Lochrin Belle - Re-Union Canal Boats

Name: Lochrin Belle - Re-Union Canal Boats
Address: Bainfield Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 1FL, GB

Edinburgh

Courtesy of Lochrin Belle - Re-Union Canal Boats

WHERE

Edinburgh

What it’s like

A private-hire canal boat cruising the Union Canal from Edinburgh, good for birthday parties with the boat to yourselves.

This one's not a turn-up-and-buy-a-ticket trip so much as a boat you hire for your own do. The Lochrin Belle is a 60ft wide-beam that cruises the Union Canal, and depending how long you book it for, you go different distances: two hours gets you from Fountainbridge to Slateford and back, four hours reaches Murrayburn, and a full day takes you all the way out to Ratho. For a birthday party that's a proper decision to make before you book, not after.

There's no play area or crew of entertainers here, it's the scenery and the novelty of being on a boat that does the work. Kids will remember gliding past the canal rather than any big set-piece, which suits a calmer celebration more than a bounce-off-the-walls one. The kitchen on board has a fridge and kettle if you want to bring your own food, or the venue can point you to local caterers, though you're doing the catering yourself either way.

A few rules are worth knowing before you plan around them. No party poppers, confetti or glitter is allowed on board, which is a fair swap for keeping the canal clean but worth telling the kids in advance. Dogs aren't allowed if you've booked a ticketed trip with other passengers on board, only on private hires where your group has the boat to itself. And if you need to cancel within 7 days of the trip, you're on the hook for the full price, so it's not a booking to make lightly.

Access-wise, there's a platform lift and ramp to the back deck plus an accessible toilet, though the ramp is only 64.5cm wide and the lift 84cm. Parking near the boat itself is limited to pay and display on the street, with Fountain Park a five-minute walk away as the more reliable option.

Facilities

Accessible toilet

Bike parking

Blue badge parking

Dog friendly

Group bookings

Party rooms

Public transport nearby

Toilets

Wheelchair accessible

Need to know

Booking: Requires 25% deposit to secure
Parking: Very limited pay and display on street
Wheelchairs: Platform lift (84cm wide) and ramp (64.5cm wide) to back deck
Dogs: Well-behaved dogs on leads allowed on private hires with exclusive use
Getting there by bus or train: Edinburgh Haymarket Station 1km away (15 min walk)

Decorations are fine if you tell them beforehand, or pay £50 extra for a 45-minute setup slot before your hire.
No party poppers, confetti or glitter allowed on board to protect the canal.
Charities and local community groups get a 25% discount if eligible.
Parking right by the boat is limited street pay and display; Fountain Park is a five-minute walk and a better bet.
Meet the canal via steps or a ramp near Boroughmuir High School on Viewforth.

Plan your visit

How do we book and pay?

You put down a 25% deposit to secure the date, with the balance due 14 days before your trip. If you're booking closer than that, it's full payment upfront.

How far does the boat actually go?

Depends what you book. Two hours takes you from Fountainbridge to Slateford and back, four hours reaches Murrayburn, and a full day gets you out to Ratho.

Can we bring food and drink?

There's a kitchen on board with a fridge and kettle if you want to sort your own refreshments, and they can suggest local caterers too. Alcohol is fine with a corkage fee of £40 per trip.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

There's a ramp and platform lift to the back deck plus an accessible toilet, but the ramp is 64.5cm wide and the lift 84cm, so it's worth measuring against a wheelchair first.