Taymouth Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Taymouth Castle
Taymouth Castle's eastern façade
General information
Architectural style	Neo Gothic Style
Location	Perth and Kinross
Town or city	Kenmore
Country	Scotland
Coordinates	56°35′42″N 3°58′52″W / 56.594972°N 3.9810339°W / 56.594972; -3.9810339
Construction started	1806
Completed	1842
Client	John Campbell
Design and construction
Architect	J and A Elliot

Taymouth Castle is a grand castle located near Kenmore, Perth and Kinross in the Scottish Highlands. It sits on a huge 450-acre estate, right by the River Tay and close to Loch Tay. The castle is surrounded by mountains and water, making it a very special place.

Taymouth Castle was built on the spot of an older castle called Balloch Castle. Balloch Castle was built in 1552 by the Clan Campbell. In the early 1800s, the Campbells of Breadalbane tore down Balloch Castle. They wanted to build a much bigger and more impressive castle. The new castle was built using blue-grey stone from a nearby quarry.

Taymouth Castle is built in a Neo-Gothic style. It is considered one of the most important privately owned castles in Scotland. The castle's main rooms show amazing craftsmanship from the 1800s. No expense was spared on its inside, which has fancy carvings, plasterwork, and paintings. Old stained glass and Renaissance wooden decorations were also added. Much of this beautiful design still exists today.

Francis Bernasconi, a famous plasterwork designer, created the amazing central staircase. This staircase connects all four floors of the main tower. Many of the ceilings were painted by Cornelius Dixon.

Taymouth Castle is a very important historical building, listed as a Category A building. Its grounds, with parks and forests, are also listed in the national record of important gardens. Historic Environment Scotland has called the castle 'outstanding' for its art, history, architecture, and scenery. They also noted its value for plants, especially its old pinetum (a collection of pine trees) and huge remaining trees. It is believed that some of the first larch trees brought to Scotland were planted here.

Sadly, 12 buildings on the Taymouth Castle estate are currently in poor condition. The castle itself has been empty since about 1982. However, new owners are now working to restore it. They plan to turn it into a fancy hotel resort. The castle and its golf course are currently closed while this restoration work happens.

Castle Features

Estate Landmarks to Explore

Taymouth Castle, Kenmore Gate entrance.

The 450-acre estate has many interesting old landmarks. Here are some you can still see:

• The Rock Lodge: A ruined 19th-century circular tower. It was built around 1830 to look like an old ruin, but people used to live in it.
• Apollo's Temple: A ruined small circular building. It might date back to the 1770s and may have once held a sculpture.
• The Fort: A semi-circular building that was built just for decoration.
• Maxwell's Temple: This temple was built in 1830. It honors Mary, Countess of Breadalbane.
• The Historic Dairy: Located on Tom Mor, this building is called the 'House that Sparkles'. It looks white because it's made of quartz stone from a nearby mountain. When Queen Victoria visited in 1842, she tried making butter and drank milk there. She thought it looked like a Swiss cottage.
• The Monument: A historic urn (a large decorative vase).
• A Ruined Tower: Another old tower that is now in ruins.

All these structures are listed as important by Historic Environment Scotland.

Taymouth Castle Golf Course

Taymouth Castle has its own 18-hole golf course. It was built on the castle's old deer park. The famous golfer James Braid designed it in 1925. The course is currently closed for upgrades. It is being made longer to meet modern championship standards. Many of Braid's original design features are also being brought back. Golfers will soon enjoy views of the River Tay from the course.

In 1839, the deer park was home to many animals. It had 700 fallow deer, 100 red deer, and even some wild Indian buffaloes.

Fishing Adventures

The castle estate offers some of Scotland's best fishing. You can fish for salmon along two and a half miles of the River Tay. The River Tay is Scotland's longest river. It is one of the best rivers in the United Kingdom and Europe for Atlantic Salmon. The estate also has fishing rights on Loch Tay. This loch has fish like pike, perch, roach, and trout.

Castle History and Owners

The Campbell Family of Breadalbane

The first 12 owners of Balloch/Taymouth Castle were all from the Clan Campbell. They owned the land from 1550 to 1922. Ownership usually passed from father to son. This branch of the Campbell family received titles like Breadalbane and Glenorchy.

