I will be in Stirling for 2 days, staying at Golden Lion hotel. Would really love to see the Kelpies after dark with their lights on. I won't have a car so what is the easiest/best way to get to the Kelpies after dark? Thanks
Posted by
Lake District, England
5694 posts
The Kelpies are 3km (2 miles) from Falkirk Grahamston station, which has a regular train service from Stirling and a 1/2 hourly bus service as well.
Bus services to the Kelpies (numbers 2 and F14) end at about 6.30pm.
A nice thing to do would be to walk down the canal at dusk to the Kelpies, and then take a taxi or uber back to the station (or, if you prefer, taxi both ways but I think the outward walk would be the scene setter.
The train journey from Stirling to Falkirk is only 13 minutes, with the last train back being at 0009 (9 minutes past midnight), so I don't think we even need to bother with the 38 bus to Stirling although the last of those runs at 2340 (twenty to midnight).
This is the train timetable-
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/20230214/v-w_Pl2BfUWAiSBimfczQBX18iKljiIqSxZW1rjoShI/sr383_central_scotland.pdf
The last F14 departs Grahamston station at 1816 and arrives at Etna Road at 1831. Etna Road is a very short walk from the car park for the Helix, which is where the Kelpies are, or the Canal is a couple of minutes walk away, walk along that for the last short distance.
Posted by
Delaware
1376 posts
Hi, lakeg123,
You didn't say when you'll be in Stirling. If it's mid-June to early July, it will be daylight until close to 10:00 p.m. Then there's a period of gloaming. If you want to see the Kelpies in total darkness, you may want to take public transportation there, and a taxi back to your hotel, or to the train station, as isn31c recommended.
If your time in Stirling is outwith the time of the summer solstice, you stand a better chance of using public transportation both ways.
Best wishes, and enjoy!
Mike (Auchterless)