Kippen

In 1891, Duncan Buchanan planted a vineyard in the village and one of its vines grew to be the largest in the world. The Kippen Vine covered an area of 5,000 square feet (460 m²), spreading across four greenhouses. It became a famous tourist attraction, until the Kippen Vinery had to close in 1964.

There is a story of questionable authenticity relating to the time of King James V of Scotland. John Buchanan was the proprietor of nearby Arnprior, and became known as the "King of Kippen" after an episode between himself and the king. King James was fond of travelling in disguise under the title of "The Guid Man o' Ballengeich", after the steep path leading down from the Castle of Stirling. The King, with his nobles, residing in Stirling Castle, sent a party for some deer to the hills in the neighbourhood of Gartmore. On their return to Stirling with the venison they passed through Arnprior, where they were attacked by the chief and relieved of their burden. Berated by the party for so ruthlessly taking from them what belonged to the King, Buchanan replied that if James was King in Scotland, he was King of Kippen. When the messengers reported the circumstance to the King, he resolved to wait on his neighbouring majesty of Kippen, and rode out one day with a small retinue from Stirling.

Demanding admittance at the palace of Arnprior, he was refused by a fierce warrior standing at the gate with a battle-axe sloped on his shoulder, who told him there was no admission, as his chief was at dinner with a large company and could not be disturbed at that time. "Tell your master," said James, "the Guidman o' Ballengeich humbly requests an audience of the 'King of Kippen'." Buchanan, guessing the quality of his guest, received His Majesty with the appropriate honours, and became so great a favourite that he had leave to draw upon the carrier as often as he pleased, and was invited, as "King of Kippen" to visit his brother sovereign at Stirling. [2][3]