It is important, during these time, to be grateful for what you have. I am lucky to live in a village that has lots of greenspace and many tracks, paths and canal towpaths to get out and about for my daily exercise. I was actually a little surprised by how much greenspace there is around me, it’s practically everywhere, have a look at the Google Maps satellite view.
I went out early this morning while it was still very cool and walked roughly five kilometres along the Forth and Clyde canal, down through Bonnybridge Nature Reserve and back up to the Bonnybridge Road to head back to the canal towpath. A circular route that took just under an hour.
Bonnybridge is where I grew up and when I was young it was a place that I couldn’t wait to leave. Having travelled a lot of the world and lived elsewhere it is a place that I have come to appreciate in the last couple of years. It has significant history, a large part of it being built near the Antonine Wall (built in A.D. 142) and has contemporary significance being a major artery for the John Muir Way and the Falkirk Wheel.
The two photographs are from near where I currently live, the left photograph being taken on the Forth & Clyde canal and the right photograph taken in Bonnybridge Gardens, commonly known as the “Sunken Gardens” due it is sunken disposition. This used to be Bonnybridge Train station, taken away many years ago. The historical geographer would realise this as what used to be the Station Hotel towers above at the end of this garden.