There is a 115 feet difference in the levels between the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal. The normal way to get around such a difference is to build canal locks of course but the locks were dismantled in 1933 for some reason. Probably the canals were seen as outmoded by then.

The canals have been going through a bit of a resurgence in recent years and have become very popular with holidaymakers. So The Falkirk Wheel was built as a Millenium project which would solve the problem of re-joining the two canals again. The Millenium Link cost £84.5 million but it is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to the Stirlingshire/Clackmannan areas.

The Falkirk Wheel is the only one of its kind in the world and it’s quite something to behold. We travelled there after we had seen The Kelpies, a very short drive, and while we were there we saw three boats being lifted up to the higher level so that they could continue on their journey. You can buy a ticket to be lifted up to the higher canal, but we decided to leave that for another day.

You can see more images of The Falkirk Wheel here.

You can see a You Tube video of it working below.