The Kelpies At The Helix Community Park | Dallaswear

The Kelpies At The Helix Community Park, Scotland

The Helix Community Park is located close to the M9 between Falkirk and Grangemouth, Scotland. It is a new park which opened to the public in 2014. £40 million of Big Lottery Fund money was used to finance the development of the park, turning industrial land into open space for the use of local people. It was hoped that it would become a major tourist attraction. The most striking feature of the park are two, 100 ft tall, sculptures of Kelpies, mythical creatures from Scottish folklore. These beautiful sculptures of two horses’ heads are in-fact the largest equine sculptures in the world. The sculptures have proved a hit with locals and people from all over the UK as well as tourists from all over the world. Thanks to the Kelpies, the area has become a five-star tourist attraction.

The sculptures are the work of Glasgow artist, Andy Scott and are modelled on a pair of real- life Clydesdale horses named Duke and Baron. Weighing more than 300 tonnes each and made of steel, the Kelpies are a marvel of engineering . The Kelpies are a representation of the reliance of Scotland on working horses in years gone by.

Activities in the park include walking, water sports and cycling. There are 500km of connected cycle paths. One of the cycle paths will take you to the Falkirk Wheel, another engineering feat in itself, Callender Park and then back to the Helix. The route incorporates cycle ways, parkland and towpaths. There is also a splash play area and an adventure zone.

Because it is a new complex, the designers of the development have been able to make the area around the Kelpies accessible to all. There is a visitor centre, a café and a gift shop, all of which are wheelchair accessible. There are also accessible toilets and parking.

The good news is that the Kelpies are open 365 days a year and are free to visit any time of day. This is due to their being located in The Helix community park. It is a wonderful sight at night when the Kelpies are illuminated from within, the colours slowly changing from yellow, orange, blue, green and red and all reflected in the water at their base.

It is also possible to go inside these beautiful structures to see for yourself the amazing engineering involved in their construction. Please note here is a fee for this guided tour.

As with any good tourist attraction the facilities are very good. There is a café serving ice creams, sandwiches, snacks and hot and cold drinks. There is a gift shop and a picnic area.

There are several car parks, some are free to park in and others charge a fee so it is best to check before you arrive. As always in these times of coronavirus I would recommend visiting the site’s website for relevant and up to date details regarding any possible restrictions.

There are good public transport links.

It is worth noting that Falkirk Football Stadium is close by so you would be advised to check match fixtures to avoid being caught up in traffic. Of course, this will only apply once coronavirus has loosened its grip and there is a return to more normal activities on a large scale.

Address : The Helix

Falkirk

FK2 7ZT

Website: https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/the-hel...

Telephone: 01324 590600