King's Park Stirling Walks around Scotland's most ancient Royal Park

Stop 14 of 20

Ailie's Garden

Full walk Green · 70 min
John Damien's 1503 flight attempt from Stirling Castle
John Damien's 1503 flight attempt from Stirling Castle Courtesy of the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum

Ailie's Garden is named after Ailie MacLaurin (1913–2000) — see the leaflet available in the Smith — who was involved with the Stirling Homesteads, a small community of houses and a farm on the edge of Kings Park, organised on co-operative lines, where various crafts and sustainable gardening were practised in the early part of the 20th century.

In 1503, the royal alchemist John Damien attempted an early flight experiment by trying to fly from Stirling Castle to France with feathered wings. Jumping from the west side of the castle he fluttered down, landing in the castle midden and breaking his leg in the process. The castle midden was probably located somewhere directly under the castle in the area of the High Back Walk.