After the long drive from London to Glasgow—and our cold, wet diversion to Hadrian’s Wall—the second stage of our Scottish adventure took us to Falkirk.
Chris, Dan, Jeff and I left the DoubleTree by Hilton after breakfast, excited to reach the canal and collect our boat. Before boarding, however, we had one important stop to make: The Kelpies.
Leaving Glasgow
Rested after a comfortable night in Glasgow, we repacked the car and prepared for the relatively short journey to Falkirk.
Chris resumed his role as designated driver, while Jeff once again took responsibility for the soundtrack. Dan and I contributed through encouragement, navigation and the occasional unnecessary observation from the passenger seats.
Unlike the previous day’s long journey north, Falkirk was now within easy reach. Our Scottish canal holiday was about to move from roads to waterways.
First, though, two enormous horses were waiting for us.
Our first sight of The Kelpies
The Kelpies are difficult to appreciate fully until you stand beneath them.
Rising approximately 30 metres above the surrounding landscape, the two steel-clad horse heads dominate The Helix park near Falkirk. Their scale is extraordinary, but so too is the detail in their construction: thousands of individual steel plates combine to create expressions that appear to change as you move around them.
Designed by sculptor Andy Scott, The Kelpies celebrate the powerful working horses that once helped drive Scotland’s industries and pulled boats along its canals.
The sculptures therefore felt like an especially appropriate place to visit at the beginning of our boating holiday.
Giants beside the canal
From a distance, The Kelpies appear almost impossibly polished and precise. Up close, their size becomes overwhelming.
We walked around their bases, looking upwards as the light moved across the steel surfaces. Each change of position revealed a different shape, expression or reflection.
Jeff’s road-trip playlist had accompanied us into the car park, providing an unexpectedly dramatic soundtrack to our arrival. After many hours of music on the road, it seemed fitting that DJ Jeff’s contribution should continue right up to one of Scotland’s most impressive modern landmarks.
The Kelpies also stand beside a specially created extension of the Forth & Clyde Canal, forming a striking eastern gateway to the historic waterway.
A Silver Propeller destination
Our visit also carried particular significance because The Kelpies are one of the locations associated with the Inland Waterways Association’s Silver Propeller Challenge.
The challenge encourages boaters to explore the more distant and less frequently visited parts of Britain’s connected inland waterways. Reaching qualifying locations provides a compelling reason to venture beyond familiar cruising routes and experience places that might otherwise be overlooked.
Although we had arrived by car on this occasion, seeing The Kelpies strengthened our ambition to explore as much of the inland waterway network as possible.
It was another landmark added to our growing waterways story—and certainly one of the largest.
Onwards to Falkirk
After taking photographs and admiring the sculptures from every reasonable angle, it was time to continue towards Falkirk.
The Kelpies gradually disappeared behind us as we returned to the road. Leaving them felt slightly bittersweet, but our main adventure was now only minutes away.
As we approached our destination, another extraordinary structure appeared: the Falkirk Wheel.
The world’s only rotating boat lift reconnects the Forth & Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. Its sweeping arms raise and lower boats between the two waterways, replacing the historic flight of locks that once performed the same task.
Having seen photographs and videos of the Wheel, arriving beside it was an exciting moment. This was not simply another attraction on our itinerary—it was the starting point for our journey across Scotland’s central canal network.
Meeting Green Sandpiper
Waiting for us at Falkirk was our home for the next few days: Green Sandpiper.
We unloaded the car and transferred our luggage aboard, gradually transforming an unfamiliar hire boat into our temporary floating home.
There is always a particular excitement when stepping aboard at the beginning of a boating holiday. Cupboards must be explored, beds allocated and controls understood. Bags occupy every available surface until someone decides where everything should live.
Despite the inevitable unpacking chaos, Green Sandpiper quickly began to feel comfortable and welcoming.
Once we had settled in, we spent time exploring the boat and preparing for the journey ahead.
Our first evening aboard
Rather than rushing away from Falkirk, we remained aboard for the rest of the afternoon and evening.
It gave us time to relax after two days of travelling and to become familiar with the boat before setting off. Board games emerged, drinks were poured and laughter soon filled the cabin.
There was something deeply satisfying about finally being on the water. The long drive from London, our rain-soaked visit to Hadrian’s Wall and the morning’s encounter with The Kelpies had all brought us to this point.
Outside, the Falkirk Wheel provided a remarkable backdrop. Inside, Green Sandpiper already felt like home.
Tomorrow: towards Glasgow
The following morning, we would begin our cruise west towards Glasgow along the Forth & Clyde Canal.
The route promised historic locks, aqueducts, bridges and constantly changing scenery. Later in the holiday, the Falkirk Wheel would lift us onto the Union Canal for the journey east towards Edinburgh.
For now, however, there was no need to think too far ahead.
Our luggage was aboard, our crew was assembled and our Scottish canal adventure had officially begun.
The Kelpies had provided a spectacular introduction. The Falkirk Wheel was waiting. Tomorrow, we would finally cast off.