http://www.scotsman.com/news/alastair-dalton-canals-should-be-open-for-business-1-3877327
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
"Alastair Dalton: Canals should be open for business"
(13 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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Around the time when the canals were reopened and linked at Falkirk, I remember at least one guy from a big canal holidays company coming to explore the length of both canals. He and his boat were pelted with stones by children in the west somewhere. He decided against offering canal holidays in the central belt.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Good, I hope it stays that way. A big increase in barges in Edinburgh will destroy rowing here as barges and rowing boats really do not mix in such a confined space. Canoes probably better off but it is probably still not fun for them either. Things shouldn't always be about tourists.
Posted 8 years ago # -
But aren't barges the pedestrian equivalent of the waterways, and rowing boats etc. the Johnny-come-lately cyclists?
Posted 8 years ago # -
I don't think the network is big enough to be a real draw. Down in Saddleworth this year I chatted with a boat owner who had just chugged his way through the Standedge tunnel from Huddlesfield and was going to head on to Manchester. From there he was thinking of going to the Shropshire Union Canal. You can't do anything quite that like up here. Short of extending the Lancaster Canal up the M74 corridor, you're not going to get the appeal (and communities) of canal boating that you have in England & Wales.
Posted 8 years ago # -
THere is a holiday compnay that hires barges, you see people pootering along. Not quite Hoseasons, maybe just a short break with a massive architectural achievement in the middle (Falkirk Wheel).
The novel Young Adam by Alexander Trocchi is about living on a barge on the Forth and Clyde canal. Think was made into film with ewan McGregor?
Saw one of the russina canoeists at Harrison Park negotiating passage along the side of a barge the other night.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@gembo you're right! Tilda Swinton and Peter Mullan were in there as well. It opened the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2003. I quite enjoyed it, although I do have vague memories of some uncomfortable love scenes...
I went on narrow boat holidays when I was younger on the Worcester and Birmingham, Llangollen and Lancaster canals (my parents live on the latter but don't have a boat) and enjoyed them (even passing through Birmingham).
Posted 8 years ago # -
@jdanielp
your parents live on the canal but not in a boat? THere was a mystery island appearing on the aqueduct this week, sort of floating grass, do your parents have a floating island? Or am I being too pedantic (even for this blessed forum), they live in a lock keepers abode or similar? Lancaster nice.
I also like the river Ribble. We are up and down M6 a lot. Curiously there is a sign further south on the M6Toll for the Lichfield Canal but there is no sign of said waterway.
Uncomfortable love scenes because of the cramped and uncomfortable conditions inside a barge or was it that food was also involved? I have vague memory of a big pan of soup?
Posted 8 years ago # -
When I was a kid we canoed & camped about 60 miles of the 93 mile Cheshire ring. In a canvas double with 1 adult + 2kids and a canvas single - 1 adult + 1kid. Very stable boats, tents on board as well
Even canoed through the locks! They'd never let you do that now. Even then we normally had to 'convince' the lock keeper by saying "Well if you can lift the boats out of the water, then we'l walk round". After taking one look at the laden boats, they normally let us through.
Was a nice trip, something to talk about even 30 years later, but didn't see much scenery from the boats - better with a bike for that.
We desperately wanted to go through one of the long tunnels as well, near the Anderton lift bridge. Wisely, my dad wouldn't let us. If a narrow boat had come the other way, we would've been toasted.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I kayak on the canal quite a bit. A few weeks back I paddled from the Park Bistro at Philipstoun out to the Avon aqueduct and back. I think I saw about 3 boats on my trip. One was a holiday hire I think. I had to do an overtake on the way back to Philipstoun and the boat "Captain" did move over and turned down his power while I passed.
I've also noticed a few party boats around the Ratho area and between ratho and edinburgh. One mother of the bride even had a quick shot of my kayak at the Almond Aquaduct.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@gembo too pedantic - they live in a house in Preston, the garden of which backs onto the Lancaster Canal. I used to cycle mostly on the canal towpath when at home although a new bicycle route which encircles the city was 'created' (well, existing paths were joined up and made somewhat more suitable for bicycles) for the 2012 Guild celebrations (http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/web/?siteid=5989&pageid=34335) so I tend to use that now.
Food discomfort, primarily custard.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"
The massive programme by Scottish Canals is expected to include the refurbishment of bridges, towpaths and embankments.
"
http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/scottish-canal-network-to-get-35m-upgrade-1-3878907
Posted 8 years ago # -
I was only able to name four of the five Scottish canals. ( prior to reading the article).
I can recall the five Scottish new towns and indeed the five pillars of Islam should this ever be needed
Posted 8 years ago #
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