If you have driven up the M9 in Scotland recently you may well have passed two giant horse sculptures at the side of the road. These are ‘The Kelpies’, 30 m tall metal sculptures that represent the mythological transforming beasts which possess the strength and endurance of 100 horses. They are the gateway to the Helix park and the Forth and Clyde canal.
It took us a while to actually visit them, although we had watched them being built and completed whilst driving past on the M9. It was over a year before we actually made the visit to see them up close!
It’s now one of O’s favourite places to go for a ride on his balance bike, zooming along all the paths and round and round the Kelpies themselves.
Of course he also always request a biscuit or an ice cream when we visit as well, I suspect that this has become a bit of a Kelpie tradition now and it won’t ever be allowed to be forgotten!
You can also book a 45 minute tour to learn about the history and construction of the structures and of course get a chance to walk inside one of the Kelpies. We haven’t taken a tour yet, but it’s on our list of things to do.
Aside the Kelpies themselves, there are private boats that can be watched sailing along the canal and going through the locks, many miles of paths to walk, cycle and scoot along and a man-made loch that you can hire pedal boats or kayaks on.
There is also a great park near the loch, best for older children as everything is a little too big for smaller people to manage on their own. We visited it once with our 3 year old and he got quite frustrated as things that he can do at other parks he can’t here as the ropes are too far apart to reach or the ladder step too high from the ground to start. It looks great for children around 5+, although there are a few wobbly animal things and a smaller slide that little ones can go on.
If you’re ever in the Falkirk area, this is a great place for a family day out, with plenty to do to keep you occupied for the day.
Have you visited the Kelpies?
J x
Chloe says
Oh wow, I’ve never even heard of this place before. It sounds incredible. I want to visit myself now. It looks like you all had a great time, I think the ice-cream is quickly become a family tradition. 😀
I’d love to go on a tour here & hire a peddle boat. It sounds like so much fun! xxx
#magicmoments
Chloe says
*I don’t know why my autocorrect changed #mummymondays to #magicmoments haha 😀
Kellie Kearney says
Those sculptures look fab. Love the maze type thing in the park. I’m getting dizzy looking at it though lol.
Catie says
The scultpures look amazing. What a fun day out. My boys had balance bikes too. They are great!
#mummymondays
The L's Mum says
Looks like a great place to visit. Those sculptures look like they would be awesome to see in real life. #MummyMonday
Sarah Howe (@RunJumpScrap) says
They look incredible! I’d love to see them. I’ve never been to Scotland actually! It’s a bad thing to say as I really would like to and we really are so close in the grand scheme of things! It looks like a great day out and I bet you are buying an ice-cream everytime you go xxx #mummymondays
Jenny Eaves says
We will definitely do a tour one day soon and hire a peddle boat when A is bigger, it’s great fun! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
😀 x
Jenny Eaves says
They’re pretty cool and it’s so funny watching all the kids running and cycling around the spiral! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
We love the balance bike, it is amazing how quickly he learnt to balance with it! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
They are fab! Definitely have a visit if you come up this way, it’s just off the motorway. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
You should definitely come up and visit one day, there are so many things to see and do! I love our area, but the West coast and islands are my favourite places for holidays! 🙂 x
Sally@Toddlers on Tour says
Those Kelpies look amazing offering a completely different look depending which angle you are looking at hem.
Jenny Eaves says
They are pretty cool! 🙂 x
Cathy (MummyTravels) says
I’ve never come across these before – sounds like a lovely place to stop off though. #mondayescapes
Jenny Eaves says
Great for a day visit or a stop off on the way North, just off the motorway so easy to get to as well. 🙂 x
Jessie, FlusteredMom says
They’re so beautiful! Thanks for sharing!! #MummyMondays
Maria (One Tiny Leap) says
Wow, these look absolutely incredible! Loved to see your little one having so much fun on his balance bike 🙂
Jenny Eaves says
Thanks, he loves zooming around on his bike! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you! 🙂 x
Packing my Suitcase says
What an interesting place!
I love horses, and would love to visit it someday 😀
Thank you so much for linking up with #MondayEscapes
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you! Hope you manage to visit one day! 🙂 X
Ruth - Tanama Tales says
These horses are so amazing! I love the color and how they can be shiny under the sun. I imagine it was cool to witness how they were built.
Jenny Eaves says
It was interesting to watch them go up, we weren’t exactly sure what they were meant to be, so seeing 2 Kelpies appear was cool! 🙂