The Kelpies
Two 30-metre steel horse heads rising from the canal at Falkirk. Ten minutes from the venue and quietly breathtaking.
Make a holiday of it
Things to Do
You've come a long way — stay a while. The north-west Highlands have more beauty per square mile than any of us know what to do with. Here are a few of our favourite ways to spend a day.
The Falkirk Wheel
The world's only rotating boat lift. Sounds odd — looks magnificent. Boat trips run hourly.
Stirling Castle
Twenty minutes north — Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here. The views from the ramparts are worth the trip alone.
Loch Lomond
An hour west and the start of the Highlands proper. Pack a picnic, find a quiet bay, and breathe.
Edinburgh
Half an hour by train. Old Town wynds, the National Galleries, and a pint in the Sheep Heid. Mark & Mikey will be staying here on the 1st and 2nd of May — you're welcome to join.
National Wallace Monument
A 67-metre tower overlooking Stirling and the Ochil Hills. 246 steps to the crown for views that stretch to the Highlands.
A wee tip
Pack layers, decent walking shoes, and a sense of humour about the weather. "Four seasons in an afternoon" is not a metaphor here.