The Kelpies in Scotland – A Short & Quick Guide
The largest equine sculptures in the world, The Kelpies are a renowned tourist attraction in Scotland that witnesses a huge footfall of tourists throughout the year. They are an architectural marvel, and you can even go inside them!
Whether it’s your first time in Scotland or you’ve already been here, The Kelpies has to be on the list of your Scottish trip itinerary. So let’s have a look at the information you need to know before visiting.
A Complete Guide to Visiting The Kelpies in Scotland - What to Expect on Your Visit to the Kelpies
Planning your Trip to The Kelpies
What are The Kelpies
The Legend of The Kelpies
Where Exactly is the Iconic Site of The Kelpies Located
Best Time to Visit The Kelpies
Reasons Why You Need to Visit The Kelpies in Scotland
It's Free
The Imposing Structures are 100 Feet Tall
You Can Go Inside The Kelpies
The Facilities at the Helix Visitor Centre
Its open 24/7
What Can You Do During your Visit?
Popular Tourist Sites to Visit Near The Kelpies in Scotland
Zetland Park
Callendar House and Park
Falkirk Trinity Church
Falkirk Steeple
Falkirk Tunnel
Torwood Castle
What are the Kelpies?
The Kelpies are an architectural marvel, touted as the world’s largest equine sculptures. Scottish folklore says that kelpies are shape-shifting water spirits who inhabit Scottish waterways and lochs. Legend has it that they appear to humans in the form of horses, encouraging them to ride on their back and take them to a watery grave!
The inspiration for these sculptures, however, were Scotland’s working horses. They are a tribute to the hardworking stallions that used to transport goods along the waterways and canals of Scotland.
Engineered in 2013 by Andy Scott, the renowned Scottish artist, the sculptures comfortably stand tall at a height of 30 meters and weigh more than 600 tonnes. Such is the marvellous engineering of The Kelpies in Scotland because only stainless steel cladding has been used along with weathering steel.
He originally drew the design in Amsterdam a few years before it was actually built in Scotland. Interestingly, each of the horses was built with more than 2 miles of single metal plates. These plates were cut and put into shape at workshops in Falkirk, by hand!
The Legend of Kelpies
For centuries, the legend of Kelpies has been very popular in Scotland, where Kelpies are seen as demons and evil creatures. The name ‘Kelpie’ derives from Gaelic ‘Cailpech’ or ‘Colpach’, which refers to colt or heifer.
All the water bodies in Scotland have stories that feature Kelpies. The most renowned one being Loch Ness!
Kelpies are also known as water demons, or spirits, living inside the rivers, streams and lochs that can shape-shift.
These demons are even blamed for any drownings that happen in Scotland. There is a belief that Kelpies lure people into the water. People also believe that these demons can summon floods using their power!
Where Exactly is the Iconic Site of The Kelpies Located?
The tourist site of The Kelpies is located off the M9 in Falkirk, some 35 miles from the city of Glasgow and 19 miles from Edinburgh. The site is situated within the vicinity of Helix Park.
The park is a land transformation project built with the aim of improving connections between 16 communities in Falkirk. The Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift that was opened in 2002, is also in the park. The site connects the Cycle and Forth with the Union Canal.
Best Time to Visit The Kelpies
If you are wondering when to visit the Kelpies sculpture, there is no ideal time, it can be visited throughout the year. However, we would say plan your trip during the week as it will likely be less busy with visitors.
People also find it a tussle to choose between visiting during the day or at night when it comes to when to visiting The Kelpies. A night tour gives you the opportunity to see the sculptures lit up in the most beautiful blue glow. The reflections in the water at the base add a most impressive display.
A daytime on the other hand, allows you to enjoy the facilities like the inside tour of Kelpies, cafes and shop.
With that in mind, we recommend trying to visit during the day as well as the night, in order to savour the two different experiences at The Kelpies.
It’s Free
What could be a better reason to visit The Kelpies than the fact that it’s free? A visit to this amazing tourist site won’t dent your wallet and the sculptures are set within a huge park, ideal for people of all ages.
However, you will need to pay a small parking fee in The Kelpies Car Park, which is great value overall for a scenic view and an amazing day out. The park also allows you to picnic, so bring your own food and enjoy it at an iconic park.
If you are travelling with kids, there is also a free play park to ensure a fun time for them. For your four legged friends, the park also features comfortable tracks for dogs and beautiful cafes.
You Can Go Inside The Kelpies, Really!
The inside tour cannot be done independently. You must book a guided tour, which can be done in the Visitor Centre.
Depending on when you plan to visit, it is advisable to book tickets online as they sell out quickly on good sunny days and weekends. The ticket price costs £7.50 for adults.
