This walk starts at the Falkirk Wheel and climbs to pass the wheel and join the Union Canal.
Following the north side of the Union Canal the route then heads north through Summerford Park to join the Forth and Clyde Canal. Heading north again the route follows the Mungal Burn to the River Carron. Taking the perimeter of Camelon Cemetery the path then heads south through Camelon to join the Forth and Clyde Canal once again for the final stretch back to the Falkirk Wheel and the starting point.
Starting Point for the Walk:
Camelon Station Car Park – OS Reference NS 867 807.
Getting there: 24 miles/37 minutes
Take your favourite route to the M8 [Edinburgh] and leave at Junction 13 onto the M80 [Stirling]. Leave the M80 onto the M876 [Kincardine Bridge] and exit the M876 at Junction 1 [Falkirk] onto the A883. At Three Bridges Roundabout take the first exit onto the A803 [Falkirk/Camelon]. Continue past Tesco/Aldi and at the traffic lights turn left [Camelon Station]. Cross the next mini-roundabout (Home Bargains on left, Tenpin on right) and at the station fence turn right where there is ample car parking. Parking is free.
The Walk: Falkirk Loop – 7.1 miles (11 km)
From the station car park head south on pedestrian routes to the A803. Turn right and cross at the pedestrian crossing and continue into Hamilton Street. Where Hamilton Street meets Brown Street cross straight over the road and into a pedestrian lane which emerges at Wall Street. Turn left and after about 150m turn right into Carmuirs Street. After another 100m turn left into Carmuirs Avenue. At the roundabout continue straight on and bear right to join the Forth and Clyde Canal towpath. Keep to the north bank heading west.
At the Falkirk Wheel, cross the bridge to the south side of the canal and continue up to the Visitor Centre where there are café and toilet facilities. Then continue up the path to the top of the Falkirk Wheel and admire the engineering. Continue through the tunnel to emerge on the Union Canal towpath. Follow the towpath on the north bank and continue past the Summerford Viaduct. Where the main towpath does a dog leg to the right take a sharp left to go down hill to meet the Glenfuir Road. Turn right under the railway and right again into Summerford Park. After a stroll around the park, exit onto Summerford Road. Turn right and at the junction with Windsor Road turn left and continue until it meets the Glenfuir Road. Cross this road, and after crossing the Forth and Clyde Canal turn right to join the towpath on the north bank and head east.
Continue along the towpath going under the A803 and join the pavement of the A9. After crossing the railway line descend to a pedestrian crossing point and cross the road. Follow the path that veers right along the Mungal Burn. At Cotland Way, cross the road and turn left (crossing the Mungal Burn) into Garbett Place and then immediately right onto a good path behind the housing. Follow this path until a small play park and turn left (skirting the estate). This path is of varying quality and can be wet and muddy at times. Take the second path going left which leads into Campbell Christie Drive and continue south. At the junction turn right and then left into Campbell Christie Crescent. After about 50m take the path to the left which leads up to the cemetery. Skirt the cemetery and descend to the boundary path of the playing fields. The path exits onto Stirling Road. Turn left under the railway bridge and keep to the left side of the road. Just at the junction with Nailer Road take the upward path that doubles back to the left to cross the Stirling Road and return to the start point at the station car park.