John Muir Way · Overnight stop
Accommodation in Falkirk
The end of the fourth day, at the Falkirk Wheel, where the Forth & Clyde Canal meets the Union Canal — and the obvious place on the route to stop for two nights.
End of day four · Stage stop
An ex-industrial town of around 35,000 with a redeveloped high street — functional rather than attractive — sitting between two of the most visited free attractions in Scotland. The Falkirk Wheel and Callendar House are both passport stamping stations.
The fourth night on the standard schedule, and the natural rest day: the Wheel and the Kelpies are both on or beside the Way and both free to look at.
What is actually in Falkirk
Hotels and B&Bs — a town of 35,000, so more choice than anywhere since Helensburgh.
How far ahead to book
Weeks rather than months: a town this size has more rooms than the walkers passing through need.
When it is full
Edinburgh and Glasgow are each about 25 minutes by train, and Linlithgow, the next stage end, is closer still.
Getting there, and getting out
Two stations: Falkirk High and Falkirk Grahamston, both about 25 minutes from Edinburgh and from Glasgow. This is where the route's rail access becomes easy — Scotland's Great Trails notes that stations between Falkirk and Dunbar make the eastern half simple to walk in sections.
Camping
No. Town, canals and parkland.
Food and resupply
Full supermarkets (Tesco, Asda, Lidl). The best resupply on the western half of the Way.
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