Canals were built (the Forth and Clyde in 1790 and the Union in 1822) between the west and east coasts, the steamship made sea travel quicker and more predictable, and latterly the development of the railway network enabled travel to become cheap and ubiquitous.
Canals were built (the Forth and Clyde in 1790 and the Union in 1822) between the west and east coasts, but the canal boat was too slow to provide much advance for passengers. The steamship made sea travel quicker and more predictable for coastal and island communities, and latterly the development of the railway network enabled travel to become cheap and ubiquitous.