The second day of our short stay away and after our long trek in the Pentland Hills we settled for a more leisurely walk along the canal, especially as the forecast wasn’t good.
We parked at Muiravonside Country Park and started our walk along the Avon River until we reached the Aqueduct.
This impressive aqueduct is the longest and tallest in Scotland. It is 250 m.(810 ft.) long and 26 m.( 86 ft.) high. It is the second longest in Britain (after the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales).
Nature and heritage merged together
River Avon
The aqueduct was built after the design by Thomas Telford for the Chirk Aqueduct.
There are twelve arches, and the water is carried in a cast iron trough.
I found it a bit scary especially as it was windy!
Male Mallard
Looking down on the Avon River, you are a long way up!
Pete filming over the edge, don’t drop the camcorder!
Mallard pair
Song Thrush
Canal building, home to the "Sea” Scouts!
Canal dredger
We saw movement in the reeds and thought perhaps it was a Water Vole but soon realised it was infact a Water Shrew, we had not seen one before!
Singing Dunnock
Moorhen
Chiffchaff, we could hear lots about but not easy to photograph!
Moorhen
Back to Muiravonside and their lovely little cafe, bacon and egg butty time!
Spotted these as we left the carpark
Now raining we decided to stop in Linlithgow by the loch, lots of Coots about!
Moorhens more tame here
Don’t you just hate it when you have lined up a nice Tufted Duck shot and you get a lurker wander into your shot!
Tufted Duck
Palace and swans
No sorry I havn’t any bread, don’t look at me like that!
Black-headed Gull
Coot-CAB
Coot-CBH
Coots nest
Coot love…..
….looks a bit rough!
Tree monster
Linlithgow Palace
Geese
Nope I still havn’t got any bread!
St Michael’s Parish Church
“Crown” added in 1964
Will go inside another day!
Gateway
Why oh why did they put that salt bin there!
Gateway
There are some lovely old buildings here
Church archway
Beautiful ironwork
Plaques showing all the Stewart Kings/Queens that stayed in the palace.
