While Scottish highlands are amazing there is much more to admire. Right in the centre of Scotland offering impressive views. This place is for enthusiasts of technology and thirsty for large spatial figures. Its 30/45 minutes (20 miles/32km) easy drive from Edinburgh or Glasgow. Awaken your senses and get ready for a breathtaking experience I take you to 2 major open air attraction in Falkirk.

The Helix Park home of Kelpies

The Helix Park get you impressed for a long time – is The Home of The Kelpies – the largest equine sculptures in the world.

• Falkirk FK2 7ZT

Spectacular Kelpies are 30-metre-high (98 ft) horse-head sculptures depicting kelpies (shape-shifting water spirits), located between and Grangemouth, but the Kelpies themselves are situated in beautiful Grangemouth, standing next to an extension to the Forth and Clyde Canal, and near the River Carron. On this canal you can admire stylish barges where people live permanently or just rest.

PARKING is very well organised just touch your card (its £3) and drive in.

Please be aware in very sunny days you can get hot – take hats, umbrellas, SPF50 and plenty of water. This place is ideal for picnic. Parking and all area has no shaded areas.

Walking from the car park area you can already admire beautiful sculptures.

The visitor centre at the Kelpies has a gift shop, café and more information on The Kelpies themselves. You can also take a tour from there with one of the guides who will tell you about the story of The Kelpies and even take you inside for an exclusive look at their engineering and ingenuity.

This is ideal place to take plenty of photos, make sure your camera is on full battery and you have space in your mobile.

Two 30-metre-high horse heads are clad with more than 900 steel platelets manufactured,

The Kelpies represent the lineage of the heavy horse of Scottish industry and economy, pulling the wagons, ploughs, barges and coalships that shaped the geographical layout of Falkirk.

But what are ‘kelpies’? A kelpie is a shape-changing aquatic spirit of Scottish legend. Its name may derive from the Scottish Gaelic words ‘cailpeach’ or ‘colpach’, meaning heifer or colt. Kelpies are said to haunt rivers and streams, usually in the shape of a horse.

This is definitely ‘MUST SEE’ place in Scotland.

The Kelpies

Each structure contains approximately 18,000 individual pieces.
There is over 1.5 miles of steel in each structure.
They each weigh over 300 tonnes and sit on 1,200 tonne foundations.
Each structure has 464 steel plates.

Designed by Scottish sculptor Andy Scott the Kelpies are inspired by the working heavy horses such as Clydesdales who played a key role in Scotland’s industrial heritage. After producing some initial concept sketches Andy went on to produce a pair of tenth scale models or maquettes which brought his idea to life and were instrumental in the project being awarded much needed funding from the Big Lottery.

The Falkirk Wheel

The world’s

one and only rotating boat lift.

• Lime Road, Tamfourhill, FK1 4RS.

A marvel of engineering and Scottish Canals’ flagship destination, The Falkirk Wheel. Connecting the Forth & Clyde Canal with the Union Canal in a half-turn that takes only five minutes! This boat lift is an exceptional feat of modern engineering. The magnificent structure is a rotating boat lift in Tamfourhill, Falkirk, in central Scotland, connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. It opened in 2002 as part of the Millennium Link project. The Falkirk Wheel, can carry up to eight ships at a time between the basins of the Forth & Clyde channels and the new aqueduct in the Union Canal. This boat lift machine was diseñanda and built by Butterley Ltd, supported by Tony Gee & Partners Engineers.

Photo credit Upsplash

An iconic Scottish landmark facts

It’s the only one of its kind in the world with its unique rotating design
The wheel takes the place of 14 locks
The Falkirk Wheel Its gondolas can carry up to eight boats at once, with each containing 300 tonnes of water – Wheel only uses 1.5 kWh of energy for each rotation, which is equivalent to the power used by eight domestic kettles.
has become a thriving tourist destination and a symbol of Scotland’s dedication to sustainable development

To admire this attractions you can walk, cycle, take a boat or take a segway with Scottish centre. At the Falkirk Wheel area you can enjoy delicious coffee and english snacks.

I recommend a 60 minute boat trip to truly enjoy experiencing feeling of the Falkirk Wheel for yourselves, and take in the views over central Scotland, if the Scottish weather allows, you may even spot a Kelpie!

The Helix Park home of Kelpies

The Falkirk Wheel

Stay Connected

More Updates

Subscribe

Sail ~Taste & Travel

Join for latest updates>>