Cycling from Kirkintilloch to The Falkirk Wheel (NCN 754) on 19/03/22 was a level route on the towpath beside the Forth and Clyde Canal.
The Falkirk Wheel
The Falkirk Wheel is a large canal engineering structure. It lifts barges from the Union Canal above down to the Forth & Clyde Canal below, and vice versa. It is the first and only rotating boat lift in the world.
Previously barges transferring between the two canals would take half a day to negotiate the 11 locks between the canals. Now they take just 15 minutes on The Falkirk Wheel.
Choice of Route
I chose the route Cycling from Kirkintilloch to The Falkirk Wheel (NCN 754) on 19/03/22 as it is a flat route. I needed an easy route today as I had had a pain at the back of my knee for the last 7 or 8 weeks. It felt better now and I wanted to test it on a level route.
This is one of many great routes I have cycled in Scotland. Other great routes I have cycled are listed on the page Cycle Routes in Scotland.
Route Map -
Cycling from Kirkintilloch to The Falkirk Wheel (NCN 754) on 19/03/22
Route map for Kirkintilloch - Falkirk Wheel (NCN 754) by E-Bike Cyclist.scot on plotaroute.com
The map above is an interactive map. Press “Play” (click on the white triangle in the middle of the screen) to activate it. You can then zoom in or out by pressing the buttons that appear in the top left of the screen. The map can be moved by dragging it. Once you press Play the hills profile of the route will appear at the bottom of the map. Further comprehensive detailed analysis of the hill profile can be obtained by clicking on “More Detailed Profile” at the top left of the hills profile section. You can also select full screen mode by clicking on the icon in the top right corner of the map.
Also, this route follows a section of the NCN 7 cycle path. This is one of the routes on the National Cycle Network run by the charity called Sustrans. Their map of this route can be accessed on their website www.sustrans.org.uk.
Timings and Distances -
Cycling from Kirkintilloch to The Falkirk Wheel (NCN 754) on 19/03/22
Anytime I cycle on one of my cycle routes in Scotland I use this section to record trip details. I record the times I took for the various parts of the day and the distances cycled. This includes when I started cycling and how long I cycled for between various points in the route. I also record the distances (in miles) between various points in the route and how long I rested for, etc.
I included this section so that I can look back at the timings and distances to help me plan my day if I decide to do this trip again. This section could also assist others with planning their day if they decide to do this route. Each person, of course, will have to adjust the timings to suit their own circumstances, e.g. cycling speed, rest times, etc.
(Note: The figures in brackets are the cumulative distances in miles from the start of the route.)
Left Glasgow 8.55 / Arrived at parking 9.35 / Started cycling 9.55 / Craigmarloch Bridge 10.40 – 10.50 (6.71) / Wynford Lock 11.10 (8.85) / Bonnybridge 11.40 (12.20) / Falkirk Wheel 11.55 (14.18) / Lunch to 1.45 / Walked around until 1.30 / Left 1.35 / Wyndford Lock 2.20 – 2.30 (19.79) / Auchinstary 3.00 (23.40) / Twechar 3.15 (25.28) / Back at car 3.40 (28.57) / Left 3.50 / Home 4.30.
Computer Readings -
Cycling from Kirkintilloch to The Falkirk Wheel (NCN 754) on 19/03/22
At the end of each trip there are a variety of readings on the bike’s computer. Some of them I record for future comparison purposes.
For this route the readings are as follows :
Trip distance 28.57 mls. | Max. speed 15.5 mph | Ave. speed 8.0 mph | Trip time 3 hrs. 33 mins. | Odometer 3,841.6 mls.
Log -
Cycling from Kirkintilloch to The Falkirk Wheel (NCN 754) on 19/03/22
Start Point
The route starts at the Barleybank car park in the middle of Kirkintilloch. The car park is right next to the cycle path on the banks of the Forth & Clyde Canal. This car park is a Pay & Display car park and it costs £5.00 to park for over four hours (Mar. 2022).
