Run-down industrial buildings surround the Union Canal's current insignificant terminus in Edinburgh city centre. Work is now underway to transform the area into something the town can be proud of

Leamington Lift Bridge crosses the Union Canal at Gilmore Park. At present it is being reopened to give access to the terminal basin

The first original stone arched Union Canal bridge is here at Viewforth. It has Edinburgh's coat of arms carved on its eastern keystone, and Glasgow's on the west

New housing developments by the canal in Edinburgh

Harrison Park, with swans

Edinburgh Canal Society's new boathouse at Harrison Park

Decorative bridge over the Union Canal at Ashley Terrace

Rowers enjoying the tranquility of the Edinburgh section of canal

The second remaining original Union Canal bridge at Meggetland, with modern concrete replacement just beyond

The 1937-built Prince Charlie Aqueduct over Slateford Road

The impressive 8 arched Slateford Aqueduct over the Water of Leith, with railway viaduct beyond

The first piped section of the Union Canal was under Kingsknowe Road, near Hailes Park

That blockage was replaced by a bridge in summer 2001 as part of the reopening of the canal into Edinburgh

At Dumbryden Road, Wester Hailes, the canal used to come to an abrupt end and was filled in for over a mile through the 1970s housing scheme

The parapet wall of the original bridge on the other side of the road was the only clue to the canal's presence here

The Wester Hailes blockage was reopened in August 2001, including this new bridge at Dumbryden Road

The original stone arched Dumbryden Road Bridge, buried in the road embankment for 30 years, was even salvaged - the paler coloured stone shows where it has been patched up

The new canal winds its way between the roads and houses of Wester Hailes. This photo, taken from a footbridge, shows it running next to Hailesland Road (which has been moved across to make room)

Looking the other way from the same footbridge. The canal narrows and bends on its way towards bridge 6C, Murrayburn Road

A large new bridge 7 takes the canal under the dual carriageway at Wester Hailes Road, the biggest single part of the Wester Hailes reinstatement