No trip to Scotland is ever complete without a Saturday or Sunday afternoon visit to the Moffats of Larbert. 

Dawn, Andy and the two boys Callum and Alex are a true delight.

Since  my recent visits to Scotland have been on the sombre  and emotional  side I treasure my afternoons spent wandering the local woods, parks and  generally enjoying their company for our leisurely hikes.  Of course  that's after a lunch of well fired rolls, local Lorne sausage and  Stornaway black pudding. Just the thing to keep out the chilly Scottish  breezes.

Today we went to  The Helix  which truly defies description in its scope and enormity and  complexity of its center piece The Kelpies. Here are a few photographs  from a few hours spent in  the company of Andy, Callum and Alex.

You can follow the highly talented  photographer Andy at www.blipfoto.com/andmoff

A pair of giant horse head sculptures, the tallest artworks in Scotland, are nearing completion.

The Kelpies are sculptures of horses heads, designed by the renowned Andy Scott and inspired by the area's rich equine history.

Standing at an impressive 30 meters and weighing over 300 tones, they will be completed by late 2013.

Situated beside the M9 near Falkirk, the Andy Scott-designed heads known as the Kelpies will be seen by thousands of passing motorists each day.