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Visit the Falkirk area in 2026
Great events are taking place near Spoke ‘n’ Boot in 2026. Stay with us and enjoy a warm welcome and great accommodation. We’re an ideal base for a short break in the area.
Some local events in 2026
- Hippodrome Festival of Silent Cinema, Bo’ness: 18 to 22 March 2026. Enjoy classic movies with live musical accompaniment in Scotland’s oldest purpose-built cinema.
- Kelpies Live pop concerts, Helix Park, Falkirk: June 2026. See stars in concert, close to the world-famous Kelpies.
- Party at the Palace pop festival, The Peel at Linlithgow Palace: 8 and 9 August, 2026
- Saturday 8 August: Peat & Diesel, Peat & Diesel, Cast, UK Foo Fighters, Sandi Thom, Rianne Downey, Porkpie, Definitely Oasis, Mac na galla, Liv Dawn, Roisin McCarney, Bloodsugar, Perception and Emily Evans
- Sunday 9 August: Skerryvore, The Bluebells, Bay City Rollers, GBX, The Blow Monkeys, Colonel Mustard and The Dijon 5, Simple Minded, Deacon Blues, Flame, Freya Nicoll, Jasmin Jet, Charly Miller, Someone’s Sons
- The Kelpies: regular tours throughout the year.
- Callendar House: changing events at this historic site.
- Events at The Falkirk Wheel
- Roman Doors Open Day at Kinneil House, Bo’ness: 26 September 2026.
- Events at Blackness Castle, across the year.
Travel and location
All venues are easy to reach from Spoke ‘n’ Boot.
We are a short walk or cycle from Falkirk High Station. From here, you can take a fast train to Linlithgow (with a bus link to Bo’ness and Blackness) or head off to events in Edinburgh or Glasgow.
You could even combine a trip to the Edinburgh Festivals with an affordable stay with us.
Check the VisitFalkirk and VisitWestLothian websites for the latest updates on forthcoming events.
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Explore the John Muir Way
Ready for an adventure? Why not explore the John Muir Way?
It’s a 134-mile trail across central Scotland. You can complete the full adventure in one go or split it into shorter sections. It should take about 10 days to walk the complete trail (or three to seven to cross by bike).
The route links Helensburgh in the west with Dunbar in the east. It is fully signposted for walking and cycling.
Spoke ‘n’ Boot is located around the half-way mark, on the outskirts of Falkirk. It makes a great place for you to stop off on your walk or cycle.
Check out our full John Muir Way guide for useful links, videos and more.
Please note – at the time of writing (spring 2026) – the main John Muir Way website is offline, with the web address pointing to a page on the John Muir Trust website.
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Journey through time in the Falkirk area
This great video from VisitFalkirk shows some of the wonderful historical attractions close to Spoke ‘n’ Boot.
Check out our area page for more information on things to see and do near us
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Seasonal events at The Falkirk Wheel
The Falkirk Wheel – a short walk from Spoke ‘n’ Boot – is organising some great events over the next few months.
Book and get full details via Scottish Canals and booking site Itison.
During weekends in October, the venue is running “Witch and Wizard Workshops“. On offer will be “magical fun for all witches and wizards” aged two and older. Youngers can enjoy slime making, pumpkin decorating, face painting, Halloween colouring and puzzles. Mini golf vouchers will also be available.
The Wheel is also hosting “Pumpkin Archery” sessions – again at weekends during October – for ages eight and over. Spooky fun for all the family is promised.
The Wheel is staging “Burke and Hare Boat Trips“ on 31 October, 1 November and 2 November 2025. William Burke had a hand in building the Falkirk (Canal) Tunnel (near Falkirk High Station), before he got into grave robbing and murderous acts with William Hare.
Finally, a much-nicer character is heading for the Wheel in December. Santa is taking part in “Breakfast with Santa” days on December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20-23. Ticket holders will each get breakfast, elf workshop activities, a story and a present from Father Christmas himself.
Contact The Falkirk Wheel visitor centre
Tel: 0300 373 0868
(March to October: 10am – 5.30pm)
(November to February: 10am – 3.30pm) -
New walking trail to explore the Roman Antonine Wall
Fancy stepping back in time? Well, now you can.
There’s a new digital guide to help you walk the Roman Antonine Wall – from Bo’ness to Old Kilpatrick – passing close to Spoke ‘n’ Boot here in Falkirk.
The new trail is 75 km or 47 miles. It largely follows the line of the Antonine Wall (built of turf on a stone base around 142 AD).
You can access all the mapping, and information, on a special web page.
If you fancy walking the Wall it should take you around three to four days to complete. You can also book into Spoke ‘n’ Boot for a break in the Falkirk area.
Currently the new trail isn’t physically waymarked – with signs along the route – but you can download guides and maps from the Trail website.
The new walking trail leads walkers over a mix of terrains – from pavements and canal towpaths to forest and farm tracks. You’ll be able to see the sites of Roman forts and fortlets – plus points of interest, such as pieces of public art.
