Union Canal
WHERE
Edinburgh
What it’s like
A towpath that strings together boat trips, cycling, canoeing and the Falkirk Wheel for a whole day outdoors.
This is one long towpath rather than a single attraction, so the day is really what you make of it. Walk or cycle a stretch with the kids, stop for magnet fishing or normal fishing, have a splash about at a water play spot, then keep going until someone spots a heron. It's flat, it's linear, and there's no queue for any of it, which makes a nice change from most days out.
The big draw at the end (or the start, depending how you plan it) is the Falkirk Wheel, the rotating boat lift that genuinely looks like something from a theme park even though it's just moving boats between two canals. If you've got a boat trip booked, save the Wheel bit for when the kids are still fresh enough to appreciate a giant bit of engineering rather than flagging and asking for snacks.
Canoe and kayak trails are listed too, so it's not just a walk-and-look canal if you fancy getting properly on the water rather than just beside it. There's a café somewhere along the route for when everyone needs a sit down, though with a canal this long you'll want to know roughly which bit you're heading for before you set off.
Because it's outdoors and spread over a long stretch rather than one fenced site, this suits families who are happy to build their own route: a short toddle with a buggy near one access point, or a proper cycle for older kids who can manage the distance.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- All ages who fancy a walk, cycle or boat trip along the water
- It's a long stretch of canal rather than one site, so pick your access point before you go
- The Falkirk Wheel is the standout bit, worth timing for when the kids still have energy left
- Magnet fishing and normal fishing are both listed as things to do along the water
- Canoe and kayak trails mean you can get on the water, not just walk beside it
Plan your visit
What do kids actually do here?
Boat trips, canalside walking and cycling, canoe and kayak trails, fishing and magnet fishing, water play, wildlife spotting, and a stop at the Falkirk Wheel to watch it rotate boats between canals.
Is there anywhere to get food?
There's a café along the canal for a break, though it helps to know which stretch you're visiting first.
Do we need to book anything?
Boat trips and canoe or kayak trails would need arranging in advance if you want to be on the water rather than just beside it.
Is it OK for younger kids?
It's flat and easy walking along the towpath, so a short section works fine with a buggy, and the water play and wildlife spotting give little ones something to do without much distance covered.
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