Family cycling
The Falkirk area has something for cyclists of all ages and abilities. With miles upon miles of traffic-free paths and flat, easy cycling routes, there are so many places to go for a great family day out.
Take in some of the most iconic sites in Scotland, while enjoying fantastic family-friendly attractions. Whether you are looking for fun play parks, the thrill of water sports or a ride on a roaring steam train, the Falkirk area is the perfect place for a family cycling adventure.
Day 1: Falkirk Town Centre
Visit the pedestrianised Falkirk Town Centre for a spot of retail therapy or to try your hand at potion making at The Lonely Broomstick School of Witchcraft and Potions. If you’re looking for something to eat or drink, there are many family-friendly cafes and restaurants to visit. Plus, learn about Scottish history at the Faw Kirk in the centre of town, with its graves dating back to the time of William Wallace and the Battle of Falkirk. With an Active Travel Hub and Forth Bike E-bike hire station in the High Street, find out more about the many cycling routes you can take to explore in the area before heading to nearby Callendar House and Park.
Distance: Falkirk town centre- Callendar House & Park: 6 min/0.9 miles
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Day 1: Callendar House & Park
Callendar House is a stunning French chateau-styled country house set in its own parklands near Falkirk Town Centre. A firm favourite with local families, many children have learned to ride their bikes here. Enjoy the many attractions it offers, including a Roman themed playpark, Nature Play trail, boating lake, zipwires and crazy golf.
Its wide, flat paths make Callendar Park a great place for even the youngest or most inexperienced cyclists. E-bikes are also available to hire at the park for those aged 16 and over. You can follow the Callendar House Trail, ride around the historic house and boating lake or follow the woodland trails further up the hill. See if you can find the Forbes family mausoleum before looping back down the hill to the play area. After exploring the park, stop at the house to visit the souvenir shop, exhibition space and tearoom.
Distance: Callendar House & Park - Callendar Estate: 30min/4.8 miles
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Day 1: Callendar Estate
A visit to Callendar Estate is a must if you and your family enjoy a spot of mountain biking. A short drive or cycle from Callendar House and Park, it has many trails for people of all abilities. At Callendar Estate Activity Centre you’ll be able to hire bikes at Greenrig Cycles if you haven’t brought your own.
Take a turn on a short pump track or take your pick from a network of single-track mountain bike trails, heritage trails and easy family friendly routes through the beautiful woodland. Each trail has been graded according to its level of difficulty to help you decide which way to go. You can also enjoy a drink or a spot of lunch at The Café at Canada Wood or an ice cream at the nearby Milk Barn before carrying on with your ride.
Distance: Callendar Estate - Falkirk Wheel: 10min/1.6miles
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Day 2: Falkirk Wheel
The Falkirk Wheel is the world’s only rotating boat lift and links the Forth & Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. Opened in 2002 as part of the millennium link project, the Wheel is an engineering marvel and has become a must-see family-friendly visitor attraction. There’s so much here to keep your youngsters happy.
For landlubbers, there’s a playpark and Water Activity Zone, plus a crazy golf course. There are also woodland walks, or you can hire segways to take you to the nearby Roman Antonine Wall and Rough Castle. For those with sealegs, take a boat trip on the Falkirk Wheel, try a spot of paddleboarding or even go Water Zorbing. When you have finished having fun at the Wheel, you can hire a bike from Outdoor Trax, or for over 16’s, hire an E-bike for a more leisurely cycle to the Helix Park and Kelpies.
Distance: Falkirk Wheel - The Kelpies: 20min/4.2 miles
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Day 2: The Helix Park & Kelpies
The Helix Park is an ecopark that connects nearby communities in Falkirk and Grangemouth. It features over 26 km of wide, smooth cycle paths plus plenty for kids of all ages to do. Its four zones include a large Adventure Zone play area, a splash zone and lagoon with boat and peddalo hire, a great lawn and of course, the iconic Kelpies.
