 168m Roughcastle
Tunnel under the Falkirk High to Queen Street railway and the Antonine Wall, known locally
as Graham's Dyke. Rough Castle was a Roman fort and a Roman centurion ghost was seen
by men constructing the Falkirk Wheel link.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search