BLUE500 - Scotland's Great Loop
Explore the Loop / Leg A

The Kelpies

Major landmark marina at the eastern end of the inland canal section and likely final overnight before Carron Sea Lock. Formal moorings, full services, long-term options and a de-masting crane make this both a destination and a practical pre-sea technical stop.

CORE STOPMain LoopDesktop researched · field verification pending

Why this stop matters

BLUE500 view

Major landmark marina at the eastern end of the inland canal section and likely final overnight before Carron Sea Lock. Formal moorings, full services, long-term options and a de-masting crane make this both a destination and a practical pre-sea technical stop.

Scottish Canals lists Kelpies marina moorings for cruisers/yachts up to about 19m, 3.5m beam and 1.65m draft, with water, power, diesel, showers, laundry, waste and pump-out. Annual, summer and winter mooring options are published. A de-masting crane is available, particularly important because many yachts need mast-down for the canal. The Helix/Kelpies is a flagship visitor attraction.

At a glance

What a cruiser needs to know

Visitor berthingFormal marina moorings; visitor allocation to confirm. Marina moorings.
LayoverFormal annual/summer/winter options; temporary interruption terms FIELD CHECK. Formal long-term options; temporary 1-8 week arrangement to confirm. Afloat FIELD CHECK.
FuelDiesel available.
Water & powerWater and power available.
Launch / liftDe-masting crane available; whether suitable for boat lift/recovery is FIELD CHECK. No self-launch slipway identified. Crane capacity FIELD CHECK.
Repairs / boatyardNo full-service boatyard established.
AshoreDistinctive landmark finale to the canal section. The Kelpies/Helix is a headline BLUE500 attraction.
Transport / accessGood Falkirk/Central Belt access.

Field verification still required

VISITOR BERTHING: confirm short-stay allocation and whether one night before Carron lock passage is routinely practical.

LONG-TERM LAYOVER: ask about temporary unattended 1-8 week stay, security/CCTV/gates, power, checks/keyholding and insurance.

CRANE: confirm de-masting crane capacity, booking, cost and whether it can support other lifting/recovery functions.

SEA-LOCK SEQUENCE: confirm recommended timing between Kelpies overnight and Carron Sea Lock transit.

DESTINATION: document Helix/Kelpies visitor experience and food/shore access.

Primary source

Check current official information

BLUE500 organises the route, but operational and navigation-critical information must remain current.

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