The Kelpies are the largest equine sculpture in the world and have become a must-see tourist attraction for visitors to Scotland. Standing 30 metres tall, these two majestic steel sculptures are a tribute to the working horses that pulled barges along Scotland's canals. In the Visitor Centre, you’ll find out more about these magnificent structures as well as the chance for children to recreate them in Lego. Stop for refreshments at the coffee shop to refuel before heading on your way again.
Distance: The Kelpies - Zetland Park: 15min/2.4miles
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Day 2: Zetland Park, Grangemouth
A short bike ride from the Kelpies is Zetland Park, a beautiful Victorian park in Grangemouth that is popular with local residents and visitors of all ages.
Recently refurbished, it now boasts a new play area, exciting new pump track, sensory garden, restored war memorial and riverside paths amongst other attractions. There’s also a Learn to Cycle track where children can learn how to cycle on miniature roads. Look out for the replica of the Charlotte Dundas, the world’s first practical steamship, as the centrepiece of the new play area. The park also has a Bike Library offering free bike hire and an E-bike station.
Distance: Zetland Park - Kinneil Estate: 10min/4.5miles (by car)
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Day 3: Kinneil House, Museum and Estate
A short drive from Grangemouth is the town of Bo’ness, a historic town sitting on the shores of the Firth of Forth. There you’ll find Kinneil House, Museum and Estate where you can experience 2,000 years of history. From Roman times to the industrial revolution, the remnants of a long and rich history can be seen everywhere across the Estate. Visit the museum to find out more. Then take a cycle around the beautiful grounds which are also home to the iconic Bo’ness Hill Climb, a heritage motorsport event that takes place every summer.
Distance: Kinneil Estate - Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway: 10min/2.1miles
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Day 3: Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway
While at Bo’ness, another great place for families to visit, is the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway. You can cycle to the railway from Kinneil House, Museum and Estate or take a short drive to its location at the foreshore. This working heritage railway is home to lovingly restored vintage steam and diesel trains. Run by volunteers from the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, trains run from April to October. Thomas the Tank Engine and friends make regular trips to the railway and special Santa trains run every December. You might also recognise the stations and platforms from hit Hollywood films and TV shows such as Outlander, which are filmed at Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway.
The railway is also home to Scotland’s largest railway museum, with lots of fun activities for kids of all ages. View the beautiful old steam trains from a newly installed platform in the engine workshop, pretend to sort the mail in the mail carriage and try your hand at changing the signals on the line.
From the railway, you can either hire an E-bike from Union Street in the town if you are over 16, or ride your own bikes along the shore of the Firth of Forth to Blackness Castle.
Distance: Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway - Blackness Castle: 21min/4 miles
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Day 3: Blackness Castle
Nicknamed ‘the ship that never sailed’ due to its unique shape, Blackness Castle is an imposing fifteenth century fortress jutting out into the Firth of Forth. Formerly a royal castle, a prison and a garrison, it is now a popular tourist attraction and a filming location for the period drama, Outlander and other major film and TV programmes. Take your family to explore the craggy interior of the castle before charging along the ramparts. From there, enjoy the spectacular views towards South Queensferry and the three bridges that now cross the Firth of Forth there.
While at Blackness, enjoy a quick drink or a spot of lunch at The Lobster Pot at Blackness on Sea. As its name suggests, lobster is always on the menu at this cosy local pub near Blackness Castle! It’s a local favourite and a relaxed spot for kids and adults to get some refreshments before returning back to Bo’ness.
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Routes
- Wheel2Kelpies Selfie Trail/Canal encounters
- Charlotte Dundas and Zetland Park Trail
- High Street to Helix
- Denny to the Falkirk Wheel
- John Muir Way from Kinneil House & Estate to Blackness
- John Muir Way Falkirk Wheel to Callendar House
- John Muir Way Tour of Falkirk & The Kelpies
- Skinflats Loop
- The Big Falkirk Loop
- Helix HArTT route
