News items
Later news is added at the top of the page.
Edinburgh Canal Festival and Raft Race
(news item updated 29 June 2009)
The Edinburgh Canal Festival and Raft Race took place on the 27th June 2009. For more see the what's on page.
Buredi Fountainbridge bust
(news item added 11 February 2009)
The Scotsman reports (3 Feb 09) that Buredi Fountainbridge - who were due to develop the area of land adjacent to Edinburgh Quay - have gone bust.
Cormorant or Shag?
(news item added 11 November 2008)
A cormorant or shag has been spending lots of time on the canal - causing interest from local photographers. Photographs on the wildlife page (at the bottom).
Boat launches - Friday October 27th
(news item added 27 October 2008, updated 31 October 2008)
The Adult Learning Project launched their currach on October 27th in the Lochrin Basin - and Re-Union held their official launch event for their new 'widebeam' boat. See the Tollcross Currach page for photos of the joint event. See also: Scotsman article.
Polwarth Parish Church funding
(news item added 15 October 2008)
ScottishArchitecture.com reports (13 Oct 08) that Polwarth Parish Church has been awarded money from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
New proposals to change planning permission
(news item added 2 September 2008)
An exchange of letters about possible changes to planning permission for the site at 'Freer Street' (currently bare land beside Edinburgh Quay) has been added to the Edinburgh Council 'Planning and Building Standards Portal' page for this specific development. For more about building developments refer to this site's building developments page.
Currach launch postponed
(news item added 20 August 2008, updated 27 August)
The boat builders at Tollcross report that their currach is almost finished, but they have had to postpone the launch. They had planned this for August 30th at noon. UPDATE (11/9): The boat is drying, but not enough yet.
Unfortunately we have had to postpone launching our finished boat. We tarred the skin inside and last week we fitted and tarred the outside. Due to the incredible moisture content of the air and the monsoon conditions the tar is drying very very slowly. Advice from experienced builders was not to put it in the water till it is dry. With a new project and unknown technology we cannot accurately predict how long things will take. Rather than set a new date now we will wait till the tar is dry and set and the oak gunnels fitted on top. We will send out another invitation then.
27/08/08
Re-Union's boat build is also now finished.
Union Canal in the press
(news item added 18 August 2008)
With the canoe events in the Olympics there have been several recent press articles about the Forth Canoe Club - such as this one.
New 'water quality' page
(news item added 31 July 2008)
A new page has been added to this site giving links to SEPA information about water quality on the canal.
Boat trips from Lochrin Basin to Harrison Park
(news item added 10 July 2008)
Zazoo are running boat trips from Lochrin Basin/Edinburgh Quay to Harrison Park - from 16th July to 31st August - noon to 4pm leaving on the hour - Wednesday to Sunday - duration 50 minutes - cost £5 adults £3 children - refreshments available. For more information see the boat trip page on the Zazoo website.
Raft Race news
(news item added 28 June 2008)
The 2008 raft race took place in the Lochrin Basin on Saturday 28th. Pictures and stories are available here.
Boat building is in full swing
(news item added 25 June 2008)
On Tuesday boat building was in full swing in and around the Lochrin Basin/Edinburgh Quay. The boat being built by ALP was progressing - see new: photographs of the Tollcross Currach. And Re-Union were also busy on their narrowboat - in the basin.
New photos of old canal
(news item added 23 June 2008)
There are two new photos of the canal before the modern developments - in 1976 - which have just been posted on the history page. Can you add to the information about them?
Sponsored kayak Edinburgh to Glasgow
(news item added 17 June 2008)
The Scotsman newspaper (here) reports that two men are setting off from Edinburgh Quay (Lochrin Basin) at 7.30am on Saturday 21 June, to paddle to Glasgow over two days, raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Filming at the ECS boathouse
(news item added 14 June 2008)
Anyone puzzled by the characters rowing a boat dressed in 'period' costumes (near the Edinburgh Canal Society boathouse) may be interested to know that they were being filmed. Brief details and a photo appear on the Edinburgh Canal Society website
