Falkirk in Five for Forth Valley Visitors
The Kelpies are 30-metre-high horse-head sculptures depicting these legendary shape-shifting water spirits. A Must see especially when lit up at night!
Image Gavin Ritchie/ Shutterstock.com
Falkirk lies in Stirlingshire, borders the spectacular Carron Valley, and makes up one of the more popular places to live in the Forth Valley. It has had a long history in both iron and steel, leading to an economic downturn in the nineties which has been shored up with tourism and retail.
Before all of this, Falkirk was one of the Roman forts situated along the Antonine Wall. It is a tremendous source of pride to the Scottish people that the Romans didn’t care to go any farther north. These people had crossed miles of sea in wooden boats, slain their way through continents and amassed humongous territories… but when they got to Scotland they decided it wasn’t worth it, turned around and went home.
You can (and should) visit what remains of the wall – which is not to be confused with Hadrian’s Wall which is farther south. The Antonine Wall was made of turf and represented as far north as the Romans dared to venture.
Falkirk grew up around a 7th century church that no longer stands. It was in Falkirk that William Wallace suffered a defeat in 1298. It was also the home of a second battle between the Jacobites and the government in 1746. Since then (and thank the Gods) the only fighting it has seen happens on a Friday night outside the chippy.
To this day, the Falkirk Sett is the oldest known tartan to have ever been found in Britain. It was found in 3AD near the Antonine Wall. While there has always been dispute around how the lowland clans came to Britain; those that came from Falkirk, at least, were there before the Macmillan monks arrived on the first northern shore in 1100. The Livingstones, The Bruces (yes THAT Bruce) and the Stewarts are all native to this area, with a strong Campbell connection as was often found with the Lowland clans… and yes, we mean THOSE Campbells, too.
Falkirk at a Glance
Let’s crack on with it then. If you were in Falkirk for one day only, here are the top five attractions you should see… as told by a local with a big love for Scottish history.
This is Scotland’s answer to the London Eye, which means it is smaller, cheaper, and you are allowed to get drunk on the ride. It’s actually massive, even though it is smaller than its London counterpart, and gives you some awesome panoramic views of everything for miles. We advise that you turn your gaze north towards the Ochil Hills, or seek out the Carron Valley. They have maps which show you what you are looking at.
The Falkirk Wheel – a rotating boat lift , connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. Complete with visitor centre.
By Kenny Mccartney/Shutterstock.com
If you want to spend the day seeing how the other half live, you can take a trip to the nearby village of Dollar. It has a lovely park in the centre, but the attraction is the village itself. It is quaint, quite lovely, and filled with extravagant homes that most of us can’t afford.
The reason we love Dollar so much is that it borders the Ochil Hills. This is an extraordinary area of stunning natural beauty that you won’t be able to believe. The Ochils are like the highlands of the lowland areas. When we lowlanders want mountains, that’s where we go. If you do one thing in Falkirk we would advise that you get out into those hills.
You cannot come this far and not visit something that has been around for longer than sliced bread. It might only be a turf wall but it lies in the heart of a gorgeous wooded area. Go see it!
Once in a while, Calendar House put on a re-enactment of some of the battles that have taken place here. As well as the entertainment, they also have a beautiful park in their grounds that makes for some lovely walks. You can also indulge in a nice afternoon high tea, take a wander around their museum, or marvel at the 14th century architecture.
Yes… The Pineapple is particularly weird. It is a historic building that was erected to commemorate the upper classes love of the pineapple in Victorian times. Carrying a pineapple was seen as a sign of wealth… so one of our ancestors went too far and put a giant stone one on the roof of his building.
It’s completely free to have a wander and take some Instagram pics. It’s also totally out there. You won‘t find a single local that doesn’t know what and where the pineapple is.
Pineapple House – no prizes for guessing how it got its name!
Image JupiterShine/Shutterstock
Where to Eat, Drink and Party in Falkirk
If you are looking for a high class establishment in which to wine and dine then try Pierre’s on Grahams Road. If it is a family meal you are after then Behind the Wall can be rented out for party space and offers great grilling.
To drink try the Tolbooth Tavern, but be warned that there is plenty of drink flowing already in Behind the Wall. If you want to end the night on a high then take in the City Nightclub. The more refined might prefer the Gin Lounge and its ever-popular cocktail list.
Other Notable Attractions
There are a whole load of sites we couldn’t fit into one article, so here are our top tips on what to do in Falkirk if you have more time.
Free attractions in Falkirk:
The Kelpies look spectacular when lit up
Editorial credit: Doubleclix / Shutterstock.com
- Visit the Kelpies. These are two massive statues of horses… but actually kelpies are shape-shifting water sprites. This sculpture is awesome at night all lit up in colourful lighting.
- The Pineapple, the Antonine Wall, and the park at Dollar are all free.
- Car Park In The Sky – go here on a clear day and you can see for miles in any direction. You also get a great view of the Carron Valley.
Things to do in Falkirk that cost you:
- Take a tour north or west to the Trossachs.
- Shop till you drop at either Calendar Square or the Central Retail Park.
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