The car park is adjacent to the main shopping street in Kirkintilloch.
As forecast it was a fine day with bright sunshine and a clear blue sky. It was a bit cold, though, with a bit of a strong wind.
Kirkintilloch - Craigmarloch Bridge
I dropped down to the canal towpath, which is part of the NCN 754 cycle route. I turned left along the path.
With the path being flat it was a nice gentle start to the day. However, there was a strong wind blowing along the path and it was quite cold.
I continued along to the village of Twechar.
At Twechar there is a canal lock and the cycle path continues on the pavement for a short distance. It then returns to the tow path after passing the lock.
I continued cycling along the tow path and soon came to Auchinstarry. Here there is berthing for many barges and yachts.
I continued on the canal tow path until I reached Craigmarloch Bridge. Here the tow path crosses over a road to a small car park on the other side of the road.
I stopped here for a 10 minute rest. Not because I was tired, as I had only cycled just under 7 miles. It was to get some respite from the quite strong, cold wind. The wind had been blowing relentlessly since the start of the route.
(It was also quite windy the last time I cycled this part of the route. See Cycling Kirkintilloch – Kilsyth – Campsie Hills on 13/05/21 – LOG).
Craigmarloch Bridge - Wyndford Lock
I continued cycling alongside the canal, passing Wynford Lock on the way.
Just past Wyndford Lock there is a sign to remind you of the canal name.
Wyndford Lock - Bonnybridge
I cycled on alongside the canal, passing the small town of Bonnybridge on the way.
At Bonnybridge there is another canal lock.
Bonnybridge - Falkirk Wheel
A short distance after passing by Bonnybridge the Falkirk Wheel came into view on the other side of the canal. I cycled across the small wooden bridge and up the path on the other side to get to the visitors centre.
At the visitors centre I walked around for a bit in front of the canal basin area. It was still a bright, sunny day and the wind had abated so it was very pleasant.
I then went into the visitors centre and bought some sandwiches & crisps. I took them outside and sat at a picnic table to eat them in the sunshine. Whilst having lunch I admired the engineering feat that is the Falkirk Wheel.
After lunch I took my time and walked with my bike along the path that goes round the canal basin.
I then waited at the side of the Wheel whilst people were boarding the tourist barge. They had paid to go on the barge as it was lifted up to the Union Canal.
Then I watched as the Wheel slowly turned and delivered the barge to the docking station on the Union Canal above.
Return Journey
On the way back it was still a beautiful, bright, sunny day with a clear blue sky and hardly any clouds to be seen. Fortunately the wind had abated and it was now pleasantly warm. So the ride back was a much more enjoyable experience.
I stopped for ten minutes at Wyndford Lock to have a drink of juice. I also took off my cycling gloves as it was now nice & warm.
The rest of the ride back was very enjoyable in the bright sunshine.
Levels of Assistance Used -
Cycling from Kirkintilloch to The Falkirk Wheel (NCN 754) on 19/03/22
Because of the problem I had had with my knee I used the electric motor on the outward journey. However, I only used the first level of assistance, the ECO mode.
After lunch my knee felt okay. I therefore cycled all the way back under my own steam.
Battery Charging -
Cycling from Kirkintilloch to The Falkirk Wheel (NCN 754) on 19/03/22
I had only used the electric motor on the outward journey. Therefore, the battery level indicator was still showing five bars when I got home.
When I put the battery on charge the fifth bar was flashing. This meant that I had only used part of the fifth bar. Consequently it only took less than an hour to fully recharge the battery.
Summary -
Cycling from Kirkintilloch to The Falkirk Wheel (NCN 754) on 19/03/22
This was a nice flat route on a canal towpath.
It was good to cycle on a fine sunny day. Even though it was spoilt a bit in the morning with the quite strong headwind. However, this was more than offset by the very pleasant warm sunshine in the afternoon.
Also, it was very interesting to see the Falkirk Wheel in action.
At the end of the day my knee still felt okay, so I was pleased and relieved about that.