Just over ten years ago, in 2013, something new and curious appeared in the central belt of Scotland. Two enormous stainless steel horse heads reared up out of parkland near Falkirk and became known as ‘The Kelpies‘.

According to Wikipedia, in Scottish mythology, a kelpie is a shape-changing spirit that inhabits bodies of water and often takes the form of a horse.

These giant works of art, and impressive feats of engineering, were designed and created by Scottish sculptor, Andy Scott. His website contains some excellent photographs of them.

One bright and windy October day, ten years after their installation, Lorna and I decided it was high time we went to see these magnificent beasts for ourselves.

They look pretty big from a distance, but their size is even better appreciated up close as they loom overhead at a height of around 30 metres (100ft) tall.

Each of the two kelpies is constructed from approximately 18,000 different pieces, features 464 steel plates, contains over 1.5 miles of steel, and weighs over 300 tonnes.

This sculptural marvel, said to be the largest equine structure in the world, is situated in a pleasant spot called The Helix, a park containing plenty of parking, and a visitor centre with cafe, shop and toilets. There is wheelchair access throughout.

The Kelpies sit next to the Forth and Clyde canal, which inspired the choice of sculpture. In times gone by, draught horses walked along the canal towpaths pulling boats along the water. The canal is still well-used by boats, and there are some nice flat walks alongside it.

We walked as far as a little bridge over the canal, which gave us a feel for the surrounding area. 

With sufficient time and energy one could easily spend several hours at Helix Park, walking or cycling, or perhaps even cruising down the canal on a narrowboat.