TWO WORLDS
CLYDE
Christine Cameron enjoys a Glasgow city break in the slow lane aboard her 57ft ‘nolly barge’
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ast year proved a particularly frustrating one for Scottish boaters, and not just because of Covid-related restrictions. The breach of the Union Canal near Muiravonside put that waterway out of action, while on the Forth & Clyde it was weed growth which made cruising problematic. Having spent the last seven years working on our boat, however, we were itching to take it out. It’s a 57ft ‘nolly barge’ (the word ‘nolly’ is what local kids used to call the canal), which was originally used as a children’s trip-boat. It had subsequently been stripped out and, by the time we bought it, was little more than a shell. We’ve slowly built it up and were keen that one of our first trips would be a cruise into Glasgow city centre to see the new skyline and enjoy the bright lights.
Birthday treat Last autumn we finally got our chance. After Scottish Canals cleared the channel of weed, we set off for an overnight trip from Lambhill Stables on a beautiful, sunny morning. The occasion coincided with my granddaughter’s birthday, so she and her husband accompanied me and husband Neil on the boat.
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Although there wasn’t much in the way of boat traffic on the trip, the wildlife was abundant. All along the canal ducks, moorhens, crows, pigeons and swans were busy hunting for food, while in the brambles we spotted a bunting devouring the last of the berries. We had been told that on this stretch of the water there was a strong possibility of seeing kingfishers, but although we kept our eyes peeled we saw no sign of one. Leaves fallen from the overhanging trees made the water reflection look like a painting, and the horse chestnuts added further to the natural beauty, being among the first to change into their autumnal colours.
“Although there wasn’t much in the way of boat traffic, the wildlife was abundant” Stockingfield Junction Other points of interest in the early stage of the trip included some old, rusting steel safety gates. They had been installed during World War II to prevent water flooding Glasgow in the event that
The once-derelict Claypits area, which now forms part of a wider regeneration effort in north Glasgow.
Remains of the WWII safety gates at Stockingfield Junction.
Stockingfield Aqueduct was damaged by bombs. A second set of stop locks was also installed at Firhill, and a third set was built at the Craighall Road Narrows near Speirs Wharf. After this the canal splits: Glasgow is to the left, or you can go through Maryhill Locks to Bowling by turning right. There are plans for two new bridges across the canal here at Stockingfield Junction to improve access for walkers and cyclists. Work had just started but it will not be completed until autumn. The passage to Bowling through Maryhill Locks was not yet open due to weed problems and issues with the drop lock at Dalmuir. An interesting historical titbit about this stretch is that, during World War I, barges moored on the canal at Maryhill were turned into barracks to provide accommodation for soldiers. Spring 2021 22/01/2021 14:06
