Walk Overview
This short walk connects the stunning tourist attractions of the Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies equine structures on the historic Forth & Clyde Canal.
Starting at the Falkirk Wheel – an immense rotating lift that connects boats to the Union Canal – you’ll wind through the outskirts of Falkirk on a section of the newly opened Queen Elizabeth II Canal, which forms the eastern gateway to the Forth & Clyde Canal.
This waterway was given the royal seal of approval in the summer of 2017, when it was officially opened by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, and is regarded as one of the most complex waterways ever constructed in Scotland.
If the start at the Falkirk Wheel is impressive, the sight of the Kelpies is mind-blowing. The 30-metre high horse-head structures weigh 300 tonnes each and are the largest equine structures in the world. The statues celebrate the impact of horses on Scottish industrial history – pulling wagons, ploughs and barges – and are located in The Helix parkland, which is a great place to explore at the end of the walk.
This route was voted 94th in a 2017 ITV poll to find Britain’s Favourite Walk.
TOG VERDICT: Two iconic landmarks celebrating Scottish industrial history in one short but spectacular walk through this busy lowland town.
Carpark: Stadium Drive, Falkirk FK2 9AH
Nearest Train (or tube) Station(s):
Falkirk high, Glasgow
Read the Countryside Code before venturing out
Make sure to take a map and compass, and know how to use them before going into our National Parks #BeAdventureSmart
Tips for New Walkers: click here to download (PDF).
Remember to prepare properly before heading out on any type of walk or outdoor activity. Tell people where you are going and what time you are expected back. As Wainwright says "There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing".