A historic Scottish town between Edinburgh and Glasgow, known for its Roman-era Antonine Wall remains, 115-foot Kelpies sculptures, and Falkirk Wheel boat lift.
Falkirk sits in Scotland's Central Lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the town center, you'll find Victorian-era buildings along the High Street, while at The Helix park, two 30-meter steel horse heads tower above the landscape. You can take a boat ride on the world's only rotating boat lift, walk along a 2,000-year-old Roman wall, or visit one of the town's new whisky distilleries.
The Falkirk Wheel
The Falkirk Wheel lifts boats 115 feet between the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal. This rotating structure replaced 11 locks that once connected the canals. You can take a 60-minute boat trip on the wheel itself, which includes two full rotations and information about its innovative engineering. The visitor center explains how the wheel uses the same amount of energy as eight kettles to lift 600 tonnes of water.
The Helix and The Kelpies
At The Helix park's 350 hectares, you can walk or cycle on 27 kilometers of paths. The Kelpies, two 30-meter horse head sculptures, dominate the landscape. Each sculpture contains 900 stainless steel plates forming the complex geometric structure. Take a 30-minute guided tour inside the sculptures to see their internal framework. The park includes a lagoon for paddling and kayaking, children's splash play area, and a café overlooking the Kelpies.
Getting Around Falkirk
Trains depart every 15 minutes from Falkirk High station to both Edinburgh and Glasgow, with journey times of about 25 minutes. The town's e-bike system has stations at major locations including the Falkirk Wheel, The Helix Park, and Callendar Park. At Falkirk Stadium, you'll find Scotland's largest electric vehicle charging station with 26 charging points.
Emerging Whisky Scene
The Rosebank distillery, closed since 1993, will resume production in 2023. When open, visitors will see the original floor maltings and learn about traditional whisky-making methods. The new Falkirk distillery, which started production in 2020, uses local barley and water from the Carron Valley reservoir. Both distilleries plan to offer tours and tastings.
Roman History
The Antonine Wall, built in 142-143 AD, stretches across Falkirk's southern edge. At Rough Castle Roman Fort, you can walk along the best-preserved section of the wall's defensive ditches and ramparts. The site includes visible foundations of the commanding officer's house and the soldiers' barracks. Information panels along the walking path explain the wall's construction and daily life of Roman soldiers.