Some Campbells were also Earls of Breadalbane and Holland. They got the lands of Breadalbane in the 1400s from King James III. This was a reward for helping capture an assassin. The 'Holland' part of the title came from a marriage to the daughter of the 1st Earl of Holland.

Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy built Balloch Castle in 1552. He was a knight, the lowest rank among the castle owners. Over time, his family's rank grew. The last Campbell owner, Sir Gavin Campbell, became a Marquess by 1922.

The Campbell family of Breadalbane was very powerful. They owned huge amounts of land in Scotland. They were involved in many battles and feuds between clans. Other clans feared them because they always wanted more power and land. There was a long-running feud between the Campbells and the Gregors. The famous Rob Roy MacGregor belonged to the Gregor clan.

The Black Book of Taymouth

In 1855, the 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane allowed old family papers to be published. This book was called The Black Book of Taymouth. It was mostly written between 1598 and 1648 by William Bowie. The book focuses more on the history of the Central Highlands than just the Breadalbane family.

The book is written in Scots language. William Bowie dedicated his version to Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy, also known as 'Black Duncan'. Bowie was a tutor to Duncan's children and the family's writer. The book has been printed many times.

Taymouth Castle Ships

At least three ships have been named Taymouth Castle. The first was a sailing ship built in 1851. The second was a large sailing ship built in 1865. Sadly, it sank two years later, and all 19 people on board were lost. There was also the Royal Mail steamship Taymouth Castle, built in 1877. This ship used both steam engines and sails.

Witches and Ghosts of the Castle

There's an old story about a blue sapphire stone. It belonged to the Grahams of Inchbrakie. In the 1600s, a Laird of Inchbrakie saw a crowd about to drown a woman they thought was a witch. He recognized her as his old nurse, Katherine Niven, and tried to save her. He failed, but she was thankful. She threw him a blue sapphire stone. She said that as long as he had the stone, he would have good luck. She also said the Campbells would not have a male heir. Both predictions were said to come true.

People also say that Taymouth Castle is haunted!

Taymouth Castle's Owners and Events

John Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane (1782 – 1834)

John Campbell became the 4th Earl of Breadalbane and Holland at age 19. He wanted to build a grander castle than the Duke of Argyll's castle. In 1806, he began tearing down Balloch Castle. He replaced it with a new Gothic building. Many architects worked on the castle, including Alexander Nasmyth and the Elliot brothers. Francis Bernasconi created the fancy plasterwork.

John Campbell also formed three regiments of soldiers called the Breadalbane Fencibles. He raised 2,300 men, mostly from his own land. The castle even had its own fire brigade.

In 1819, Prince Leopold, who later became King of Belgium, visited the castle. He was welcomed by over 2,000 Highlanders. There was a big party with music, food, and drinks.

A writer in 1823 called Taymouth the 'most magnificent residence in the country'. He praised its beautiful trees and walks. John Campbell became the 1st Marquess of Breadalbane in 1831. He spent much of his time improving his large estates.

John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane (1834 – 1862)

John Campbell inherited the estate after his father died. He was a Member of Parliament and held many important titles. He continued to improve the castle. Architect James Gillespie Graham and designer A. W. N. Pugin worked on the West Wing. The ceilings in this wing are considered some of the best of their time in the UK. An Italian painter spent almost 10 years painting the ceilings with family coats of arms.

The Marquess also installed equipment to melt metal ores found on his land. He hoped to find valuable minerals to help pay for the castle's huge rebuilding costs.

He was also responsible for bringing the capercaillie bird back to Great Britain. These birds had died out in the country. He brought 28 birds from Sweden in 1837–38. All the capercaillies we have today are descended from these birds.

In 1842, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Taymouth Castle for three days. It was their first visit to Scotland. They were welcomed with a royal salute and over 200 Highlanders. The castle was decorated with 50,000 lamps that spelled out "Welcome Victoria and Albert". Their visit reportedly cost Campbell £60,000.

