About this trip.
Weighing up hire firms? UK narrowboat hire, compared lists 32 firms by canal, dog fees and fuel.
Before you book: Canal du Midi vs UK narrowboating — same week, different country, very different holiday · How we vet operators — and the questions you should ask any small-group operator yourself
The Falkirk Wheel and two lowland canals
The Falkirk Wheel links the Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde Canal. It carries boats between them in a pair of gondolas, which lift 600 tonnes of water up the 25m difference in level to a 100m aqueduct at the top of the 35m-diameter wheel. From Falkirk the cruising is easy, with very few locks, so this is a good choice for a relaxed break.
The Scottish Lowland Canals are quite different from the canals of England and Wales. The Forth and Clyde is much wider than the average English canal. The Union Canal is a contour canal, with no locks at all and no bridges that have to be opened. Scottish Canals staff currently work all the locks and bridges. Boaters aren't allowed to operate the locks themselves, although the staff are happy to accept help.
Routes to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Bowling
From Falkirk you can head along the Forth and Clyde Canal towards Glasgow, or along the Union Canal to Edinburgh. With a week you can visit both cities, crossing the width of Scotland and coming back again. For a short break, the Glasgow and return route runs through the valley the canal shares with the River Kelvin, with the Campsie Fells rising above it, and then follows the contours into Glasgow. The Edinburgh and return route goes through tunnels and over aqueducts, past castles, wildlife and a story about the downfall of a monarch. Bowling and return follows the Forth and Clyde, the world's first sea-to-sea canal, past aqueducts and other pieces of canal engineering.
Boats, maps and getting to Falkirk
Boats sleep between two and eight people and range from 49ft to 66ft long. You'll be given a Skipper's Guide when you arrive. You can also buy the Heron/GEO Forth & Clyde map or the IMRAY Scottish Canals map. Scottish Canals charges a Rover Ticket for using the canals, at one rate for holidays over three nights and a lower rate for shorter trips. You pay it at the Falkirk Office on the first day of your holiday.
Trains from Glasgow Queen Street or Edinburgh take about 30 minutes to Falkirk High or Falkirk Grahamston. Falkirk High has the more frequent service. Both stations are a short taxi ride from the Falkirk Wheel. If you fly into Edinburgh or Glasgow, you can take a bus into the city centre and then the train. A taxi from Edinburgh Airport straight to Falkirk takes about 30 minutes.
The shape of the trip.
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1Do I need a licence?
No. The hire base gives you a short handover covering steering, locks, and safety before you set off. Speed limit is 4 mph on UK narrowboats — slower than a walking pace. If you can drive a car, you can drive a canal boat.
Q2How many locks will I do?
Depends on the route. The Llangollen has about 20 over a week — leisurely. The Caen Hill flight on the Kennet & Avon has 29 in one stretch — a full day's work. Some European routes (Canal du Midi, Camargue) have almost none. The operator's map shows lock counts per day so you can pace yourself.
Q3Can I travel solo?
Most hire companies require two adults on board, mainly so one person can work locks while the other steers. A few allow solo hire on quieter routes — ask the operator before booking.
Q4What's included?
Typically the boat, fuel for the engine, a handover briefing, mooring ropes, fenders and a starter pack (tea, coffee, washing-up kit). Bedding is sometimes included, sometimes £10-20 extra. Food is your own, shopped from towpath-side villages.
Q5What if something breaks?
The hire base has a 24/7 support line. A fitter will usually come out within a few hours. Engines are robust and well-maintained — the most common failures are blocked weed hatches (clearable yourself) and flat domestic batteries.
Q6Is it good for kids?
Yes — lifejackets are provided and kids love working locks. Older children (6+) can help steer under supervision. Toddlers need constant watching near open decks. A reinforced guard rail helps.
Q7Can I bring my dog?
Most hire companies allow one or two dogs for a small supplement (£20-30 per dog per week). They love the towpath walks. The boat will lose its deposit if the dog damages upholstery — bring a blanket.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a 25% deposit at booking, balance 8-12 weeks before departure. Each operator has its own cancellation ladder (steeper close to departure). Travel insurance with cruise cover is recommended.
Three canal holidays, side-by-side.
The closest canal holidays on Mooch, by trail, then region, then country. Prices are the operators' own, per boat.
