Contact Info
Kenmore Hotel
The Square
Kenmore
PH15 2NU

Opening Hours
Breakfast: 0800 - 1000
Lunch: 1000 - 1800
Dinner: 1800 - 2145

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Telephone:
01887 830 205
Fax:
01887 830 262
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The Taymouth Castle

It was in 1473 that the first of the Campbell's got a footing in Breadalbane, he did so by helping capture the murderer of King James I. As a reward Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy got the Barony of Lawers. There were not many Campbell's around Tayside in those days, and they were greatly outnumbered by other clans in the area. So, perhaps wisely, Sir Colin chose an island on Loch Tay for the first Campbell stronghold in this district. "Eilean nam Ban Naomh" (the island of holy women) had earlier been the location for a nunnery, and Queen of Sibylla of Scotland was buried there when she died in 1122. AD

But it was the Campbell's of Glenorchy who made the most lasting impression on this lovely district. One estate after another came into their possession. Another Sir Colin Campbell, better known has Grey Colin, became Lair Laird of Glenorchy in 1550. Two years later he evicted the McGregor chieftain from Balloch and built a castle for himself, later known as Taymouth Castle. He was also responsible for the founding of the Kenmore Hotel, because he granted the lease of "an honest hostelry" to his servant in 1572.

Misfortune came upon the Campbell's in the 17th century. The honours of Scotland, the Crown Jewels, were kept at Balloch Castle for two months in 1651, to prevent them from falling into the hands of Cromwell's English troops. But only a few years later the castle itself was occupied by the invading English. In their path laid widespread destruction, Sir Robert Campbell died of natural causes with his vast estates heavily mortgaged and creditors pressing on every side.

Sir John Campbell became the 1st Earl of Breadalbane. He married at the age 22 with a London heiress, and her money helped bring back some of Balloch castles grandeur.

The 1st Marquis of Breadalbane demolished Balloch Castle and built the magnificent new Taymouth Castle. He also extended the landscape creating a park with fine trees, drives and walks. After the youthful Queen Victoria had been received there with Prince Albert in 1842 she commented in her Journal: "It seemed as if a great chieftain in olden feudal times was receiving his sovereign. It was princely and romantic." Later Journal entries reveals that the Queen had only pleasurable memories from her stay at Taymouth Castle.

Kenmore Hotel was sold along with the remainder of the Breadalbane estate to the Mactaggart family in 1922. In December 1992 the hotel parted company with the rest of the estate.

Prior to the Second World War the castle opreated as a hotel and the deer park was developed into a magnificent golf course. The castle was requisitioned during the Secon Worl War and used as a convalescent home and subsequently as headquarters for Civil Defence Training in Scotland. For a short period it was used as a school for children of American Servicemen. For the last 20 years the castle has remained unoccupied, but mantained by a full-time caretaker.

The Taymouth Castle Estate

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