AllanD

Just relax and enjoy the rest of the time. The tunnel you passed through was the Roughcastle tunnel. Further on you go through the Falkirk Tunnel. Once through lookout for the keystones either side of the "Laughing Greetin" bridge as you pass under it.

Hi Iainw, is the community moorings featured in the July edition of Waterways World? AllanD

My first canal was the Llangollen/Shroppie in the late 70's along with 5 other pals. As I had previous boating experience (the Broads) as was put in charge. It was August, so the routine was early morning start with breakfast stop after a couple of hours, then cruise till lunch, the cruise till overnight stop. We hired from English County Cruisers from Wrenbury and made it to Trevor and back and then to Chester and back in a week. It was a brilliant introduction to canal boating.

Hi Iainw, when brought our boat up from Falkirk we stopped overnight tied to the pontoon mooring outside the Park Bistro. We had a very good meal. Thanks AllanD

Thanks Ian, we have stopped at Park Farm Bistro and would stop again when near Linlithgow. I take note about your comment on Lambhill. We are not sure if we will venture West beyond Glasgow.

Hi everyone, in July we will be heading from Ratho for 10 nights towards Glasgow and return. Any info on where to overnight or where not to would be very much appreciated. Also recommendations on eating out. Thanks AllanD.

Collidge and Partners offer a basic level but if you contact RCR and mention your insurance company you get 20% off their levels of cover.

After a couple of hours running the oil pressure warning light comes on at low revs but goes off when revs are increased. Any comment/advice would be much appreciated.

Falkirk Wheel to the Kelpies is about 3 hours each way and had to be arranged with Scottish Canals for passage through the 14 locks. These are operated by Scottish Canals staff/volunteers and to are encouraged to go at their pace with little time to enjoy the journey. Going up through the Falkirk Wheel and the 2 top locks brings you onto the Union Canal where you can enjoy miles of lock-free cruising and the added bonus of the Falkirk Tunnel. Whatever you do, enjoy your trip. AllanD

Hi there, I have recently moved onto the residential moorings in Ratho. I looked at Edinburgh Quay but the surrounding area was not of my liking. Although the mooring cost seems high it a question of supply and demand; as I believe that all of the residential berths have now been taken. Hope things work out for you.

Thanks for the advice. I looked at it on Google Earth and the proximity to housing made me ask for the reasons you have given. Moored here tonight at the Wheel Basin hoping to go on Union if ice allows. A fair bit of ice today coming up from the Kelpies

Just looking at the Skipper's Guide, had anyone stopped overnight at Port Buchan?? Are there any places to get food nearby?? Thanks, Allan

Hi Mimosa, you can download a copy of the Skipper's Guide from Scottish Canals website in pdf format which gives details of the F&C and the Union Canals.

Hi Iainw, we are booked on the Wheel for 10am on Thursday morning. We will be proceeding at a leisurely pace so I will look out for you following on. Weather looks dry but cold.

Thank you, Ian. We have visited Bridge 49 by car and found it very pleasant but hadn't been to The Park. Bridge 49 it is then.

Thanks for the replies, I have been in contact with the Carron Seasick operator and boat movements. The tentative plan is to overnight in the Kelpies basin and also overnight in the Wheel Basin on the Wednesday. We plan to do the Union over 3 days and really enjoy our new boat. Have you used The Park Bistro, east of Linlithgow? Thanks again for the replies P.S. mooring in Ratho Marina itself. Predictive text strikes again. It should read SEALOCK not SEASICK!!!!

On Tuesday we will be puting our narrowboat into the Forth Clyde Canal at the Kelpies to take her to our mooring at Ratho. I am familiar with the Union Canal from Falkirk to Polmont but the remainder will be a new experience for me. Any advice on what to look out for will be much appreciated. Thanks in advance. Allan

Yes,that's the plan; next Tuesday and up onto the Union Canal to Ratho.

Other than a short time within the marina where I bought the boat, this will be the first time I will be running it for real. The boatyard serviced it before handover and I ran well when I tried it. I am just looking at the "what if" scenario.

Thanks for the replies. The river bed is mud and the depth will be around 15 - 20 feet at the time.

I have just bought my first narrowboat and it is going into a short stretch of the tidal river Carron prior to entering the Forth Clyde Canal at The Kelpies. The boat is 42 feet long. What weight and type of anchor would be suitable in an emergency to hold it in the channel?