By happensstance, I happened to have a look at the website late last week to find it was up and running again, so we booked our tickets to experience it!
The Falkirk Wheel was initially designed as a way to reduce the number of locks used in the canalways between Glasgow and Edinburgh in the late 90's when interest in the canals was re-igniting. It is the height of 8 double decker busses (35 metres tall for those of us not used to measuring in double decker busses), and requires only 1.5 kilowatts of power - about the same as to boil 8 household kettles. Each of the 15,000 bolts were hand tightened, and it remains the only rotating boatlift in the world.
When we arrived, we hopped on board a boat and moved into the lock at the base of the wheel. The entire journey to the top took five minutes. We then passed through the lock at the top and motored (slowly, I think I recall the captain saying it was approx 4 miles p/h) through the tunnel that had been dug through the hill the wheel was anchored too, out into a small lagoon in front of another lock - where we turned around and did the whole thing in the opposite direction.
Overall, the journey took just shy of an hour and was pretty interesting. The boat was barely half full - every second row was empty due to Covid-spacing, and the captain no longer spoke during the journey up and back - he had been replaced by a recording, for the safety of all. It was a bit of a shame, but he and the other crewmember were available after the journey if there were any questions that the recording hadn't answered.
If you're ever in the area, definitely check it out. It also has a small water area for kids, great parks, and Roman ruins nearby, plus the Kelpies are only 15 minutes away, so it's a great area to while away a few hours.
That is cool!
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