The tour lasts for 25 minutes from April to September. Whereas in the winter months, from October to March, it only lasts for 20 minutes, and the ticket price drops down to £6. up to 2 children can also go in for free with each paying adult.
The Facilities at the Helix Visitor Centre
Though The Kelpies seem like a tourist site that can be explored in an hour, there is much more to see at the Helix Visitor Centre cover a range of areas.
There is a cafe where you can grab a coffee and relax for a while after the Kelpies tour. Or you can peruse the gift shop, picking up the perfect souvenir.
The park itself is huge, you can sit and admire the picturesque surrounding whiling sipping your hot drink or enjoying some food. On rainy days, there is inside seating available.
It's open 24/7
The Kelpies remain open throughout the day and night. As soon as the sun falls asleep, the sculptures bloom in different colours, it's quite a sight to behold.
Be aware that the car parking facility closes at 10 pm.
What Can You Do During your Visit?
Now, if you are visiting Kelpies during the night, there isn’t actually too much to do or explore apart from the lit-up sculpture itself. You can soak in the sight with the peaceful sound of running water in the background.
Whereas, if you are planning a visit during the daytime, there are plenty of things to do, as mentioned earlier in this post. You can go to eat at the main cafe or can shop at the souvenir shop. There is also a children's park and people take picnics along in the pleasant weather to make the most out of their visit to The Kelpies.
Popular Tourist Sites to Visit Near the Kelpies in Scotland
Now, let’s give you some more reasons to visit The Kelpies! There are some amazing tourist places in nearby that you will also want to explore.
Falkirk Trinity Church
The first and oldest church erected in Falkirk is Falkirk Trinity Church. It has huge significance in the town's history as the church was believed to have brought the town of Falkirk on the map of Scotland tourism.
It is known as Falkirk Old and St Modan’s Parish Church. The vicinity of the church also includes tombs and monuments. The reason why this church has such huge popularity is that it serves as the resting place of Sir John de Graham, the finest knight of William Wallace.
Zetland Park
Located in Grangemouth, Zetland Park is one of the most beautiful places to visit near Kelpies for a perfect family day out. There are plenty of amenities within the park, including a Bouncy Castle, Crazy Golf, Children’s Inflatable Slide, and a Snacks Kiosk.
There is also a stunning track for cyclists and a play area, making for a perfect place for kids. Along with that, you can also indulge in a sport as the park also has a tennis court.
Callendar House and Park
A 4-star attraction that dates back to the 14th century, Callendar House is a French chateau-style house that also has a Georgian kitchen. In addition, here is a tea room and a kids' play park.
The park also includes a UNESCO World Heritage site, Roman Antonine Wall. The house displays the history of the Callendar House from the 11th to 19th centuries.
This famous tourist attraction was even used as a filming location in the very famous Outlander TV series.
Falkirk Steeple
Falkirk Steeple is an iconic landmark and must-see site near the Kelpies in Scotland. Standing tall since 1814, the steeple is 140 feet high and 22 feet square. For more than two centuries, this iconic landmark has dominated Falkirk's skyline.
However, the history of this steeple dates back to even before 1814. It is said that it was built in the late 16th century and got demolished in 1697. The second steeple was built right next to the town’s tollbooth and was demolished in 1803 because of the work on the tollbooth.
The construction of the third and the current steeple was started in 1812 by David Hamilton - a renowned Glasgow architect. Today, it serves as the epitome of the town’s history and community.
Falkirk Tunnel
If you want to visit popular attractions in Falkirk or must-see sites around The Kelpies in Scotland, Falkirk Tunnel has to be on both lists. Created nearly 200 years ago, the tunnel was used for transporting coal.
However, today, it carries the Union Canal right beneath Prospect Hill. The tunnel also connects Falkirk with downtown Edinburgh. The Falkirk Tunnel is an impressive 630 feet long, 19 feet high, and 18 feet wide.
Unlike the old days, the tunnel is well lit, with a lighting system that includes heritage white lights and colourful LEDs to highlight the stunning Victorian engineering. You can explore the tunnel while touring the Union Canal by boat or paddle boat, as the tour also takes you to Falkirk Tunnel.
Torwood Castle
Located some 9 miles north of The Kelpies, Torwood Castle is another must-visit tourist attraction in the region. It is a castle ruin and is privately owned. Unlike a usual castle, it isn’t huge and is actually an L-shaped house. However, the fact that it dates back to the 16th century makes it an interesting site to visit.
The history of the castle is still a mystery but it still lures architecture lovers from across the globe. Such is the uniqueness of its architecture that it sits at a transitional phase from castle to mansion.
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