Wheel a theme park

MY GOOD friends Irene and Nick Scott ran hotel boats on the Scottish Canals but it was the turning of the Falkirk Wheel into what Nick described as a theme park that decided them to pull out, writes Malcolm Fresh.

Nick told me he could see the way it was going that helped make the decision to move, for the couple had moved their boats on to the Forth & Clyde as it gave the 'peace and quiet' that many of their clients desired, and what the canal was renowned for.

Overrun with visitors

The Falkirk Wheel I understand prompted many other hire companies to make the move as it made one long canal from coast to coast, in his case the move was from the overcrowded Llangollen Canal, but he told me that the wheel was more and more being turned into a theme park overrun with visitors, so late last year (I think it was November) their last run was to Glasgow and being craned out and onto a lorry and back to England.

It seems they made their decision in time, as if the pod they used on the Falkirk Wheel is to be removed and replaced by something to allow visitors to walk on, as you explained in the article, it would drastically reduce the mileage available.