Located in the Falkirk Council Area in Scotland, The Kelpies are the highlight of an effort to create a local greenspace that connects and engages with its local communities. These two 30-meter-high horse head sculptures are a feat of engineering that have become known as the world’s largest equine sculptures. The sculptures are monument to Scotland’s horse-powered industrial heritage and have come to have a significant impact on the culture and economy of the entire region.
“Proud Equine Guardians”
The Helix is a parkland providing activities such as cycling, walking, watersports and much more. It was designed to improve the connections between and around 16 communities in Falkirk District and to regenerate the area near where the canal joins the River Carron. The Kelpies have given this land transformation project a monument that has come to serve as an attraction for both residents and visitors.
Designed by sculptor Andy Scott and completed in October 2013, The Kelpies represent the lineage of the heavy horse of Scottish industry and economy, pulling the wagons, ploughs, barges and coal ships that shaped the geographical layout of the Falkirk area. Additionally, a kelpie is a shape-changing aquatic spirit of Scottish legend. Kelpies are said to haunt rivers and streams, and artist Scott mentioned he wanted to translate the legacy of the area “into proud equine guardians.”
Sustainable LED lighting is featured throughout The Helix, and The Kelpies themselves are lit up in spectacular fashion at night. Like other monuments that provide distinct experiences at different times of the day, interactions with the pieces no matter the time of the day are just part of what visitors can expect when they visit the area.
Helping to Attract Visitors and Engages with the Community
Helix Park features 350 hectares of recreational green land complete with a Visitor Centre that includes a cafe, gift shop and exhibition area. An adventure play park, splash play fountains, lagoon and miles of cycle paths provide visitors with a variety of other activities. Anyone can cycle through some of the tracks, or take to the water to explore the Lagoon by kayak or pedalo. The Kelpies and the infrastructure that has been built up around them are at the heart of all this activity.
The Visitor Centre is the hub of The Helix and provide an excellent view of The Kelpies. Unique gifts are available for purchase in the gift shop, while the Plaza Café is open seasonally from April until October. It serves a selection of sandwiches, snacks, hot and cold drinks, and ice creams for warmer days. The exhibition area allows visitors to learn more about The Kelpies and the history of the surrounding Falkirk area. Visitors can also book a Kelpies Experience Tour at the Visitors Center. The 30-minute guided walking tour allows them to experience one of the monuments from the inside to get a whole different sense of the engineering and design in the piece.
The Kelpies have come to serve as an important attraction for visitors as well as a means of connection for the local community. Numerous events like 5K runs and other community gatherings also take place at and around The Kelpies throughout the year. Additionally, numerous stores and shops have been established in the direct vicinity, further signifying the impact on the local community.
Stakeholders have commented about how the community has taken The Kelpies to heart, the impact of which can be seen in how the pieces have become important parts of maps and other promotional materials. This connectivity and popularity has been defined by a monumentous feat of engineering that visitors can see from near or afar that have helped to redefine the identity of the region.
Icons for Scotland
During the first year following the opening of The Kelpies, nearly one million people visited the sculptures. Those numbers continue to climb, and sculptor Andy Scott has commented on the sense of civic pride that the pieces have enabled. This popularity has seen the pieces become new icons for Scotland that rival the popularity of some of the most well-recognized figures from Scottish history.
The Helix has been able to say it is the “Home of the Kelpies”, and doing so has had a profound impact on the development of the park, on the Falkirk region and on Scotland as a whole.
