Three days in the Forth Valley

Did you know The Falkirk Wheel is the world’s first and only rotating boat lift?

The Falkirk Wheel connects the Forth & Clyde Canal to the Union Canal, which allows coast to coast sailing across central Scotland. Opened in 2002, its unique design is striking.

Watching a boat being lifted is fascinating, however there’s no better way to experience the wheel than to hop aboard a canal boat and ride through it yourself! You can book your Falkirk Wheel boat trip with Scottish Canals, which is accessible to everyone. During the 60-minute journey you’ll sail through the sky on the wheel lift, and join the Union Canal 35 metres above the ground. Enjoy views passing over the aqueduct and go through the Roughcastle Tunnel before reaching the beginning of the Union Canal, where you’ll then descend back to the start point at the visitor centre.

Onsite you’ll find a café, gift shop, children's activity zone, water play park and mini-canal, waterwalkerz, canoeing, bike hire and lots of lovely woodland walks to enjoy.

Myra suggests the following restaurants for a refuelling pit stop while on your adventures - which are just some of the great options available. You may need to book in advance so check with individual businesses.

If you’re on your own holiday boat then Myra recommends Bridge 49 Café Bar & Bistro, where you can moor up to enjoy some delicious food and beverages. If you don’t have a boat, then Bridge 49 can serve you lunch on their own canal boat if you’d like! The bistro is within walking distance of the spectacular Avon Aqueduct.

Boardwalk is just a 5-minute walk from The Falkirk Wheel and Myra tells us it’s great for a Sunday roast! This bright and spacious restaurant serves a selection of classic and contemporary dishes, cocktails and drinks, against the backdrop of the famous Falkirk Wheel, visible from the panoramic windows and outdoor terraces.

The Rosebank Beefeater is also an ideal stop, situated right on the Forth & Clyde Canal heading towards The Kelpies on the canal path. This is a bright, modern and spacious restaurant with large booths and a selection of food on the menu, including vegetarian options. 

You could pick up a rental bike from Scottish Canals at The Falkirk Wheel and cycle along the canal making your pit stop for lunch, then continue along the canal path to The Kelpies at The Helix for stop three of the day. It’s less than 30 minutes to cycle on the flat canal towpath, so suitable for all the family. Please book your bike in advance. 

Erected in 2013, The Kelpies are mesmerising. These giant metallic equine sculptures were created by Andy Scott and stand 30 metres tall, sitting within The Helix park. You can also enjoy lovely walking paths, cycling, the visitor centre and a café with outdoor seating for afternoon refreshments. 

We recommend The Kelpies Tour - provided by Falkirk Community Trust and taking 45 minutes - where you’ll learn about the vision of Andy Scott, the story of the real-life working horses of the area, local history and the history of the canals. The pinnacle of the tour is exploring a Kelpie from the inside and seeing for yourself their incredible engineering and design!

You can also watch our tutorial video showing you how to sketch your own drawing of The Kelpies.

Myra suggests Grange Manor Hotel as a place to stay for the night – just one of the many great accommodation options in the area. Within walking distance of The Kelpies, the house was built in the late 19th century and retains many of the original features, adding to its natural charm and elegance within beautiful landscaped gardens.

Find more accommodation options.

Free to enter, Callendar House sits within Falkirk within mature woodlands and dates from the 14th century. Set in the historically designed landscape of Callendar Park, which also contains a section of the Antonine Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has played host to many great historical figures over the centuries including Mary Queen of Scots, Oliver Cromwell and Bonnie Prince Charlie.

The house's permanent displays include 'The Story of Callendar House' - an expansive history from the Roman times of the Antonine Wall to how the local area was transformed during the industrial era. In the restored 1825 kitchen, costumed interpreters create an exciting experience with samples of early-19th century food and stories of working life in a large household.

In Outlander, the house's authentic Georgian kitchen appeared as part of Bellhurst Manor, the home of the Duke of Sandringham.

The gardens and woodlands contain interesting historical features too, including an arboretum, ornamental gardens and a family mausoleum. It's also home to a par 3 golf course set over nine holes, a large children's play park, and a variety of seasonal outdoor activities.

The house has a café with stunning parkland views serving breakfast, lunch or light snack options, and there's also a lovely gift shop to peruse.

Head north of Falkirk towards Stirling to see The Pineapple near the village of Airth, which has appeared as a backdrop in many films and TV series. A highly unusual but beautiful folly with a roof in the shape of a pineapple, this unique building continues to amaze and inspire visitors.

