Falkirk Wheel
The Falkirk Wheel is one of the most popular tourist attractions in this Scottish town. Why not stop over at Falkirk if you’re planning a day trip from Edinburgh? If you’re looking for things to do in Falkirk, then this rotating boat lift in Scotland is a must. Connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal, the lift is named after Falkirk, the town in which it is located. Interestingly, it reconnects the two canals for the first time since the 1930s. The Falkirk Wheel opened in 2002 as part of the Millennium Link project. Nothing has been built quite like this remarkable masterpiece.
Things to do in Falkirk
With boat trips, canoeing and a host of other exciting activities, the Falkirk Wheel has something for everyone. Plan a family day out from the Falkirk Wheel to Kelpies whilst exploring this central Scottish town. Boasting the world’s only rotating boat lift, visitors can soar 35 metres into the air! The Revolution Tour, which includes a 35-minute ride on the Falkirk Wheel, is perfect for thrill seekers.
“An amazing piece of engineeering to see two canals being linked in around 5 minutes. A spectacle that is not to be missed. Also ideal for families as lots of offerings for the kids. Good food and beverage offerings”
– Falkirk Wheel Tripadvisor Review
About the Falkirk Wheel
The final design is claimed to have been inspired by a Celtic double-headed spear, a vast turning propeller of a Clydebank built ship, the ribcage of a whale and the spine of a fish. Another interesting fact about the Falkirk Wheel is that it took 1,200 tonnes of steel to create and over 1,000 construction staff to help build it. Evidently, this is just one of many great Scottish inventions.
Indeed, the Falkirk Wheel was designed to reunite the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals in Scotland. For example, the canals had previously been linked by a staircase of 11 locks which took nearly a day to pass through. In a bid to create a more convenient way of crossing the canals, this modern technology was created. Today, visitors are still wowed by this innovative technology.
