Have you ever noticed that many of our destinations are pretty timeless? That is, most places that we have visited weren't made or created just yesterday. Today's hidden cove is different; it may have not been created just yesterday, but it was created about one and one-half years ago. Buckle up and get ready for the ride!
Being only 246 miles away (for us Midwesterners, that's about a six and one-half hour's drive) from last week's destination, today we are visiting The Kelpies in Scotland. Imagine this: you're driving on a highway, already accompanied by naturally beautiful scenery, when you see two horse heads towering 100 feet above you! What's that I hear? You're saying, "neigh, I don't believe you?"
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| The Kelpies, photographed by stevehuffphoto.com |
In October of 2013, street artist and sculptor Andy Scott completed the sculptures that now mark the beginning of the Forth and Clyde Canal. The canal was actually extended to accommodate for the Kelpies, which opened to the public in April of 2014.
If you're wondering why Andy Scott created two 100-feet tall horse heads, you probably aren't from Scotland. You see, these monuments celebrate the history of Scotland and its horse-powered heritage. The Kelpies' name is also significant, for it reflects the mythological transforming beasts that have the strength of ten horses. This, then, is comparable with the transformational change and endurance of Scotland's inland waterways.
When asked about the design, Andy Scott stated:
"The original concept of mythical water horses was a valid starting point for the artistic development of the structures ... I took that concept and moved with it towards a more equine and contemporary response, shifting from any mythological references towards a socio-historical monument intended to celebrate the horse's role in industry and agriculture as well as the obvious association with the canals as tow horses."
Want a three-dimmensional view of this sculpture? You can get that without traveling to the Kelpies! Check out this video:
And as if the sculpture alone isn't enough, the lighting at night time makes it completely awing!
Photo courtesy of dailymail.co.uk and roseparks.co.uk
If you are lucky enough to visit these horses, there is more to do than simply take a selfie. The Kelpies has its own visitor center, available to provide tourists with tons more information than I have provided here and even guided tours.
The Kelpies are actually set in a park called The Helix, so once the tour is over and ten selfies are taken, visitors can take part in daily events listed on The Helix's website or simply walk the trails, go cycling, perform some water sports, or even take part in a community volunteer event.
That's all we have for this destination! Remember to come back next week as we discover another hidden cove. Have you found any hidden coves while traveling or in your hometown? Let me know! Comment below or feel free to e-mail me at hannahtadey@gmail.com.
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