Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland
The Kelpies
Two 30-metre stainless-steel horse-head sculptures — the world's largest equine sculptures.
Jim Smillie — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 15 min–45 min
About
The Kelpies are the 30-metre stainless-steel horse-head sculptures at Helix Park near Falkirk, designed by Andy Scott and unveiled in 2014 — the largest equine sculptures in the world. Inspired by the heavy-horse breeds that towed barges along the Forth & Clyde Canal, and named for the shape-shifting water spirits of Scottish folklore, the heads stand at the eastern end of the canal where it meets the new Helix lagoon. Free to visit; behind-the-hood tours give access inside the steel structures.
Photo gallery
From the Wikipedia article
The Kelpies are a pair of monumental steel horse-heads between the Scottish towns of Falkirk and Grangemouth. They stand next to the M9 motorway and form the eastern gateway of the Forth and Clyde Canal, which meets the River Carron here. Each head is 30 metres (98 ft) high and 300 tonnes (47,000 st) The sculptures, which represent kelpies, were designed by sculptor Andy Scott and were completed in October 2013. An unveiling ceremony took place in April 2014. Around the sculptures is an area of parkland known as The Helix.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The name was chosen by Scottish Canals at the inception of The Helix project in 2005, to reflect the mythological transforming beasts possessing the strength and endurance of ten horses. The Kelpies represent the lineage of the heavy horse of Scottish industry and economy, pulling the wagons, ploughs, barges, and coalships that shaped the geographical layout of the Falkirk area. According to sculptor Andy Scott, "The original concept of mythical water horses was a valid starting point for the artistic development of the structures." He also said that he "took that concept and moved with it towards a more equine and contemporary response, shifting from any mythological references towards a…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 56.0153, -3.7544
- Official site
- www.thehelix.co.uk
Sources
- manual: the-kelpies (manual)
- wikipedia: The Kelpies (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Featured in these 2 guides
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is The Kelpies?
- The Kelpies is in Central Scotland, in the United Kingdom — coordinates 56.0153°, -3.7544°.
- When was The Kelpies built?
- The Kelpies dates to the Modern era. The exact year of origin is not recorded in our open-data sources.
- Who designed The Kelpies?
- The Kelpies was designed by Andy Scott.