BOSSES at The Kelpies had to assure sculptor Andy Scott they wouldn’t “Disney-ify” his iconic landmark with their new visitor attraction.
Chiefs from Scottish Canals, who own the giant Clydesdale horse heads, yesterday unveiled a new “experience” with daredevils now able to scale 80ft inside one of the 300 ton structures.
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But the bosses needed to seek approval from Glasgow-born Scott, 60, after he threatened them with legal action in 2016 to remove a “tacky burger van” from the site in Falkirk.
Ross McMillan, head of destinations at Scottish Canals, said: “We met with Andy and assured him that we didn’t want to Disney-ify The Kelpies.
“We reassured him right from the offset on that and he took us on our word. He was here three or four weeks ago and was delighted with the results – so he gave it his stamp of approval.
“There’s no way we would want to mess with what he created.”
From January sponsored charity events will take place inside the Kelpie named Baron with a climb to the horse’s mouth using a series of ladders, cable crossings, suspended platforms and nets.
That’s before descending by a QuickFlight Free Fall or abseiling back to the ground.
Ross adds: “We’re looking to run some special events in the first half of the year and then open up much more regularly for public events beyond that.
“Unfortunately Andy didn’t have time to try it but he’s definitely keen to come back and do it in the spring.”
But I’m glad Andy gave it the greenlight as I was the only newspaper journalist invited to try the amazing course that was created by Edinburgh adventure company Zone Events.
Boss Jono Buckland said: “This is by far the most elaborate climb we’ve ever done.
“It’s such a complicated structure which meant a really complicated and challenging build, but it was totally worth it.”
He wasn’t kidding, after receiving my training on how to attach and detach my lanyards at ground level – these ones are controlled by magnets which never allow you to discontent both from a safety line at any time – I was ready to scale my first ladder.
The first obstacle was the Clydesdale steps – floating planks of wood around 15ft high, which I managed with a mixture of wobbles and bravado.
Up and up I climbed with my instructor Scott, before facing my next daredevil challenge – a single highwire crossing, which reminded me of those Guinness Record Breakers of my youth.
Fortunately I didn’t need a pole for balance as I had two guidewires to cling onto for dear life as I forced my feet to move forward in the right direction.
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I kept climbing, trying not to look down until I was forced to, when I reached the horse’s mouth of Baron, which on a good day would offer views right down the Forth to the Queensberry Crossing and The Forth Bridges.
But with the high winds of Storm Bert buffeting me around, I wanted down as quickly as possible, decided to take the QuickFlight Free Fall option.
This is basically a leap of faith, as you step out into a 50ft abyss, initially falling like a skydiver before the device slows your descent to a soft landing.
It was utterly terrifying but something I will never forget and the rush of adrenaline left me jittery all the way home – but what an experience.
The Kelpies are now 10 years old and have welcomed seven million visitors since they were first unveiled, but this new experience adds a whole new dimension to one of the country’s top tourist hot spots.
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It means Scotland now has its own unique attraction like the CN Tower’s Brave The Edge walk in Toronto or being able to clamber over the Sydney Harbour Bridge Down Under.
Jono says: “We wanted that kind of experience that you get in these global megacities – but now we’ve brought a bit of that right here to Falkirk and I think people are going to love it.”
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