Union Canal
The Union Canal, full name the Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal, is a canal in Scotland, running from Falkirk to Edinburgh, constructed to bring minerals, especially coal, to the capital. It was opened in 1822 and was initially successful, but the construction of railways, particularly the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, which opened in 1842, diminished its value as a transport medium. It fell into slow commercial decline and was closed to commercial traffic in 1933. It was officially closed in 1965.
It has benefited from a general revival of interest in canals and, as a result of the Millennium Link, was reopened in 2001 and reconnected to the Forth and Clyde Canal in 2002 by the Falkirk Wheel. It is now in popular use for leisure purposes.
The Union Canal was originally 32 miles (51 km) long and follows a contour of 73 m (240 feet) above sea level throughout its entire length. It now has a length of 31 miles (50 km) because the final mile has been filled in and the Edinburgh terminal is now at Lochrin Basin in Tollcross, adjacent to Fountainbridge.
The canal is listed as three individual scheduled monuments by Historic Scotland according to the three former counties, Midlothian, West Lothian and Stirlingshire, through which it flows.
The Cache
The cache was created by the youngest geochild and Mr R as a tribute to the story Stickman by Julia Donaldson. Stickman is a popular story in our house and the youngest geochild loves to find Stickman wherever he goes and take him back to the “family tree.”