From Coast to Coast

摘要

The perils of the passage round Scotland's northern coast have been feared by sailors through the ages. A safe short-cut across the Lowlands was suggested as early as the 17th Century, but it was 100 years before the first steps were taken. In 1768, work began on a canal to connect the Forth at Grangemouth to the Clyde at Bowling. Starting from the eastern sea lock, it took 22 years to complete, and was 35 miles long with 39 locks. The canal roughly followed the line of the Roman Antonine Wall, with a four-mile branch connecting it to Glasgow. The Edinburgh & Glasgow Union Canal arrived later in 1822. Leaving the Forth & Clyde at Falkirk, where there was a flight of 11 locks, the Union ran for 31 miles to Scotland's capital city.