Are you in the market for a slightly used castle in the Scottish Highlands?
Taymouth Castle might just be the dream castle you’ve been looking for. It has been sitting empty for years. It’s changed hands a number of times as different visionaries try to fix it up and turn it into a luxury resort. There is, at least, a reasonably well-maintained golf club operating in the front garden. But locals in the nearby village of Kenmore will be happy to tell you scandalous tales of duplicity and fraud. My guess is that castles are just really expensive to restore and maintain, and the long train of ambitious entrepreneurs have all simply gone broke trying.
Despite its recent woes, the castle truly is a remarkable sight to see. It is a magnificent structure nestled into a stunning setting among the high hills of Perthshire along the banks of the River Tay. The name, Taymouth, derives from its proximity to the mouth of this river as it emerges from the loch of the same name.
In terms of castles, this one is relatively young. Construction started in 1806, and it took a mere thirty-six years to complete (in 1842 if you do the math). Built on the site of the historic seat of the Clan Campbell, it replaced Balloch Castle, which dates back to 1552.
Clearly, no expense was spared on either the spectacular exterior façade or the exquisite interior décor. Some of the finest European craftsmen of the age (like Francis Bernasconi and Cornelius Dixon) were recruited to create the magnificent central stairway, as well as the plaster work and paintings on the ceilings. All the expense was, of course, undertaken in order to outshine the Duke of Argyle’s castle at Inverary.
Taymouth Castle was primarily built by the Johns Campbell, 1stand 2ndMarquesses of Breadalbane. Okay, two quick notes of explanation:
- Scotland’s aristocratic hierarchy progresses thus from lowest to highest – Knight, Baronet, Baron, Lord of Parliament, Viscount, Earl, Marquess, Duke, and King. (No, they are not all represented on a standard chess board.)
- Breadalbane – “the upper part of Alba (i.e. Britain)” is a region in the central Scottish Highlands, generally surrounding Loch Tay in Perth and Kinross.
Royal Visits
Castles like Taymouth were built to impress and entertain – primarily other aristocrats, but especially the royalty. In due course, there were dozens of noble visitors to the castle over the years, and at least two visits by royals.
Prince Leopold of Belgium graced the halls of Taymouth Castle in 1819. He was welcomed by a retinue of over 2,000 of the Campbell’s highlanders and entertained at a grand ball with more than 1,400 in attendance.
But, of course, the most notable guests of the estate were the young Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1842. A rush was put on the construction efforts so that they would be completed in time for the royal visit. The Campbells spared no expense for the visit, dropping approximately £60,000 when their own annual income was more in the range of £45,000. (It’s just so hard to be truly wealthy – there are so many responsibilities.)
Some of the money went to build up and plant trees on an artificial island a hundred or so yards into Loch Tay where the queen could have lunch one day. Other funds went to light 50,000 lamps on a nearby hillside that spelled out “Welcome Victoria and Albert.” During her extended vacation at the highland chateau, Queen Victoria enjoyed a steamboat ride on Loch Tay from Killin to Kenmore, while Prince Albert rode out on a stag hunt somewhere about the estate (which stretched a mere hundred miles, from Aberfeldy to Oban). The prince was the first person permitted to shoot capercaillies on Campbell lands, after these rare birds had been reintroduced in Britain by John Campbell at Taymouth Castle following their extinction on the island around 1785.
Around and About
Unfortunately, this grand mansion is not open for visitors or tours on a regular basis. Perhaps if you were to show an interest in purchasing the estate, you might get shown around. But it is worth stopping by, even if you just get to admire the exterior and peek in through the windows.
While you are in the area, be sure to explore some of the other intriguing places nearby. Just down the road from the east gatehouse (toward Aberfeldy) is one of the finest stone circles in all of the Highlands at Croft Moraig.
The quaint little village of Kenmore is worth a wee visit. Be sure to have a fine meal at the historic Kenmore Hotel. If you stay overnight, try the Deuchars Cottage for a cozy night’s rest. And just a short drive down a nearby single track road brings you to the Fortingall Yew – perhaps the oldest living thing on the earth!
And you really must not miss the Scottish Crannog Center, a living archaeological reconstruction of an iron age lake house – built on stilts out in the waters of Loch Tay.
Quick Summary
Site: Taymouth Castle
Location: Near Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, the Scottish Highlands
Built: 1806 – 1842
Cool Factor (1-5): 3.0 (Higher if you can finagle your way inside.)
Web Links
Website: None. (Other than Wikipedia)
Golf Club Website: www.taymouthcastlegolfclub.com
Historic Kenmore Hotel: www.kenmorehotel.com
Deuchars Cottage in Kenmore: www.bitly.com/deuchars
Croft Moraig Stone Circle: https://www.thehazeltree.co.uk/2015/01/08/croft-moraig-circle-of-light/
Scottish Crannog Center: https://www.crannog.co.uk