Section 6 of 6, Forth & Clyde/Union Canal Towpath
Illieston to Edinburgh
10.4 miles (16.7 km). About 3½ hours, moderate.
Start: NT 104 706. Finish: NT 246 729. OS grid.
Take it with you: download this section's GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Up and down
About 94 m of climbing and 95 m of descent; highest point 82 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Illieston.
- Car parks
- Car park (free), 150 m from the start. Directions NT 105 705Car park, 790 m from the start. Directions NT 097 710
No bus stop or station within a kilometre of the start. Nearest: the bus stop at Glenmorangie, 1.8 km away (Directions); Drumshoreland station (heritage railway), 2 km away (Directions).
Getting back
The section finishes at Edinburgh. Stations and bus stops near the finish:
- Station
- Haymarket, 700 m from the finish. Directions NT 239 731
- Bus stops
- Port Hamilton, 40 m from the finish. Directions NT 246 729Grove Street, 120 m from the finish. Directions NT 244 728
Planning the Forth & Clyde/Union Canal Towpath
- Planning the whole trail: scotlandsgreattrails.com.
- Walkhighlands describes the Forth & Clyde/Union Canal Towpath, stage by stage.
What to expect
Underfoot: paved or flagged 100%.
Almost all off road.
No stiles recorded.
No steep climbs: no kilometre gains more than about 5 m.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Walked it? Log it
Something wrong or missing?
Tell us what to change about this section: a wrong distance, a moved start, a path that's closed.