Unique in the world, The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift which links The Forth and Clyde Canal, on the lower level, and The Union Canal, on the upper level. These two waterways link the west coast of Scotland from Glasgow to the east coast at Edinburgh and Grangemouth. The whole waterway system was refurbished as the "Millennium Link" project, completed in 2002, the centrepiece being here at The Falkirk Wheel.

Boats and their passengers sail into the top and bottom gondolas and the structure then rotates to swap their relative positions. Because the overall weights of the gondolas can be evenly balanced very little power is required to complete the rotation, which happens silently and smoothly. Principally used for leisure sailing with little or no industrial traffic, the waterways are popular for day trips.