Photo credit Ben Carless and Sean Mack
Visiting the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel
Looking for a fun day out in central Scotland? Why not visit The Kelpies and The Falkirk Wheel? They’re around 20 miles from Glasgow and Edinburgh, so it’s easy to visit them from either city in a day. Plus, they’re just a few miles apart, so the perfect distance to visit both sites in just one day. You can easily drive between both sites, or use the canal pathway and walk or cycle between the two.
The Kelpies
The Kelpies are the largest equine statues in the world. They stand at 30 metres tall and weigh around 300 tonnes each. They’re massive!
The history of the statues comes because Kelpies are mythical creatures who possess the strength of 10 normal horses. They stand right next to the Forth and Clyde Canal and were chosen at the inception of the project as a symbol of strength and endurance.
The Kelpies are crafted from steel which symbolises the lost steel industry in Scotland - an industry which was once massive and responsible for so many jobs in the country.
There is an extension of the canal around The Kelpies, allowing canal boats to pass through the waterway. How much fun would that be on a canal boat journey!
During a visit to The Kelpies, as well as admiring the huge statues themselves there are kids play parks, walks along the canal, a visitor centre, cafe, gift shop and plenty of outdoor spaces to relax if the weather is being kind.
The Falkirk Wheel
The Falkirk Wheel connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. It’s a rotating boat lift, the only one of its kind in the whole world.
The Falkirk Wheel is over 35 metres high and is such an amazing sight to see. It carries boats from top to bottom and vice versa. Travelling through 35 metres to join the Union Canal at the top or the Forth and Clyde Canal at the bottom.
You don’t need to be on holiday on a canal boat to enjoy the experience though, there are several boat trips throughout the day that you can join. I definitely recommend booking for the tour as soon as you arrive at The Wheel, as they do fill up fast.
As well as The Wheel, there are play parks, a cool airstream selling food, a cafe, water play park and more.
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