Falkirk is a compact town in Scotland’s Central Belt, but it punches well above its weight for van travellers – particularly those interested in engineering heritage and Scottish history. The Falkirk Wheel, a unique rotating boat lift connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal, is one of the most impressive pieces of modern engineering in Scotland. The nearby Kelpies – two 30-metre horse-head sculptures beside the Forth and Clyde Canal – are among the most photographed landmarks in the country.
The Roman Antonine Wall also runs through the Falkirk area – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the northernmost permanent frontier of the Roman Empire. Several key sections and interpretation sites are accessible on foot and well worth exploring for anyone with an interest in Roman history.
Falkirk’s position makes it a natural stop on a Central Belt van circuit – roughly equidistant between Edinburgh and Stirling, and close to both the Forth bridges and the gateway to the Highlands. It is a practical overnight stop with good access to major road routes and a surprising density of things worth seeing within a few miles.
The Falkirk posts on this site cover specific stops and experiences from real van trips in and around the area – first-hand accounts of what makes it worth including on a Scottish van itinerary.
The Kelpies sit within The Kelpies at The Helix, and their scale is something that is hard to fully appreciate until you arrive. Long before you reach the main parking area, their steel forms begin to appear above the trees and open ground. Even if you have seen them in photographs, standing beneath them gives … Read more