The call of The Kelpies

In a stroke of fortune, the moment we park up and walk towards them, the sun bursts from behind the clouds and The Kelpies start twinkling.

Constructed from stainless steel, these monumental horse heads are said to be the largest equine sculptures in the world: Baron, who faces upwards, is 30 metres high; Duke, who glances down, is 26.5m.

The duo certainly dwarf our tour group — even our lofty Scottish driver-guide Stefan, who is around 2m tall and shares some key facts and tall stories about The Kelpies, which lord above the locks of the Forth and Clyde Canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

“According to legend, kelpies are shape-shifting spirits that live in the waters of Scotland, often appearing as beautiful men or women who tempt you to the water’s edge. But if you touch a kelpie, it will drag you in and eat you,” explains Stefan, who then adds with a smile: “It was probably something parents told their kids to keep them away from the water.”

Even giant Scottish driver-guide Stefan is dwarfed by the Kelpies.
Camera IconEven giant Scottish driver-guide Stefan is dwarfed by the Kelpies. Credit: Steve McKenna/The West Australian

You can spot these Kelpies as you’re driving along the M9 motorway, just outside the town of Falkirk, a once thriving hub for the iron and steel industries, about 20 minutes south of Stirling. But it’s worth pulling over, following the signs for The Helix, a canalside park on reclaimed scrubland that has these sculptures at its centrepiece.

Taller than Antony Gormley’s famed Angel of the North (which towers 20m by the M1 near Gateshead, England), The Kelpies are modelled on a pair of Clydesdale horses, a hardy working breed that used to plough the local fields and pull canal barges and coal ships.

Perusing the horse heads close up, you’ll be struck by their intricate design, pieced together with 928 steel panels and soaring from bases shaped like horseshoes.

A visitor centre, cafe and gift store has more information and offers guided tours granting a peek inside The Kelpies, which have drawn millions of visitors since their unveiling in 2013 and are colourfully lit after dark on special occasions. I discover that they each weigh over 300 tonne and were designed by Andy Scott, a graduate of the Glasgow School of Art.

Gazing up at the sculptures, Stefan adds: “A lot of people cycle here along the canals from Edinburgh and Glasgow. I actually walked here from Edinburgh during lockdown. Well, there was nothing else to do.” There is now, of course. The pandemic is well and truly in the rear-view mirror (fingers crossed) and you’ll find road trips around Scotland full of rewarding pit stops. But The Kelpies are truly unique.

+ Steve McKenna was a guest of Visit Scotland. They have not influenced or seen this story.

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+ For more information on visiting The Kelpies, see thehelix.co.uk + The Kelpies are a pit stop on several itineraries with Highland Experience, a tour operator offering day and multi-day trips around Scotland. See highlandexperience.com + To help plan a trip to Scotland and Britain, see visitscotland.com and visitbritain.com

Inspired by working horses and mythical creatures, The Kelpies are striking spectacles.
Camera IconInspired by working horses and mythical creatures, The Kelpies are striking spectacles. Credit: Steve McKenna/The West Australian
The Kelpies are striking spectacles.
Camera IconThe Kelpies are striking spectacles. Credit: Steve McKenna/The West Australian
The Kelpies are striking spectacles.
Camera IconThe Kelpies are striking spectacles. Credit: Steve McKenna/The West Australian
The Kelpies are striking spectacles.
Camera IconThe Kelpies are striking spectacles. Credit: Steve McKenna/The West Australian
The Kelpies are part of the canalside Helix park near Falkirk.
Camera IconThe Kelpies are part of the canalside Helix park near Falkirk. Credit: Steve McKenna/The West Australian

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