The
Union Canal is a canal in Scotland, running from
Falkirk to
Edinburgh, constructed to bring minerals, especially coal, to the capital. It was opened in 1822 and was initially successful, but the construction of railways, particularly the
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, opened in 1842, diminished its value as a transport medium. It fell into slow commercial decline and was closed to commercial traffic in 1933. It was officially closed in 1965. The canal is listed as three individual
Scheduled monuments by
Historic Scotland according to the three former counties, Midlothian, West Lothian and Stirlingshire, through which it flows.