Things to do in Falkirk with Kids
Things to do in Falkirk with Kids – Iconic Scottish attractions, plus country estates, dressing like a Roman and excellent cycle paths made Falkirk a hit for us. Here’s why…
Family Cycling – Things to Do in Falkirk with Kids
Whichever sights you want to see, many of them are achievable by bike, making Falkirk an ideal destination for family cycling. We parked up at the Falkirk Wheel and cycled the smooth, flat and well sign-posted bike trails along the canal to the fabulous Kelpies. Another option is parking just outside Callendar House and Estate and exploring the estate by pedal power. For little legs it actually means you can see more. In total the Falkirk region offers over 800km of cycle paths. For more family cycling routes check out this guide.
The Kelpies – Things to Do in Falkirk with Kids
We arrived at the Kelpies by bike as it’s on a network linking sixteens communities with around 26 kilometres of paths. Parking is easy and vast too. These striking and iconic steel Kelpies were created by sculptor Andy Scott and completed in 2013, sitting at 100ft/30 metres high. As such they are the largest equine sculptures in the world. The idea and inspiration links back to the cultural heritage of the Clydesdale horses that worked the canals in the area. For more details (food/drink/toilets) and tips about visiting the Kelpies click here. Visiting these stunning creatures is free, and the visitor centre (with café) is open 7 days a week, 0930-1700.
Step Inside the Kelpies
I’ve always wanted to tour the Kelpies, and this time we finally did it. These short but informative tours allow you to open the door of the Kelpies and step right inside. When we visited the tours ran at 1100, 1130, 1330 and 1430. The 30 min tour duration works well for kids too. The tour guide concisely tells you the story of the horses, Duke and Barron, the process Andy Scott followed to create these beauties and the heritage of the Clydesdales on the canal. And the silver lining = kids are free, and adults only cost £7.50.
The Helix – Things to Do in Falkirk with Kids
The Kelpies are set in Helix Park, which offers so much alongside the sculptures. A few minutes cycle took us to the Adventure Zone playground that is simply fantastic. An Accessible Playground with sensory area is also available. Plus, the Splash Park, next to a tranquil Lagoon, is a huge hit on sunny days.
Pick Fruit – Things to Do in Falkirk with Kids
Cycle or walk even a short distance along Falkirk’s canal paths and you’ll find LOTS of blackberry bushes laden with fruit – a small box probably costs about two quid in the shops! So, in late summer/early Autumn, eat fresh produce as you go!
The Falkirk Wheel – Things to Do in Falkirk with Kids
The Falkirk Wheel is a national pride, and WAY more interesting than I expected. And, unsurprisingly, floating in a boat whilst suspended in mid air appealed to our adventurous tots. Once onboard your boat motors onto one of two gondolas on the wheel, and before you know it you’re being lifted out of the water as the tour-guides explain what on earth is happening.
For all the cool details of this 50 minute tour read our full review here. Trips currently cost £13.50 for adults and kids aged 5-15 are £8.00. Adventurous families can even book SUP in the Sky – Stand Up Paddleboarding on the wheel! SUP hire, e-boat, crazy golf and canoe hire is also available. We also noticed a lot of motorhomes parked here, so it’s good holiday base too.
The Falkirk Wheel is also home to a Visitor Centre and café, an extensive playground and a hands-on water play area that attempts to explain the Archimedes principle to children. Lots to see and do.
Callendar House & Park, and Callendar Estate
Callendar Playground at Callendar House & Park
If you visited the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel on Day 1, make Callendar Park your destination on Day 2. Just after we peddled into the park we came across an excellent Antonine Wall themed playground. I liked the kid characters decorating the fences, explaining the children’s life/link to the wall i.e. a little boy from Syria whose family were traders along the Wall.
Callendar House
Once we extracted the kids from the playground, we happened upon a bouncy castle, crazy golf and ice cream. Another stop ensued. We finally made it to Callendar House itself. This elegant building now contains a museum explaining local history, industry and the Roman influence – my boys loved dressing up as wee Roman auxiliary soldiers. The house also has a tearoom for lunch, coffee and a cake, or an indulgent afternoon tea. Or step downstairs to the restored century kitchen from 1825, where costumed interpreters create samples of early 19th century food. The house also featured in Outlander.
