Scotland's canals

Responsibility for canals in Scotland is devolved to Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Government sponsors and influences British Waterways Scotland who manage Scotland’s canals.

Vessel moored on the Crinan Canal

Scotland's Canals are some of the most famous and historic in Great Britain. They are the:

• Caledonian Canal
• Union Canal
• Forth and Clyde Canal
• Crinan Canal
• Monkland Canal

British Waterways Scotland receives Scottish Government grant-in-aid to perform its statutory duties and to help progress new initiatives. British Waterways Scotland also generates income from its commercial activities.

Imminent changes

The draft Orders for the transfer of functions of British Waterways to the Canal and River Trust and for the abolition of the Inland Waterways Advisory Council were laid before the UK Parliament on 29 February 2012. The Orders also require the consent of the Scottish Parliament. As part of this process, relevant Public Body Consent Memoranda were lodged by the Minister for Housing and Transport at the Scottish Parliament on 15 March 2012, details:

Draft British Waterways board (transfer of functions) Order 2012 (pdf, 865KB)
Draft Inland Waterways Advisory Council (Abolition) Order 2012 (pdf, 347KB)

The Public Body Consent Memorandum relating to British Waterways indicates that legally BW will continue to operate in Scotland. It will however operate under the name Scottish Canals for most purposes.