The Falkirk Wheel
15/06/2023
Our first day in Scotland saw us take in two linked sites, The Kelpies and The Falkirk Wheel - within stones throw, well a couple of miles, of each other.
The Wheel was built to transfer canal boats 100 feet into the air, to join the Union and Forth & Clyde canal once again, after the old 44 gate lock system was shut in the 1930s, in line with the demise in the use of canals for business.
The idea for the Falkirk Wheel was first mooted in the 1990s, and the dream was achieved with the opening of The Wheel in 2002. The Wheel is now a major tourist attraction - attracting the likes of us to venture into the sky in a flying boat - well sort of.
Our party really liked this attraction. It was a baking hot day - yes Scotland does have baking hot days - so the time on the enclosed boat was a respite from the scorching sun!
The complete sailing, up The Wheel then a short boat ride through an illuminated tunnel under the Antonine Wall, before returning back to whence we came took about 50 minutes and was well worth the effort!