The Falkirk Wheel has been on my must-see list for a while, so when I saw that run number 17 of Scottish Trail Running started there, I booked a B&B on the spot. I mentioned my trip to Falkirk to a civil engineer staying at the bunkhouse in Balmaha, who said to visit the kelpies while I was there.
The Kelpies
Simply mesmerising. I couldn’t tear myself away and kept turning round for one last peek (and yet another photo).
The Wheel
Impressive, but strangely sterile. I can spend hours playing with my reflection and upside-down reflection in an old-style tube train window, and still think that double knitting is magic despite understanding exactly how it works. I was expecting to be captivated by boats being lifted into the air to meet a canal suspended on pillars, but instead I was merely interested. I still took a gazillion photos though.
The Barrier That Wasn’t
I didn’t make it to the end of run number 17. About halfway through, it told me to turn right at the t-junction and then right again just in front of the barrier. I thought I’d done the former but a mile later, when I’d yet to find the barrier, I realised I was well and truly lost. Fortunately, the Callendar Estate has nifty little signposted trails, and it wasn’t too long before I stumbled across one pointing me in the direction of the Falkirk Wheel. I may not have managed the run I’d planned, but the run I ended up with was lovely, and as I ran back along the Union Canal, I even caught one final glimpse of the magnificent kelpies.
abradypus 
I see you are at the top of the wheel-did you make it to the bottom? I spotted a sign to the wheel when in Scotland a few weeks back, made the trip and glad of it, but the mini kelpies-one of two sets-were the highlight until the wheel actually turned some time into the stop.
I watched the wheel from both the bottom and the top, but the sunshine meant it was hard to take photos from the bottom.
The Kelpies are on my to do list, stunning, shame they are so dam far away!