Photographs, route description and map of the Union Canal and surroundings at Ratho near Edinburgh

Countryside at Clifton

Victoria Cottage

at Clifton Mains

Avon Aqueduct for Union Canal from Heritage Trail in Muiravonside Country Park

Aqueduct on the Union Canal

over the B7030

Trail over Platt Hill

above Ratho

M8 from Platt Hill

above Ratho

Parish Church at Ratho

War Memorial

at Ratho

Boats in Ratho Marina

Ratho Marina

Map of Union Canal at Ratho

Route Map of Union Canal at Ratho

UNION CANAL AT RATHO - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Location: Midlothian
Map: OS Landranger 65 or Explorer 350
Distance: 5.5 miles (9km)
Time: 2-3 hours
Grade: Easy low-level walk

This walk provides the most extreme of contrasts between lines of communication old and new.
You start along the Union Canal, which provides easy walking in a surprisingly rural and peaceful atmosphere. Later on you walk beside the roaring maelstrom of the M8. It is worth noting as you set off that the towpath is well used by cyclists.
After about 400m the canal enters a wooded section. Steep steps on the right give access to the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena.
As the woods end, things start to change dramatically. First there is a steady rumbling which soon becomes a roar as the M8 appears alongside.
Before long, the canal swings left. As it does so, the motorway recedes. The canal passes a small island which holds a mock “castle”, often advertising boat cruises. You walk under three original canal bridges, their capstones numbered 16 to 18, then ﬁnd yourself high up as the canal swings right to cross the River Almond by a magniﬁcent aqueduct. Built in 1321, this is the highest structure of its type in Scotland.
Walk across the aqueduct and back again, then go down a long flight of steps to pass underneath ‘the great brick arches, which look as sound now as when they were built nearly 200 years ago.
Just before the Gothic turrets of Clifton Hall School, Victoria Cottage has an 1874 datestone. For much of the rest of the route the motorway is close by, but you can still enjoy the views. As you climb Platt Hill, you see through the fence on the right the innovative climbing arena.
As you start to descend and curve round the side of the hill, you are rewarded with a wonderful panorama of Edinburgh straight ahead.
Arthur‘s Seat and the castle are easy to pick out. On the right are the extensive grounds of Ratho Hall.
It is worth looking at Ratho Church which dates from the 16th century. Among the graves in the kirkyard is a coffin-shaped memorial to one William Mitchell, preacher, who sufiered “an instantaneous death from a stroke by a threshing machine, December 1800". it would seem he was an early victim of the Industrial Revolution, which before long would bring the canal through Ratho, drastically cutting the journey time between Edinburgh and Glasgow and making the traffic in vital goods such as coal much more efficient.
Today, it provides us with splendid opportunities for walking and cycling and for that we should be grateful.

Route:
Start at the Bridge lnn, Ratho (GH: NT138710).
Cross the canal and tum left down to the towpath.
Turn right and follow the canal for 3.5km to the Almond Aqueduct.
Turn right down steps walk under the aqueduct and follow the lane up.
Join a road and continue.
At Cliﬂon Mains turn left and then right at Clifton Hall School.
At the road junction, cross and go up the track opposite.
Keep left on the field path (signed Ratho via Platt Hill).
Follow the track right round the hill and down to Ratho village.
Turn right to return to the start.