Falkirk Wheel turns into top 10 tourist attraction

Published on Sunday 1 September 2002 01:00

THE newly opened Falkirk Wheel has already become Scotland’s third most popular tourist attraction, knocking the Royal Museum and Museum of Scotland into fourth place.

The world’s first rotational boat lift has been visited by 230,000 tourists in its first three months of operation.

If it keeps drawing in the crowds it could pass the million visitor mark in its first year and land just behind Edinburgh Castle and Kelvingrove Art Gallery in the top 10 Scottish attractions.

The unique structure is 115ft high - equivalent to eight double-decker buses - 115ft wide and 100ft long, and can lift a boat and water weighing 600 tonnes.

The two-year project, which reconnects the Forth & Clyde and Union canals, has brought a new lease of life to the central Scotland town.

James Fraser, chief executive of the local tourist board, said: "The impact it has on raising the pride and feel-good factor of the local community is phenomenal. It is well ahead of its projected visitor numbers, shooting straight into being one of the top 10 attractions in Scotland.

"Early indications from town centre shops and accommodation providers are that some visitors are making detours to see the wheel."

Richard Miller, Lowlands canal waterway manager for British Waterways, which runs the attraction, said: "We were expecting 250,000 visitors for the year, but we’ll have had more than that in the first four months. It has exceeded our expectations.

"It’s put Falkirk on the map. Some local businesses told me they have seen profits double since the wheel opened."

David Collins, from Surrey, who was visiting the wheel while on holiday with his family, said: "We preferred our day here to some of the comedy Fringe shows we saw in Edinburgh."

Roger Gillis, from Bedfordshire, said: "I was extremely impressed by the wheel, it’s completely unique.

"I was more impressed with this than Edinburgh Castle, because at the end of the day there are lots of castles throughout Britain but there’s only one wheel like this."