Falkirk Wheel

The Falkirk Wheel

The Falkirk Wheel was completed in 2002 and is described as "A Modern Day Miracle of Design and Engineering". The 35 metre high rotating boat lift is the first and only one of its kind, joining the Forth and Clyde Canal to the lower level Union Canal; and is now a popular tourist attraction.

There is a free car park by the canal and then it is only a short walk, crossing the swing bridge, until you glimpse the iconic structure

It is a breath-taking feat of engineering that enthrals all who see it - not just grown ups! The area is so geared up for families that you could easily come here and spend at least half a day enjoying the activities.

As you watch the tourist canal boat approach The Wheel, it is a surprise how the boat becomes cradled within the structure, and then scooped out of the water. At the same time a boat that was waiting on the higher level is rotated downwards, slowly and gently until both cradles are at opposite points again.

Surprisingly the cradle can hold more than one boat!

The Wheel connects Glasgow with Edinburgh by canal now, replacing 11 locks that were abandoned in the 1930's; and there is information everywhere describing how it has been built, what materials were used and how much it costs to run.............just as much a kettle boiling!

There is a huge modern Visitor Centre that caters for all needs; this is where you can buy tickets to go on the canal boat trips, although you can always get them on the Scottish Canals website. There is a cafe in the Visitor Centre, toilets, a gift shop - selling all sorts of gifts specific to the area and somewhere to buy ice creams. Outside is the Eureka Play zone where children can learn new things about the world whilst playing in the Sand Pit, the Water Play area and the Willow Maze.

There are activities that need paying for, such as Waterzorbing, Bumper boats, Peddle boats  or you can hire a Segway and be taken on a tour around the district.

Who would have thought that Archimedes Screw could ever have been part of children's playground!

There are several walking and cycling paths that take in this area, and a few walks of varying distances you can do from the Visitor Centre. There are excellent views if you walk up the hill away from the wheel and you can really appreciate the length of the structure from this different angle.

It isn't long before you come to the 110 metre long Rough Castle Tunnel, which you can walk through or walk over. If you have time, it is worth waiting to see a canal boat to come through.

Carry on walking through the woodland and you will eventually come to the Roman Fort known as  Rough Castle; this is one of the prominent places to visit along the Antonine Wall; which was built in the 2nd century to keep the barbarians from venturing further south.

You do have to use some imagination here - but are helped by the information boards.

Early the next morning, I had booked to go on the first Boat trip of the day, and when I arrived there was hardly anyone about - a completely different atmosphere to the previous afternoon.

The boat I went on was aptly named The Antonine, and the other boat is called The Archimedes.

After the usual Health and Safety talk, the cradle lifted us gently up and we were soon a hundred feet above the canal basin below and heading along the steel aqueduct.

Travelling through the 110 metre long Rough Castle tunnel was very atmospheric and picturesque.

Out the other side and you could see the lock that boats went through to continue their journey, but after a while, we turned around and began our journey back to the Wheel. Everything looks so different from the opposite direction!

Travelling back along the aqueduct, the views into the distance are quite spectacular; you can see the mountains, the sea and on a clear day, you can make out Falkirk's other attraction - The Kelpies.

The tour lasted about 45 minutes and was full of interesting information about the building of this amazing structure and how it came to be. It is suitable for all ages and is something I can highly recommend.

The wheel is sometimes illuminated at night time, this is something I was really wanted to see; but there was a problem when I visited - and all I could see were the postcards!

You can start canal boat holidays from here which sound great fun; or you can walk miles in several directions enjoying the waterways. One of the most popular routes is the 8 mile walk along the canal to The Helix - to see The Kelpies. There are many photo opportunities on the way. If you want to know more about the Kelpies, you can always look at my blog :-
https://lynnejmorley.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-kelpies.html

Both The Falkirk Wheel and The Kelpies have put this area on the map; becoming really popular visitor attractions; you can easily see them both in a day if you are short on time.

