Where is it?
My favourite international place is bathing with the elephants in Thailand, but in Scotland, there are so many places I love.
One of my favourites is The Helix, home of the Kelpies, in Falkirk. I’m delighted to be performing there soon as part of Kelpies 10, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the sculptures. The only reason I agreed to headline is because I absolutely love it there.
Why do you go there?
What I love so much about the Kelpies is that they are a celebration of Falkirk’s heritage and also of Scotland as a whole.
The Kelpies are representative of the Clydesdale horses that made such a significant contribution to Scotland’s agricultural and industrial past. They were the power behind numerous local industries, agriculture and day-to-day transport.
The Kelpies are a lasting legacy of the horses’ incredible contribution to Scottish working life. It’s a beautiful piece of spiritual art.
I believe that being around art like this is very beneficial for mental health. It gives you a real sense of perspective in your life and that’s important. Art and music are often forgotten about in terms of how good they are for our mental health.
I’m a passionate advocate for mental health and the Kelpies have a very meditative feel that can really help people.
How often do you go?
I’m currently learning to drive, so not as often as I would like. I visit every time we pass on the way to shows. And every time, I’m staggered at just how awesome Andy Scott’s statues are. As soon as I pass my driving test, I’ll be a regular visitor. I might just buy a tent.
How did you discover it?
I’ve been following the story of the Kelpies since they started building them. I watched loads of videos about the progress of the build when it was happening.
What’s your favourite memory?
When we did some pre-promotion for Kelpies 10 a few months back, I got to spend some time there with a baby Clydesdale horse.
That was a pretty special experience. However, it was absolutely freezing cold and I had to play guitar, which was virtually impossible because my fingers were frozen.
Who do you take?
I’ve been mostly with my band and my manager, because we normally stop there when we are travelling to shows.
What do you take?
Usually, all my guitars and bits of equipment because we are normally in a tour bus, en route to somewhere else to play a show.
What do you leave behind?
I’m well-known for forgetting pretty much everything, so who knows? It’s always a lottery; I usually lose my phone and my wallet, so probably both of those.
Sum it up in five words
Awe-inspiring. Epic. Shiny. Cold. Beautiful.
What other travel spot is on your wish list?
I’m recently home from a month in the Philippines, which was amazing, but I’d like to do Cambodia next year.
Callum Beattie is performing at Kelpies 10 at The Helix, Falkirk, on April 27. Visit thehelix.co.uk
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