A Marvelous Vacation in Kippen
The village of Kippen is located in the hills of Fintry and Gargunnock. It overlooks the River Forth Valley and is a destination in Scotland that is as fascinating as it is beautiful. Kippen put itself on the map during the 1700s when a military road was constructed to link Dumbarton with Stirling. Most of the area surrounding the River Forth Valley still consists of marshland, making many hikes and nature walks available to visitors.
There are quite a few established walking and hiking routes in and
around
Kippen, of which one takes you on the Burnside Wood Nature Trail. This
trail
gives you spectacular views of the village and the Trossachs. Shorter
walks
that take you in a circle, will allow you to view the Trossachs,
grazing
horses and the Kippen Vine. Some walks take you through the picturesque
village, up rolling hills and past some of the most breathtaking
landscapes
and sights. It is definitely a destination in Scotland that can be
explored,
safely, on foot.
Most of the buildings in Kippen are architectural masterpieces that
were
erected from as far back as the 1300s. The church in Kippen was
constructed
during this time and was known to be the place of burial for many
generations of Earls of Menteith. Buildings from the 1600s and 1700s
line
the streets, of which the Old Kirk of Kippen, built in 1691 and the
1729
Black Bull Inn are perfect examples. The Old Kippen Smiddy was opened
to the
public in 1981 to showcase the tools, artifacts and skills that were
necessary to be a successful blacksmith. The Kippen Smiddy was
constructed
in the 18th century and was home to the generations of the same family
from
the year 1721 until 1986. Another interesting building to visit is the
Griloch. It was constructed between 1938 and 1939 for steel magnate,
John
Colville. This Modernist style home was designed by architect Sir Bazil
Spence and incorporated an early version of the American fitted
kitchen
for Colville’s American wife.
Visitors are also advised to pay a visit to the Blair Drummond
Safari
Park, located approximately six miles outside Kippen, to enjoy
a day
of animal drives, adventure park fun, exhibitions and a pet farm. The
historical Stirling Castle and the Smith Art Gallery and Museum are
eight
miles from the village.
Local legend states that the famous Rob Roy passed through Kippen
in
1691, while on his way to Stirling. The men of Kippen tried their best to
protect their cattle from being stolen by Rob Roy and his bandits, but
failed miserably. To teach Kippen and other villages a lesson, Roy
returned
to Kippen and took the remaining cattle that were held in the village.
Robin
Oig, Rob Roy’s son, came back to marry Jean Keag in 1750, which later
cost
him his life.
