Falkirk Things to Do

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Engineers will love this attraction. Two Scottish canals, the Forth and Clyde and the Union, intersect here at different elevations of more than one hundred feet. The engineering solution to move canal boats from one to the other was to construct a giant wheel, similar in concept to a Ferris Wheel, which uses Archimedes Principle and counterbalanced weights. You can ride a canal boat and experience the process.

Callendar House is set amidst the rolling greensward of Callendar Park, to the southeast of Falkirk town centre. As the blurb puts it 'open the door and explore six hundred years of Scottish history'. The House itself is a big pile that for years no-one really knew what to do with and was, I believe, in danger of demolition, although the surrounding park has long been a popular recreation spot.

Includes Interpretative areas where (quote from official site) "costumed interpreters create a fascinating insight into the daily tasks and working conditions of a variety of occupations from the late Georgian period."

Areas are Georgian kitchen, clockmaker's shop, printer, gemeral store, Georgian garden.

This is something recommeneded by my mother - I have yet to visit it, even though it is from my part of Scotland. I understand it is very busy - the 2008 opening hours are shown below:

1st January - 2nd January 2008 - CLOSED

3rd January - 6th January 2008 10:00 - 16:30

7th January - 1st February 2008 - CLOSED DUE TO ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE WORK

2nd February - 20th March 2008
Monday - Friday 10:00 - 16:30
Saturday and Sunday 10:00 - 18:00

21st March - 31st July 2008
7 days a week - 09:30 - 18:00

1st - 31st August 2008
Monday - Friday 09:30 - 18:00
Saturday and Sunday 09:30 - 19:00

1st September - 31st October 2008
7 days a week - 09:30 - 18:00

1st November - 31st December 2008

TBC

Admission to the Visitor Centre is free. Special events such as The Scottish Boat Show may incur an admission charge

Think it is more intresting for people who like engeering. the wheel is impressing but the boattrip was very short. other thing was it was raining. from the parking place it is i think 10 minutes walk depends where you park. so that makes you soaking wet.
probably this place would be a lot nicer when the sun shines.

opening times 2007
3rd feb - 31 march mon-fri 10-16.30 sat/sun 10-18
1 april 31 october 9.30 1800 in august open till 1900 on sat and sunday.
adults 8 pounds

The first church on this site, probably dates from the 7th Century. The square tower dates from a building around 1450. An octaconal tower was added in 1733. The main church was reconstructed in 1811. the lower part of the church contained the burial ground of the Livingston family of nearby Callendar House.

The present steeple is the third structure to grace this site. The first was built in the 16th Century. Its replacement lasted until 1803, which was demolished due to subsidence.
The present steeple was completed in 1814 at a cost of £1460. It was built from local sandstone and stands about 42 m high. A top section had to be replaced when it was struck by lightening in 1927.
The steeple housed the town jail, and two cells can still be found on the upper levels, which is accessed by a narrow spiral staircase.

Callendar House Park, also contains sections of ditch of the Antonine Wall. Built by the Romans in AD 138, it originally stretched from thr Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde. Stretcges of the wall can also be seen in other places.

It is a great surprise when you enter the door marked "kitchen" to be greeted by the cook, who guides you through her daily chores, just as they were 200 years ago. You are given demonstrations of the kitchen's exhibits, and invited to taste the days cooking. When we were there it was jam tarts, and very nice and home madew they ere too!.

And all this for free.......