If you need any more information, follow these links :-

www.the helix.co.uk/things-to-do/the-kelpies

www.scottishcanals.co.uk/falkirk-wheel

Lynne 

Please check out my other blogs:-

http://lynnemorley.blogspot.com

http://morleysjourneytoozandback.blogspot.com

https://lynnemorleys.blogspot.com

The Kelpies

The Kelpies 

The Kelpies are 30 metre high steel structures depicting heads of mythical horses; standing in Helix park, just a few miles from Falkirk, at an entrance to the Forth and Clyde Canal. They were completed in 2013, and together with the nearby Falkirk Wheel - draw numerous visitors to the area. 

If you use the car park just as you enter the Helix, there is no charge; and it is about a 10 minute walk to reach the Kelpies. There is another car park a lot closer, but there is a fee for this one. It is a delightful walk along the edge of the canal - watching the structures coming closer into view.

If you chose not to walk along the canal, there is a pathway through some woodland and round the lagoon. There is a boardwalk around the waterway, which has been cleverly designed, running through the reeds - it is very atmospheric. There are smaller ponds and interesting features within the woods - so look out for them.

As you get closer to these magnificent beasts, you realise just what an amazing feat of engineering they are; welded from small pieces of  structural steel and galvanised with stainless steel cladding - each one weighing 300 tons.

If you continue along the canal, just behind the Kelpies is the Horsebox Cafe and Gift shop where you can buy drinks, snacks and ice-creams. This is where boats using this section of the canal tend to moor up overnight. What a place to park up!

The canal ends here and the last lock is the Carron River Sea Lock - which doesn't look so picturesque at low tide.

Turning back to admire the huge equine structures, which are captivating from every angle; you come to the Kelpies Visitor Centre, Gift Shop and Cafe - which sells a range of home made cakes and meals using locally found ingredients.

This is open every day of the year (except Christmas and New Year), from 9:30am until 5:00pm. As well as selling traditional souvenirs and gifts, there is an exhibition space where you can learn more about the history of the area - and have a go at constructing a Kelpie out of Lego.

At the Visitor Centre you can purchase a ticket for a guided tour of the Kelpies; this is the only way to get inside one of these iconic structures and discover more about how they were constructed.

Back outside again, and if you are lucky enough with the weather and time of day; you can see some fabulous reflections on the newly developed canal turning pool that stands in front of them.

From the footbridge over here, you can see along another canal heading towards Grangemouth.

There is an interesting timeline under the bridge - telling the story of the area from 300 years ago.

As the sun began to fall, the Kelpies came into their own - with the colourful sky behind emphasising their beauty.

It is hard to believe the idea for these striking monuments came from the legend of a creature that lived deep under the water, and when it came onto land, it changed into the shape of a beautiful horse which tried to entice anyone it came across, onto its back. Once on its back, the creature would gallop back into the water, going further and further down - drowning the poor rider in the the dark depths of the loch. The concept of this transformation has now been used to show how Scotland's waterways have changed and the area been transformed  into one that now attracts visitors from all over the world. But to canal workers, The Kelpies are a reminder of its horse-powered heritage.

As darkness envelops the sky, the Kelpies begin to shine different colours from within, green, blue and pink. You need to be there when it is completely dark to appreciate this spectacle. Be aware that the inner car park closes at a specific time and the gates are locked - so unless you want to stay until morning - keep an eye on the time.

I would love to have stayed and seen them in all their glory, but was happy with the shots I had taken. They really are a sight to behold and I can see why both The Kelpies and The Falkirk Wheel are attracting so much tourism to this area. You can easily drive from one to the other in 10 minutes or if you have more time, you can walk along the canal - where you will see many interesting things along the way. There is a Wheel to Kelpies Selfie Trail.

For more information on the Falkirk Wheel please see

https://lynnejmorley.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-falkirk-wheel.htlm

Lynne 

Please check out my other blogs:-

http://lynnemorley.blogspot.com

http://morleysjourneytoozandback.blogspot.com

https://lynnemorleys.blogspot.com