Why you should go to Falkirk if you visit Scotland

Why you should put Falkirk on your Scotland itinerary

Growing up, to me Falkirk was a sparkly paradise akin to the bright lights of NYC. Don’t laugh. The Scottish town was home to my mum’s side of the family and it symbolised everything the Isle of Man was not to my unworldly eight year old self.

Trips to visit my older cousins made me feel like some kind of sophisticated jet setter because they had an ice cream van and we didn’t get that where I came from.

Then I grew up and saw a bit more of the world and realised things get much more exciting than the flaming towers of the BP and sneaking into City night club underage.

I moved to Edinburgh for uni and hardly ever took the 40 minute train to Falkirk because, well, I had all I needed in the capital.

However, last time I took a trip to see the Scottish side of the family, I found that Falkirk is really starting to find its place on the map. There are actual things to do in Falkirk now, and people don’t just go there to see their Granny.

I thought I’d put together a wee Falkirk itinerary for you. Travellers, welcome to Scotland.

A 16-mile cycle route connects The Helix, The Kelpies, The Falkirk Wheel and Callendar House; meaning you can easily get around all of the sights in a day or two.

A mammoth start to the day

Start your day in Falkirk with a Full Scottish Breakfast at The Wheelhouse. That’s bacon, fried eggs, square sausage, black pudding, haggis, beans, tattie scone, toast, mushrooms and tomato – best served with brown sauce and usually finished in a food coma.

The Falkirk Wheel

Officially opened in 2002, The Falkirk Wheel is one of Scotland’s most popular tourist destinations, even though it’s located 23 miles outside of the capital and about the same distance from Glasgow.

Open seven days a week, keen tourists can book a boat trip along the canal to see the world’s only boat lift from the water.

The building of the wheel started in 1998 when local councils decided to rejoin Forth & Clyde and the Union Canals, which were previously linked by 11 locks and took almost a full day to transit. The overall cost was £84.5 million and it took over 1000 construction staff to put the wheel together!

Constructed from 1,200 tonnes of steel, it’s 35 metres high. The Wheel only uses 1.5kWh of energy to turn, the same amount as it would take to make 8 cups of tea.

The unique design nods to Celtic influences and reminds some of a double-headed spear while others see the rib cage of a whale. What do you see?

The Helix

The Helix is 350 hectares of green space that sprawls between Falkirk and Grangemouth, which FYI is where my mum was brought up. 

The ecopark was opened in September 2013 and on nice days it gets really busy, with kids clambering all over the climbing frames, dogs lapping at the water and cyclists zipping around the urban park on one of its two National Cycle Routes. 

Visitors can have a snack in the Plaza cafe and watch Rosie and Jim style boats creep along the Forth & Clyde Canal or even take to the water in a pedalo, canoe or kayak.

Obviously after my kayaking mishap in Kaikoura I passed on that one.

There are trampolines built into the ground (how good is that?) and a splash play area for kids.

The Kelpies

The Kelpies are the silver jewels of the park: two 20 metre high stainless steel beasts that rise triumphantly from the ground within The Helix.

I quizzed my aunties about the story behind the impressive horse heads, with limited success. They muttered something about horses pulling barges. Enlightening. Maybe the locals are unsure what the Keplies represent, but I’ve done the research for you.

Andy Scott is the designer behind the world’s largest equine sculptures. They were erected in just 90 days and were modeled on two real life horses called Duke and Baron.

The sculptor drew inspiration from the area’s use of horses during the first stages of the industrial revolution. They were used to pull the wagons and ploughs, barges and coal ships that were used to move Falkirk’s barges on the Forth & Clyde canal.

One animal in Falkirk’s history stands out. A horse named Carnera pulled the wagon for A.G. Barr in the 1930’s.

Anyone who knows Scotland knows that this is the company behind Irn Bru, the delicious, hangover-curing soft drink. Carnera was the biggest working horse in the world apparently, standing over 19 hands high.

The Kelpies’ name comes mythological beasts possessing the strength and endurance of 100 horses; a strength that is analogous with the transformation of the Scottish landscape, the endurance of its waterways and the strength of its communities.

“During the conceptual stages, I visualised the Kelpies as monuments to the horse and a paean to the lost industries of the Falkirk area and of Scotland.” says Andy Scott.

The Kelpies serve as a symbol of modern Scotland – proud and majestic, like the people and the land. Partnered with the Falkirk Wheel, the Kelpies elevate Falkirk and Grangemouth to national and international prominence.

They’ve become a tourist attraction as well as serving as a monument to the area’s history. They stand testament to the achievements of the past, a tribute to artisanship and engineering and a declaration of intent for the future of Scotland.

So, what do the locals think?

With a price tag of £43 million, the Helix was a huge investment in Falkirk’s future as a tourism destination, which could have either flopped or flourished.

Some of my aunties think they’re a huge waste of money and couldn’t believe that we had to pay for parking, but the park is a place for the local community to spend entire days. You know, during all those sunny mornings Scotland enjoys.

The Helix and its attractions have created jobs for people in the area, gives kids a safe place to play and is a great spot for picnics and walks. Shame the ducks aren’t impressed.

How to get to the Helix: It’s a 30-minute drive from Edinburgh and Glasgow on the M8. Cycling alongside the Union Canal from Edinburgh takes 2 to 3 hours depending on how fit/willing you are.. The Helix is a 15-minute cycle from Falkirk High railway station, which is also well served by the local bus.

Don’t pay for the tour. It’s expensive and didn’t look at all worth it.

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