Forth & Clyde Union Canal Kilsyth - Falkirk

An example of the signage along the towpath.

As Mrs B was away I took the opportunity to complete another leg of the canal walk.  After 2 gloriously blue sky days it was back to a grey cloudy one but never mind this walk is all on the flat.
I decided it was light weather gear today but when I stepped off the train at Croy it was a different world from home, very cold and very low cloud.
This time I headed straight to the Auchinstarry basin sticking to the main road. Last time I took the easterly cut off and today this would have meant a double back looking across the canal thinking I should be over there.

Cold grey start, cyclist in yellow at benches

A cyclist was already sitting on a bench enjoying a snack. Swiftly into stride, mainly to warm up, I was off heading east towards Falkirk. Workers in the hills were clearing land with fire, no grouse moors here. Some barges were puffing smoke, there is life in them after all.
With the low clouds the Campsies were not visible so focus on the path ahead. This stretch of the canal is as wide as any so far and indeed is more like a river than a canal. 

Typical walk terrain

On the left is marshland which at another time might be full of birds but apart from some long tailed tits nothing showing. I had to admit weather defeat and don my light fleece mid layer, hat and gloves, wimp.
There is really not a lot to say or see of this walk at this time of year. Just a long stretch of canal path with mainly open countryside and bare trees. 

However a surprise, I spot a shape in the reeds and it is a roe deer looking straight at me. As I go past it has no fear whatsoever and after staring it continues to feed. It must be so used to humans walking the path.
There are 3 canal locks over a short stretch, the first for many miles and a welcome distraction for me.

Tanker crossing the M90

Now the tranquillity is broken and I am very aware of the sound of traffic and I soon come to the culprit, the M90, which thankfully I quickly walk underneath and the noise soon disappears.
About half way along I talk to a fisherman, the first I have seen using the canal on my walk. He has had no luck but tells me summer is quite good. We discuss the section being drained at Linlithgow where a 27lb pike was relocated. I think it would have broke his tackle.

A more pleasing noise this time up above a V formation of geese are moving overhead. With today’s binos I cannot make out the type but a great sight and sound anyway.
Surprisingly there have actually been a few cyclists today, a more populated area or better weather? 
I now reach and pass through Bonnybridge, not a lot to say but apparently it is the UFO capital of Scotland. There is a Bonny water but no bridge until late in its history, why named? If you want provisions this is your place, a small Tesco, Greggs, can be seen. There is an excellent example of a Roman Fort on the Antonine wall around here but I did not see any signs pointing this out. 

A flag flies proudly in the wind, I believe it is at a statue of Robert the Bruce, it was on the other side so couldn’t pop over.
Moving on my next objective in a couple of miles time is the Falkirk wheel. Sadly this next 2 miles is the most polluted with dog dirt of any part of the walk, disgusting.

Reaching the Falkirk wheel I sight a blue flash and the first Kingfisher of the walk which just as quickly disappears. The wheel is under repair, dry dock time, with this walks progress through the Rough Castle tunnel barred because of this work. But, I didn’t find out until I got up to it, a few curses, then try to follow Google maps on the phone to find where it joins the canal again. Can’t get lost on a canal walk!!

10 minutes later back on track and now it is a straight canal walk until my finish at Falkirk High station. Turn left at the barriers and Falkirk High station is just there. Follow the path for Polmont and then Linlithgow, my last section which I will do over the next few weeks.

As always I enjoyed the outing but the weather reduced the longer views which did slightly disappoint. From Croy station to the end it was 12.87 miles. 
A nice reward was a pint of Knops Musselburgh Broke, a North Berwick brewery and a beer new to me so a good ending to the walk. Only one more leg to do.

Forth & Clyde Union Canal Kilsyth - Stockingfield Junction

Another section of the canal trek completed and this time I decided on an east to west walk. To my mind it was better to arrive in the city at the end of the walk than vice versa. 
My day started with a couple of train journeys, just like going on holiday, from Ayrshire to Croy. From Croy I had a walk of just over a mile to get to the canal itself. Still, as I have never been in Croy itself, I have passed through many a time on the train, it was a new experience so no hardship.

After leaving the road about half a mile in you are directed down a track. The signing has disappeared and from my google earth review last night I thought I would stay on the main road. This track was taking me eastward, away from where I thought I should be going, but just before doubt fully set in the track turned north and the canal was right there.

Auchinstarry Basin

A cold frosty morning with plenty of ice, thin I presume, on the water. Heading west there is a multitude of canal boats moored up just ahead of me, more than I have seen at any location on the walk so far. It is Auchinstarry basin and apparently has berths for 50 boats, probably all here today. Some are well and truely iced up, I suspect living on a canal boat in winter could be a hard life.
You then have to leave the canal to cross over the main road, yes I presume the one I mentioned earlier, and on the other side head westward young man.

Its still cold here typical path

Apart from the last couple of miles into Glasgow this is a totally rural walk but don't expect much else along the way apart from the canal and the countryside. More than enough for me but others might be disappointed, not much local history to get educated by.

Pink Footed geese

Surprisingly, unlike the Bowling section, this stretch was almost devoid of canal waterbirds. One pair of Goosanders, a couple of Grey Heron, the ubiquitous buzzards, an occasional moorhen and that was about it. As the canal had a fair bit of ice along the full length of the walk that might explain it but I suspect not. In a field a large flock of geese were spotted, I think these are the Pink Footed goose.

Campsie Hills

For around the first third of the walk the Campsie hills are prominent, the hazy light today looking like summer not winter. Kilsyth can be seen, maybe not the most attractive.
A good hike and Twechar is reached, I spent some time mentally debating how to pronounce it. Not much to see, like most of central Scotland mining was its fame and fortune, now long gone. 

Shirva Stables

After passing the village I come across this ruin which I believe is the Shirva stables, where the canals Clydesdale horses were stabled. Real horsepower to power the boats back then. The teams of horses were rested overnight, it is said they were looked after better than the canal labourers. But all gone now.

Kirkintilloch

Onwards to Kirkintilloch where an inland port was built and the town thrived on building canal and ocean going boats. Whist walking I assumed 'Kirk' in the titled related to the the large kirk I was looking at. Later, on the train home, the internet tells me otherwise, it means fort at the head of the hill. It has history from the 1200's, no time to explore today but I will be back. It also was a totally dry town, ie no alcohol, until the 1970's. No place for me then.

Easy walking towpath

Out of town and heading towards Bishopbriggs. The signs have changed from the green canal ones to blue Thomas Muir ones! Really, walking in Scotland can be made easier. 8 miles in so time for my cheese & mango chutney Glasgow roll. The chutney was bought in the Rothiemurchus farm shop and highly recommended by me. Complimented the Orkney cheddar perfectly. Apple as well for the healthy bit and onwards again.
There is not a lot more outer canal highlights until you reach the Possil marsh nature reserve. Typical nothing to be seen apart from a couple of magpies. 
The final couple of miles remind you that you are in a lesser social area of Glasgow. The verges are well littered with empty booze containers. Some guys shouted from the other side, glad there was no easy way for them to get across, the appeared well high on something. Since the Bishopbriggs cut off there had been nobody else walking the path, a little spooky.

Broken tree

One point of interest was this amazing dead tree, split through old age or lightening, I don't know but made me smile.
But finally I made it to Stockingfield junction. After yesterdays climb up Blaeloch hill my feet were feeling it so I decided the walking was over and it was time to get a bus into the centre, relax with a pint and get the train home.
A good day with 14 miles covered in just over 4 hours. Only 2 more sections to go to complete the walk.