THE FALLKIRK WHEEL

The Falkirk wheel is the world’s first of its kind located in Scotland, U.K and connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal.

Falkirk wheel is the world’s first of its kind located in Scotland, U.K and connects the Forth
and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal.

The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with
the Union Canal. It is named after the nearby town of Falkirk in central Scotland. The
difference in the levels of the two canals at the wheel is 24 metres (79 ft), roughly
equivalent to the height of an eight storey building. The structure is located near the
Rough Castle Fort and the closest village is Tamfourhill.

The Falkirk wheel concept was an ambitious £84.5m project with the objective linking Scotland on
the Forth & Clyde Canal and Union Canal, providing a corridor of regenerative activity through central
Scotland.

There was a big challenge to link the Forth and Clyde Canal, which lay 35meter (115 feet) below the level of Union Canal.

Historically, the two canals was joined at Falkirk by a flight of 11 locks that stepped down across a distance of 1.5km.

The See Saw style System

But these has been dismantled in 1933, breaking the link. Connection of the two canals.

Method of connecting these two canals by a boat lift. British Waterways were keen to present a visionary
solution taking full advantage of the opportunity to create a spectacular structure that would act as an iconic symbol.

Pleasure Cruiser Entering Descent on the Falkirk Wheel. Short boat trips ascend the wheel from the Forth and Clyde Canal level, then sail a short distance along the Union Canal.