Travel Tour Scotland
All About Scotland
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Falkirk Area
The Kelpies
The Kelpies were officially opened by HRH Princess Anne on the 8th July 2015.
A kelpie is a shape-shifting water spirit that take on the shape of a horse which resides in lakes and pools.
The Kelpies are the largest pair of equine sculptures in the world and stand in the Helix Park,
where the new extension to the Forth and Clyde Canal is located.
At a height of 100 feet (30 mtrs) a memorial to the horses of Scotland that worked the land and pulled barges along the canals.
The Kelpies & Helix Park
The Falkirk Wheel
The Falkirk Wheel is the only fully rotating boat lift in the world and joins the
Forth and Clyde Canal (Built 1790 is circa 35 miles (57km) long) and The Union Canal (built 1822 is circa 31 miles (51km) long),
replacing the staircase of 11 locks which were dismantled in 1933. The Falkirk Wheel was opened in 2002
by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and at a height of 115 Feet (35 mtrs).
The Basin of the Union Canal is at Fountain Quay in Edinburgh ends in Grangemouth where the Falkirk Wheel stands,
and joins the Forth & Clyde Canal which ends at the River Clyde at Bowling in Glasgow.
There is a Cycle Route 754 which is traffic-free from Edinburgh to Glasgow which follows the Canals.
Antonine Roman Wall
Dates from circa 143 AD.
Rough Castle Roman Fort
On the Antonine Wall about 2 klms south east of Bonnybridge near Tamfourhill.
Kinneil (Palace) House
The Lands of Kinneil Estate are said to have been awarded to the first of the Hamilton's
after the Battle of Bannockburn (1314) by Robert the Bruce.
The original Tower House was built circa 1550. It was later blown up. In the early 17th century it was rebuilt and extended in 1677. The House was left empty from 1822 an has become a ruin.
Kinneil Museum
Free entry
Kinneil Museum can be found on the Kinneil Estate housed in the old stables.
The museum has an exhibition telling history of Bo'ness built on a Roman village. The Gallery tells the story of the Kinneil Estate and the family. The estate is part of the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site, part of the Joh Muir Way and remains of Kinneil Medieval Village.
Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway
and Steam Locomotive Trips
Enjoy 70 minutes on the Steam Train over a 10 mile return journey along
the Firth of Forth Estuary from Bo’ness to Manuel, with a 10 minute stop in Manuel.
There is an on-train buffet and afternoon tea is served on most Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The train has been used in films and the Outlander series. There is also Thomas the Tank Engine Train and a Santa Claus train trip.
Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway Museum
Scotland’s largest railway museum situated in Bo'ness this is a must for the railway and train enthusiasts.
The Railway Museum has many historic locomotives, carriages and wagons, model trains. It also has displays and photographs of the railways in Scotland.
Falkirk Steeple Heritage Centre
The present Steeple is the third steeple the first was built circa 1590 a new Tolbooth and prison was built in 1663 and demolished in 1803 the present Steeple was completed in 1814 and is over 140 feet high (43 mtrs) High.
The Heritage centre tells the story of the area circa last 400 years. Also in the heritage centre is the bell that was made in 1697. Take the guided tour of the centre
Dunmore Pineapple
The “Dunmore Pineapple” was built in 1761 as a summer house for his wife, which gave views of the walled gardens.
The Pineapple is circa 46 feet (14 mtrs) in height. The Pineapple was added to the property in 1777 after John Murray, the 4th Earl of Dunmore return from Virginia in summer of 1776 where he served as the last British Governor of the Colony.
It open to the public through the National Trust for Scotland and can be found in Dunmore Park Airth Scotland.
Callendar House
Callender House and grounds were in possession of the Callendar family circa 1240 it then changed ownership in 1346 to the Livingstone family, in 1783 William Forbes became owner and the descendant are still owners today.
The Tower house is the oldest part of what now looks like a French château. Over the centuries it has been extended and modernised. It present look was given to the property circa 1870. The extensive grounds and has many things to see including a pond and ice House.
Bannockburn
BATTLE OF BANNOCKBURN
The Battle of Bannockburn fought in 1314 between the Scottish Army led by Robert the Bruce and the English Army led by King Edward II. This was the victory that gave Scotland independence which lasted until 1707. On 1 May 1707 Scotland joined a political union with England and Northern Ireland and Wales to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
The Rotunda
and Flag Pole Bannockburn
The rotunda was built to commemorate the 650th anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn in 1964. The flag pole was place where Robert the Bruce raised his standard and a
commemorative pole was first erected here in 1870.
Borestone Location Bannockburn
Written in the circle the words
Location of the Borestone where by tradition
Robert Bruce raised his standard in 1314.
Battle of Bannockburn Battle Ground
BANNOCKBURN BATTLE SITE
KING ROBERT ASSEMBLED HIS ARMY HERE TO GUARD THE
POINT WHERE THE ROMAN ROAD ENTERED THE NEW PARK.
CARTHROPES WERE SET IN NUMEROUS PITS ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE ROMAN ROAD ALONG THE BANNOCKBURN.
THE ENGLISH CAVALRY ARRIVED AT THE FORD ON SUNDAY
23 JUNE 1314. BRUCE KILLED DE BOHUN NEARBY.
THE SCOTS FORCED THE CAVALRY BACK OVER THE BANNOCK BURN MAKING
IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR EDWARD II TO REACH STIRLING CASTLE BY THE NEW PARK
Battle of Bannockburn Cairn
BATTLE OF BANNOCKBURN
FOR GOD AND ST ANDREW
______________________
​
ROBERT THE BRUCE
KING OF SCOTS
PLANTED HIS STANDARD
NEAR THIS SPOT
WHEN THE
SCOTTISH PATRIOTS
UNDER HIS COMMAND
VANQUISHED THE ARMY OF
EDWARD II OF ENGLAND AT
THE BATTLE OF
BANNOCKBURN
24TH JUNE - 1314
"WE FIGHT NOT FOR GLORY NOR FOR
WEALTH, NOR HONOUR BUT ONLY AND ALONE
WE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM WHICH NO
GOOD MAN SURRENDERS BUT WITH HIS LIFE."
