Flotilla to mark canal anniversary
A huge flotilla is set to take to the Union Canal on the weekend of May 20-22 to celebrate the canal’s 200th anniversary.
The event is being organised by Scottish Waterways for All, working in partnership with Scottish Canals and numerous other organisations.
Organisers are calling the procession the ‘Flotilla 200’ and will start on both ends of the 31½ mile long canal, assembling at the Lochrin Basin Edinburgh and Falkirk Wheel before making their way along the canal.
The two separate flotillas will converge on the Saturday afternoon at Manse Road Basin in Linlithgow – one of the original stabling staging posts and home to the Linlithgow Union Canal Society.
Pat Bowie, the chair of Scottish Waterways for All, said: “The format of having two flotillas travelling simultaneously from both ends of the canal will provide maximum opportunities for local communities to not only spectate, but to get involved.
“A number of individual muster points are being organised where local organisations can host a festival atmosphere of stalls and entertainment, providing ideal locations for the flotilla to pause and join in the fun.
“We are interested in hearing from any groups or community organisations who would like to help out or host a muster point.”
Scottish Waterways for All are also organising photographic opportunities as the flotillas pass over the aqueducts.
The Union Canal connects Edinburgh to Glasgow, via the world famous Falkirk Wheel and the Forth and Clyde canal. The flotilla will proceed along the canal and over numerous aqueducts.
A highlight of the flotilla’s journey will be on the Avon Aqueduct near Linlithgow, one of the UK’s highest and longest aqueducts built 200 years ago.
The Union Canal is recognised as a Scheduled Monument and, together with the other canals in the network, attracts 22 million visitors a year.
The canal, together with the Forth and Clyde and Monkland canals in the Lowlands, the Crinan Canal in Argyll and the Caledonian Canal in the Highlands forms the Scottish canal network.
Flotilla 200 will be one of many events being hosted by Scottish Waterways for All to celebrate the milestone in the history of the Scottish canal network.
Full details of Flotilla 200 can be found at www.flotilla200.live and an online booklet is available at www.flotillabook200.live, giving approximate timings and the best places to capture views as the boats pass by.