Callendar Natural Trail at Callendar House & Park
The Natural trail is a series of wooden natural play areas dotted round a looping path. From obstacle courses and zip-lines to climbing frames, it was cool finding out what apparatus was around the next corner.
Callendar Estate
Just after cycling past the loch we entered Callendar Estate‘s woodland. Here, a series of trails of varying lengths are popular with runners, dog walkers, families and cyclists. The Canada and Craigieburn trails are family-friendly at around 30 mins, but discover more here. Mountain bikes are available to hire from Greenrig Cycles in Callendar Estate.
Out of Town – Dunmore Pineapple
The National Trust for Scotland’s Pineapple has been on my bucket list for a while, and we finally visited this fruity folly. Pineapples historically were a fruit of prestige, and this ornate creation is so intricate to see. In practical terms, visiting the Pineapple free, the grounds are open 24/7, and although the signage confused a few people, you can drive right up the avenue to a free car park just outside the walls surrounding the pineapple itself. The kids loved this step because it reminded them of Spongebob Squarepants, who lives in a pineapple under the sea 🤷♀️.
Bo’ness & Blackness
The town of Bo’ness and village of Blackness are destinations in their own right, and you can easily spend a weekend just taking in the sights here. You can take a ride on steam engine, visit a castle, railway museum, motor museum, country house, aqueduct, farm and country park. Read all about it here.
Falkirk Town Centre
Food & Drink
We loved the food, swift service and atmosphere at Behind the Wall on Melville Street. This place is like a Tardis, serving dishes such as Southern Fried Chicken and BBQ pulled pork Middle Eastern flatbread for adults. The children’s menu was £6.95 for a main such as Nachos or ‘Pupperoni’ Pizza, plus a drink and ice cream. Great for dates, mates and families alike. And if you venture into the shopping centres, the Allotment Cafe in the Howgate Centre has a real community feel to it, and dishes up platters such as cheesy pancakes, club sandwiches and full Scottish breakfasts.
Shopping
As well as your high street faces, quirky shops we liked included the charitable Seagull Trust Bookshop in the Howgate Centre where the boys picked up some Minecraft books. The Lonely Broomstick is a sure hit with Harry Potter fans, selling spells and potions, from Mermaid’s Tears to Unicorn Blood. A popular venue for children’s parties too. (We used a Town and City Gift Card from Falkirk Delivers to buy our food, and to browse the shops.)
History & Heritage
Follow the Falkirk Town Heritage Trail on foot to see some of the key landmarks of Falkirk including the town steeple and the tomb of William Wallace‘s finest knight, Sir John de Graeme.
Visit the Antonine Wall – Things to Do in Falkirk with Kids
We couldn’t fit this in, but for any mini-historians there’s the chance to discover your Roman side at the Antonine Wall.
Where to Stay
We found the Macdonald Inchyra hotel a strong family option because firstly, it has a pool (with goodies like a steam room and sauna too). There’s also a spa, spacious family rooms, plus smart yet relaxed family dining in the Scottish Steakhouse restaurant.
After all our cycling we headed for dinner and started our night with a cocktail (whilst the boys hit the Fanta and Irn Bru). The children’s menu was a la carte but reasonably priced. Our boys opted for garlic bread (£3) to start, followed by Mac n cheese with fries as a main (£8) and sticky toffee pudding for dessert (£4). We plumped for starters of black pudding Scotch egg and a prawn and crayfish cocktail, followed by mushroom ravioli and pork belly as mains. Slightly out of town, the Inchyra and its pool, made a relaxed family base.
You may also like:-
Things to do in Bo’ness and Blackness – more cycling options too!
A Guide to Visiting the Kelpies
A Guide to Visiting the Falkirk Wheel
Things to do in West Lothian with Kids
Getting There
Arrive in Falkirk by car, train (Falkirk High or Falkirk Grahamston) or bus. Get more info here.
To summarise, Falkirk offers unique family attractions, and to be able to visit them by bike (or car) is an added bonus.
Sponsored Post with VisitFalkirk. If you found this guide helped you plan a break then please consider subscribing here or buy us a coffee to support our work that’s provided absolutely free. Please join the conversation on Facebook, or check out the bonny photos on Instagram. For any queries or opportunities please email scots2travel@hotmail.com. Content and images copyright of Scots2Travel. Contains affiliate links.
