If you travel from on the road between Edinburgh and Stirling near Falkirk and Grangemouth you cannot fail to notice two huge stainless steel horse heads that have been erected on the Forth and Clyde Canal. The Kelpies name is taken from the Celtic mythological shape-shifting beasts possessing the strength and endurance of 10 horses that were believed to haunt the lochs (lakes) and rivers of Scotland and Ireland. Kelpies were said to transform into beautiful women and lure men to their deaths (men eh, what are we like?).
Each sculpture is 30m (100 feet) tall and weighs 300 tons. They are a monument to the historical part that the horse has played in Scottish life and industry from farming to road transport and of course towing canal barges during the industrial revolution.
Whilst the sculptures themselves are now complete the actual site work is ongoing and as a consequence access is restricted. Better shots will emerge no doubt once the public is able to access the area to the front of the sculptures.
Wow! Great story, great pictures and amazing monuments. Thanks for sharing them all with us. The horse has played a major role in so many countries, ours being one of them. Nice to see such a wonderful tribute paid to them.
John
Excellent shots David,i bet they're a great sight to see.
John Lawrence wrote:
Wow! Great story, great pictures and amazing monuments. Thanks for sharing them all with us.
John
Hello John
Thanks for looking and for commenting, much appreciated.
David
Never have seen anything like that before Thanks
Cool!! Will have to stop by and visit if I ever get back to Glenrothes.
angler wrote:
Excellent shots David,i bet they're a great sight to see.
Hello Jim
Thank you for your comment, much appreciated. They certainly do, although at the moment it's a bit difficult to approach them. I pass that way regularly and decided to make an effort to see them. They are part of a redevelopment of a large area into a park. I have to say that it looks like it will be quite spectacular when it is completed.
david
Well done David nice photos as usual, I went there recently with the WHEC photo group but didn't manage to get any photos.
Jim
bigmac115100 wrote:
Never have seen anything like that before Thanks
Hello bigmac115100
They are impressive, no doubt about it. Thanks for looking and for commenting, much appreciated.
David
busted_shutter wrote:
Cool!! Will have to stop by and visit if I ever get back to Glenrothes.
Hello busted_shutter
Thank you for your kind comment. Haste ye back! :P
David
riada22 wrote:
Well done David nice photos as usual, I went there recently with the WHEC photo group but didn't manage to get any photos.
Jim
Hello Jim
You probably ran into the same problem I had today. I drove miles trying to get near them. The only access road is blocked off so you have to enter the new Helix Park near the Falkirk Football Club ground. But the access path along the canal is closed off so you have to hike back up to the roadway, cross the canal and follow the path down to a viewing stand behind them.
It's all closed off for safety due to site work but I have to say that once all the landscaping is done the whole area is going to be beautiful.
Thanks for looking and for your kind comment, greatly appreciated.
David
Hello Doddy
You are too kind, thank you. Glad you liked them.
David
How unique and interesting!
Linda From Maine wrote:
How unique and interesting!
Hello Linda
Thanks for looking and commenting. Much appreciated.
David
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