Holiday apartments in Falkirk: Roman history, parks and canals

Falkirk combines impressive remnants of the Roman frontier with historic parklands, waterways and distinctive structures. Between the Antonine Wall, the Falkirk Wheel, the Kelpies and extensive green spaces, the town offers a varied picture that brings together history, nature and special places to visit.

Culture and history

North of Falkirk High School, an approximately 345-metre-long section of the Antonine Wall has been preserved as a particularly well-preserved ditch. Beneath the surface lie remains of the outer rampart, berm and wall. The Antonine Wall forms part of the transnational World Heritage Site Frontiers of the Roman Empire.

Rough Castle offers a particularly impressive insight into the Roman past. Of the forts along the Antonine Wall, it is the best preserved. Visitors can see there the highest surviving section of the Antonine Wall's rampart. The defensive pits at Rough Castle, known as lilia pits, are among the finest examples along the entire Roman frontier. Rough Castle can be visited free of charge all year round.

Callendar House also reaches far back into history: the building dates from the 14th century. It is open to the public free of charge as a combined art gallery and museum. Together with Callendar Park, it forms a distinctive historic site. The park covers more than 170 acres, is a historically significant designed cultural landscape and is listed in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.

Landscape and paths

Muiravonside Country Park encompasses 170 acres of woodland and parkland. The River Avon Trail runs through the grounds. The park also includes a play area and two adventure trails with robust wooden play equipment. From Muiravonside Country Park, the John Muir Way can be reached via a wooden staircase leading from the riverside path to the Avon Aqueduct bridge.

The Helix offers a different perspective on the landscape. Helix South has an extensive network of paths for walking, running and cycling. The lagoon at The Helix provides an opportunity to observe wildlife beside its tranquil waters. Here, paths and open landscape stand alongside a quiet waterside area.

Waterways and distinctive structures

The Falkirk Wheel connects the Forth-&-Clyde Canal and the Union Canal in a half rotation that takes only five minutes. Boat trips are offered on the Falkirk Wheel. The Kelpies add another highly visible structure: the two monuments are 30 metres high and represent the horse-based heritage.

Whisky and local production

The Falkirk Distillery offers guided tours of its distillery and traditional dunnage warehouse. The tours end with a tasting of three Lowland single malt whiskies made, distilled and bottled there. Visitors can also fill their own whisky bottle from a cask at the Falkirk Distillery.

Kinneil Estate

Kinneil Museum serves as the interpretation centre for Kinneil Estate. Kinneil Estate includes Kinneil House, Kinneil Museum, Kinneil Kirk, the Antonine Wall and other historic features spanning 2,000 years of history. This makes the site a further ensemble with several chronological layers, complementing the Roman remains and historic grounds.

Further places

For further local navigation, the direct pages lead to Falkirk, Bonnybridge, Polmont, Grangemouth, Larbert, Bo'ness, Camelon, Maddiston, Denny, Carron, Airth and Slamannan.

For the higher-level travel overview: Scotland.