The trail deviates from the line of the Wall in certain areas for walker safety. However, it mostly follows the actual route of the Roman wall, once the northern frontier of the Roman Empire.
The trail was created as part of the Rediscovering the Antonine Wall project, which included five local authorities and Historic Environment Scotland.
Internet archive: Rediscovering the Antonine Wall
Walkers explore Rough Castle Roman Fort Site near Spoke ‘n’ Boot. Images: Adrian Mahoney.
Wall facts
Location: The Antonine Wall stretched across central Scotland, from the Firth of Forth (Bo’ness) to the Firth of Clyde (Old Kilpatrick).
Built by Romans: Construction began around AD 142 during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius.
Length: It ran for about 37 miles (60 km) and was shorter than Hadrian’s Wall (73 miles / 117 km).
Materials: Unlike Hadrian’s Wall (stone), the Antonine Wall was built mainly of turf blocks on a stone foundation, with a large ditch to the north and a road behind it for soldiers.
Forts: Around 16 forts and many smaller fortlets were built along the wall to house Roman troops.
Purpose: It was intended to mark the northern frontier of the Roman Empire in Britain and to control movement of people and goods.
Short use: The wall was only held for about 20 years before the Romans retreated back to Hadrian’s Wall around AD 162.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Today, the Antonine Wall is part of the “Frontiers of the Roman Empire” World Heritage Site, alongside Hadrian’s Wall and the German Limes.
Distance slabs: Soldiers recorded their work with decorated distance slabs, unique to the Antonine Wall. Many of these can be seen in museums such as the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow.
Local legacy: Remains of the wall can still be seen in places like Rough Castle near Falkirk, at Callendar Park, Falkirk, and Kinneil Estate in Bo’ness.
Check out
- The Antonine Wall website
- Explore the Roman Antonine Wall (Bo’net)
- Discover the Antonine Wall (PDF, Falkirk Council)
- Antonine Wall and Forth and Clyde Canal (VisitLanarkshire)
- Antonine Wall Trail (John Muir Way)
- Antonine Wall Heritage Trail (West Dunbartonshire Council)
- Antonine Wall Community Map (West Dunbartonshire Council and partners)
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New visitor map for Falkirk area
Falkirk Council – through its Visit Falkirk initiative – has published its updated visitor map/leaflet for the area.
You can view a PDF of the map here. You can also pick up a hard copy at tourist sites.
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Have a Festival break at Spoke ‘n’ Boot!
Spoke’n’Boot Camping Pods can be a great place to stay in you’re visiting the Edinburgh Festivals.
We’re just a mile or so from Falkirk High Station, offering regular train links to the heart of Edinburgh. The fastest train takes just 23 minutes!
After your arts fix, you can escape to the peace and tranquility of our camping pods and the lovely facilities in our byre.
(And there’s no price rise for August!)
Contact Sandra on 07999530095 to check availability.
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Lumo boosts London links to Falkirk area
Public transport operator First Group is to increase direct London train links with the Falkirk area.
The company has just secured the rights to extend its east coast Lumo service (currently running from Kings Cross to Edinburgh) across to Glasgow, with stops at Falkirk High Station.
This expanded service is due to start in December 2025, according to reports.
Check the Lumo website for updates.
Falkirk High is just over a mile from Spoke ‘n’ Boot. You can walk there in under 30 minutes.
Larbert Station is three miles away from our base on the outskirts of Falkirk. Walking time is about an hour. (Or you can get a taxi!)
Lumo’s rival LNER also runs some direct London services via Falkirk Grahamston. Falkirk Grahamston is about two miles away from Spoke and Boot.
Why not combine a train trip with a break in our camping pods? There’s also lots to explore in the local area.
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Falkirk area ‘best for families’
Falkirk has been named the best place to visit in Scotland for families by train firm LNER.
Read the full story on the Falkirk Council website.
The area includes lots of family-friendly attractions such as:
- Callendar House and Park in Falkirk
- the Helix Park and Kelpies, between Falkirk and Grangemouth
- the Falkirk Wheel
- the Milk Barn ice-cream parlour, on the outskirts of Falkirk.
All these attractions are a short walk or drive from Spoke ‘n’ Boot.
If you fancy a family break in the area, why not check out our accommodation and prices and get in touch?
Watch out this video, from VisitFalkirk, on the family fun you can have in the area.
LNER runs regular services through Falkirk Grahamston station. It’s about two miles from our site.
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See stars this June!
UB40 featuring Ali Campbell is performing live at Helix Park in Falkirk on Friday 13 June 2025. And Jess Glynne will be at the Helix the following day – on 14 June. Why not book concert tickets and stay at Spoke ‘n’ Boot nearby?
Concert info: Kelpies Live at Helix Park on Facebook or at www.kelpieslive.com
Accommodation booking: https://spoke-n-boot.co.uk/book/
Spoke 'n' Boot Camping Pods Falkirk 
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