It was built in 1761 by the Earl of Dunmore as a summerhouse where he could sit and appreciate the views from his estate. At that time, pineapples were amongst Scotland's most exotic foods - a sign of great wealth and privilege! A wide variety of unusual fruits and vegetables once grew in the glasshouses and pineapple pits within the walled garden.

The grounds now act as a haven for various species of wildlife, so take time to explore the surrounding grounds and woodland. We recommend a peaceful walk around the former curling pond and surrounding woodland where you may catch a glimpse of the rare great crested newt, palmate newts and common frogs, among others.

You can also watch our tutorial video showing you how to sketch your own drawing of The Pineapple!

If you've still got time and would like to discover more of the area's history, then head over to the northern shore of the River Forth where you can explore Alloa Tower. It is the largest surviving keep in Scotland and was originally home of the 6th Earl of Mar - the fearless leader of the 1715 Jacobite rising! Admire the opulent 18th-century interiors, the medieval Solar with its original oak roof timbers, and climb to the top of the tower to enjoy views stretching across nine counties.

You may also be interested in the Clackmannanshire Tower Trail, which has five historic towers in the area you can explore, including Alloa Tower.

With all of that exploration no doubt working up your appetite, why not treat yourself to dinner out? Centrally located options include:

Right in the heart of Falkirk, Pierre's Falkirk is an elegant bistro serving Scottish food with a twist, combining the finest of Scottish produce with the principles of French cuisine. The á la carte dinners here are a real treat, with the most popular dishes including Orkney Scallops and Stornoway Black Pudding, award-winning steaks provided by local butcher Malcolm Allan, and sweet or savoury crepes.

Or Gambero Rosso is an award-winning family restaurant with a lovely atmosphere, situated right on the edge of the canal. They take great pride in the authenticity of their food by using only the best and the freshest ingredients. All beef served is Aberdeen Angus, and specialising in seafood cuisine, only the freshest Scottish fish is prepared. This relaxed restaurant is child-friendly with a special children's menu.

Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway is a perfect family experience located east of Falkirk at Bo'ness, where passengers can take a ride on a heritage railway and vintage steam train. Taking just over an hour for a return journey, the route passes a local nature reserve and the charming vintage railway station at Birkhill. Afternoon tea is served on weekends, but please note that this is a popular experience and must be booked in advance.

Children (and the big kids amongst us!) will also love climbing aboard heritage locomotives at the Museum of Scottish Railways in Bo'ness - the largest of its kind in Scotland.

Please note that the railway will not reopen until October 2020. Check opening times and purchase tickets in advance.

Head inland from Bo’ness to the lovely town of Linlithgow on the Union Canal, where you can climb spiral staircases and towers in the beautiful ruins of Linlithgow Palace. It was built for the Scottish royals to escape court and let their hair down and was a favoured residence of the Stewart kings and queens from James I (1406-37) onward. You’ll see building work commissioned by James I to James VI, including a great hall where feasts and dancing took place, and a beautiful chapel. 

James V (1512) and Mary Queen of Scots (1542) were both born here, and Bonnie Prince Charlie also visited the palace in 1745 on his journey south, when its elaborate courtyard fountain is said to have flowed with red wine to mark the occasion! 

In Outlander, the majestic entrance and corridors feature as Wentworth Prison where Jamie was imprisoned.

When you’re done exploring the palace, you could take a refreshing walk around Linlithgow Loch, which the palace overlooks. The walk takes around an hour to complete.

Finish the day with a visit to Blackness Castle, an atmospheric 15th century fortress on the banks of the Firth of Forth which offers beautiful views over the water. It’s a great place to watch the sun go down at the end of an incredible day.

Blackness Castle features in Mary Queen of Scots (2018) starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie, featuring as the Palace of Holyroodhouse where she married Lord Darnley and where her secretary and good friend David Rizzio was murdered.

In Outlander, the castle features as Black Jack Randall’s headquarters in Fort William. Its internal courtyard is shown in the heart-wrenching scenes from Jamie’s incarceration. Abercorn Church and Hopetoun House are also nearby, which were both Outlander filming locations.

If you are an Outlander fan and would like to extend your trip then there’s much more to see and do with our epic Outlander itinerary! Or alternatively, check out our Mary Queen of Scots filming location map.