The Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel
It's a long time since I last wrote. I've been for many walks and bimbles, some longer than others. Many shorter than before due to the never-ending problem with my knee. 18 months since I had my second knee replacement and the problems are still ongoing. Walking is often difficult and painful, though I soldier on, as one must, take the pain killers and await referral back to Orthopaedics. In fact, I have an appointment in December. Weeks away, but that is life these days. But enough about my wonky knee and to 'bimbles'.
Back in September 2023 we (my brother Martin and me) spent a week in Scotland. Edinburgh to be precise. After a problem with the accommodation we had booked, we ended up in a hotel just round the corner from the Royal Mile. More expensive, but wonderfully located.
The weather was perfect on our first day, so we walked the short distance to Waverley Station and jumped on a train to Falkirk. I had been wanting to visit "The Kelpies" for some time and so we thought that's where we'd start. The journey wasn't that long, but then we had to find our way to Helix Park. A bus took us to the outskirts and then it was a pleasant walk to the Visitor Centre, watching The Kelpies grow bigger with every step.
The Kelpies are a pair of monumental steel horse-head sculptures, 30 metres (98ft) high. They were designed by Andy Scott and were completed in October 2013 with an unveiling ceremony in April 2014. They were inspired by Clydesdale (draught) horses and are named Baron and Duke.
The Kelpies, Duke and Baron
We delayed our excitement long enough to grab a sandwich and a drink before getting up close and you can't help but be amazed and impressed by these two beasties. The closer you get, obviously the larger they seem, towering over you, crying out for photos from every angle. We spent a long time walking around the bases, trying to capture the reflections in the water. You can actually pay to take a look inside, but we didn't bother, peering in through a couple of gaps to get an idea anyway.
Eventually we agreed we'd taken more than enough photos and decided to walk to the Falkirk Wheel. The route would take us by way of the Forth and Clyde canal which ran alongside.
The canal was opened in 1790, crossing central Scotland and providing a route for sea-going vessels between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde at the narrowest point of the Scottish Highlands. It's 35 miles long, but its usage declined when the size of vessels increased and could no longer navigate the canal. It was decided to close it in the early 1960s and it became disused and semi-derelict. The locks in the Falkirk area on the Union Canal near the connection to the Forth and Clyde had been filled in and built over in the 1930s. But as part of the Millennium celebrations in 2000, National Lottery funds were used to regenerate both canals. A boat-lifting device, the Falkirk Wheel, was built to connect the two canals and once more allow travel from the Clyde or Glasgow to Edinburgh.
So, as the Falkirk Wheel is considered quite a feat of engineering and within fairly easy reach, and as it was such a lovely sunny day, we felt we needed to see it. And also, as the sign said "4 miles" we thought, no problem. In fact, it turned out to be nearer 6 and I was beginning to flag towards the end. But although the canal went through some industrial parts, a lot of the scenery was quite pleasant with some interesting features along the way.
Beside the canal
So after a couple of short stops, the Wheel finally came into sight and it was a case of cup of tea and cake before we did any exploring or taking photos. But once we did, the Falkirk Wheel, the world's only rotating boat lift, is pretty impressive, connecting the Forth & Clyde with the Union canal in a half-turn that takes only five minutes. It opened in 2002 and replaced a flight of 11 locks. So whereas weary travellers once had a day's heavy work opening and closing 44 lock gates to complete the journey between the two canals, the Falkirk Wheel allows vessels to transit between the two waterways in just a few minutes by one of the structure's gondolas lowering as the opposite one rises, keeping the 1,800 tonne boat lift in perfect balance.
The Falkirk Wheel
As I said, it is impressive and we wandered about taking photos from every angle until aching legs drew us back to the entrance and we went in search of a bus. Unfortunately, the stop outside the park was not in use, so eventually we had to phone for a taxi which took us back to the train station. A short wait and the train took us the short ride back to Edinburgh.
All in all, it was a fabulous start to the holiday, of which the Kelpies were an outstanding highlight. It would be lovely to see them again at night, as they are floodlit in various colours.
Please see lots of photos in the gallery which give a much better idea of our day.
