“A water spirit in the form of a horse”
– One of the most googled crossword clues – the answer: A Kelpie!
The Kelpies are also stunning sculptures located in Falkirk, Scotland. Glimpsed briefly from the highway whilst heading north for a weekend away in 2014, my first views of the Kelpies were rushed (at 70 miles an hour) and heart-wrenching. I can’t quite describe the impact they had on me, but it was akin to falling in love very quickly. Within an hours’ from Edinburgh, these beautiful water spirit sculptures will melt your heart. Here’s my guide to visiting the Kelpies in Falkirk, Scotland.
Visiting the Kelpies Sculptures
The Kelpies are two gigantic horse head sculptures created by Scottish sculptor, Andy Scott. Weighing in at 300 tonnes each and 30 meters tall, the Kelpies were named after the water spirit in the form of a horse. These mythical transforming beasts had the power of 10 horses. These were chosen for this canal-side site as a nod to the transformational impact of inland waterways, and an homage to the importance of the heavy horse industry in Scotland.
Seeing the documentary on the creation of the Kelpies helped me understand their position as the gateway to the new extension of the Forth and Clyde Canal called The Helix. You can also take guided tours to understand more about the construction of the Kelpies and how they work with the waterways.
How to get to Helix Park
Helix Park is only a 50 minute drive from Edinburgh, or around 70 minutes via public transport. There are a lot of different parking areas, so while some are further away from the Kelpies, you will likely always find a parking spot. It is also pet and bicycle friendly, so you can wander around the park and enjoy the scenery too. To reach the park by public transport: catch a train from Edinburgh to Falkirk Grahamston station, and either take a taxi to the park or jump on the number 4 bus. You can also visit the Kelpies as part of a day tour of other great Scottish sights!
The Kelpies Aesthetic
The real power of the Kelpies, for me, is their incredibly dynamic and sensuous aesthetic. The powerful juxtaposition of serpentine flow and fabricated steel. The sense of movement created in these static objects is an absolute feat – they really do look like they are emerging from the canals and flicking their manes as they go.
Coming from a design background, my endless search for pure form, unencumbered by the burden of meaning and context, is sated by The Kelpies. They are endlessly pleasing just for their shape. Yet, for those who value contextualisation, they are incredibly fulfilling too. And from a public display perspective, a sculpture that can do both surely must be the pinnacle of success.
Where to stay near the Kelpies
The Kelpies are easily reached from Edinburgh, so I would recommend just day-tripping it from there. Some central Edinburgh hotels I recommend are: Motel One Royal Mile for a comfortable modern hotel in a central location. Want to be in town, but in a quiet corner of the city? Try the Crowne Plaza on Royal Terrace.
If you want to base yourself outside of Edinburgh, I recommend the Macdonald Inchyra Hotel – this lovely country estate is a perfect getaway near to the Kelpies, but also not far from Edinburgh.
Check out my local‘s guide to Edinburgh too!
Visiting the Kelpies in Falkirk, Scotland
If there was ever a day trip from Edinburgh that I would recommend to visitors, it is this one. The Kelpies are an artistic masterpiece, but also represent such a proud and important part of Scottish history. The engineering of the structure is also an incredible thing to behold. Visiting the Kelpies in Falkirk is a great day out for the family and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
I had the pleasure of living in Edinburgh for 16 years, so have lots of tips for your visit! Get in touch here or on twitter for lots of advice and itinerary planning.
All photos © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF Lens 50mm 1:1.8 STM; and an iPhone6s.
Wow! The Kelpies are huge…I didn’t quite imagine how big they were till I saw the second last image. No wonder they are so fascinating and representative of the region…
Wow, where exactly is this sculpture located in Scotland? They look majestic and I am sure they stand out in the vast landscape of the highlands. Are they made of metal?
They are located in Falkirk, just outside of Edinburgh – so not as far up as the highlands. Literally just 20 minutes drive from Edinburgh and right next to the highway 😉 Yep, made out of huge plates of metal welded onto a frame. Gorgeous creatures!
I absolutely love going to the Kelpies. Been there several times. I get the same feeling of awe and wonder as you did every time I go. You didn’t mention that they’re actually the tallest equestrian sculptures in the world! Best time to go is at sunset, and park at the free car park down the road.
Great additional tips! Yes, we always park at the free carpark, partly also because I like to approach the Kelpies slowly and take pics 😉
I’d never heard of the Kelpies, but now I want to see them so badly. Luckily, I’m heading to Scotland in July, so this is on the list. Is the Loch Ness Monster an example of a kelpie.
Kelpies are a specific mythical creatures, so not the same as the Loch Ness Monster… although both are mythical 😉 Then again, nobody knows what Nessie is, so maybe! 😉
I never would have realised from first glance that the sculptures are over 30 metres tall. They dwarf everything so completely in your photos that it isn’t even noticeable. What an incredible find. Did you realise they were there or was it a happy accident you stumbled upon them?
I knew they had been built, but didn’t realise how close they were to the highway. As soon as I saw them I fell in love – they are such satisfyingly beautiful creatures!
It is quite amazing to see the horses seem alive when you take different angles of photo. The shape is beautiful, each angle seems different, like it’s not from the same sculpture!
These look pretty spectacular in your photos – I can’t even imagine getting a chance to see them up close! Do they get a lot of tourists during the day? Would you recommend a visit around sunrise or sunset? I’m guessing you can’t climb or interact with them at all but of course that always appeals to my eye for a good photo op! Thanks for sharing – awesome photos!
It is hugely popular in summer. I recommend visiting at sunset, because they light them up, and combine that with the sunset and it’s magical! You can do tours where you can see inside them I believe!
They are quite the impressive sculptures – a highlight of my time in Scotland too – I agree that it’s incredible how they’ve been created in a way to suggest movement, even though they’re static. I can imagine how fascinating they would be with you having a design background – quite a sculptural achievement!
I don’t have a background in design, but I love admiring structures, monuments, sculptures and statues. I can imagine how many pictures you may have taken of the Kelpies from different angles, studying all its contours in detail.
Never heard of the Kelpies before now. Now that I see them, I find them very beautiful. At 30M they are indeed huge. I especially like the location along the river. From far it looks they have just emerged out of the water and any time soon the rest of the body will appear!
I find it baffling how much and yet how little we know about the world. you think given it isn’t that far away that this would be something i’d know about but can’t say i’ve ever heard of the kelpies. they look really interesting, i’ll be adding this as a potential day trip next time i’m up that way!
I know, right?! It’s always so confusing how things like this can be missed. Good thing I wrote this then, huh?! 😉