During their stay, the Queen went boating on Loch Tay. Prince Albert went deer hunting and shot many animals. Before leaving, the Queen and Prince Albert planted four ceremonial trees. Twenty-four years later, Queen Victoria returned anonymously. She wrote in her journal about seeing the place where they were welcomed so grandly.

John Campbell died without children in 1862. His titles ended with him. The estate then passed to a distant cousin, John Campbell, who became the 6th Earl of Breadalbane and Holland.

John Alexander Gavin Campbell, 6th Earl of Breadalbane and Holland (1862 – 1871)

After the 2nd Marquess died, two distant relatives claimed the estate. John Alexander Gavin Campbell's claim was challenged. The dispute was about whether his grandparents were legally married. The Scottish court eventually ruled in his favor.

John Campbell had four children. He was a captain in the army. He died at age 46 in London.

Sir Gavin Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane (1871 – 1922)

Gavin Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane was a soldier and a liberal politician. He held many important titles and honors. He was a Lord-in-waiting to Queen Victoria and served in the Royal Household.

In 1872, he married Lady Alma Imogene Graham. Many royal visitors came to the castle during his time. These included Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn and Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany in 1877. In 1879, former Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone stayed at the castle.

Sir Gavin started the Loch Tay Steamboat Company. This helped his tenants travel to the nearest railway station. Later, it became a popular tourist attraction offering pleasure cruises.

In 1888, Sir Gavin received a medal for saving a servant's life. The servant had fallen into the flooded River Tay. Sir Gavin, a strong swimmer, jumped in and rescued him. He also received a Swedish honor for his hospitality to the future King of Sweden.

When he inherited his titles, his estate was nearly half a million acres. However, Sir Gavin lost most of this land due to his expensive lifestyle and gambling. His debts forced him to sell the castle and its remaining 60,000 acres in 1920. The castle was sold for £20,000 to a group planning to turn it into a hotel.

In March 1922, the Marquess and Marchioness left the castle forever. Sir Gavin died childless later that year. Most of his titles ended with him. Even though the estate was sold, there were still three more Earls of Breadalbane and Holland. The last Earl died in 1995, and the title has not been used since.

Taymouth Castle Hotel (1922 – 1940)

A hotel company from Glasgow bought the castle in 1922. They also bought 520 acres of land, bringing the estate to about 2,000 acres. They planned to turn the castle into a health spa hotel. They also opened a new golf course. The company bought fishing rights on Loch Tay and the River Tay.

A huge auction was held at the castle to sell its furniture and belongings. The newspaper said that the items that gave the castle its history would be "scattered to the four winds." The auction made £24,000.

The hotel opened on June 30, 1923, with about 100 bedrooms. It had central heating and electricity. The hotel offered music, dancing, tennis courts, and trips to local sights. Despite good business, the hotel company went out of business in March 1926. The high cost of renovations was blamed. The hotel closed for the winter in September 1926.

The hotel reopened in June 1927 for the summer. In September 1927, the Prince and Princess of Korea visited. The hotel's future was secured in 1928 when a London company bought it. They continued to run it as a health spa.

Taymouth Castle Hospital (1940 – 1948)

During World War II, the castle was taken over by the government. From 1940, it became the No. 1 Polish General Hospital. It was the main Polish hospital in the country. It had modern equipment, including operating theaters and X-Ray machines.

The golf course was rented out for sheep and cattle grazing. Polish servicemen at the hospital were not interested in golf. However, they loved playing football.

Thousands of Polish patients were treated there over eight years. After the Battle of Cassino, over 200 Polish wounded arrived. At its busiest, the hospital had 1,200 beds and 200 staff. The hospital closed in December 1947.

The castle needed a lot of repairs after being a hospital. A fire in 1946 damaged one of the west towers. However, care was taken to protect the castle's carved oak walls and doors. They were covered with cardboard and plywood. Marble fireplaces and stained glass windows were also protected.

Seventy-five temporary huts were removed from the grounds. You can still see their foundations today.

Civil Defence Training School (1949 – 1968)

In February 1949, the government created the Civil Defence Corps. This was a group of civilian volunteers. They would help in national emergencies, like a nuclear attack. Taymouth Castle became one of three training centers in Scotland. It taught instructors how to train a larger volunteer force.

The castle was changed to train 100 to 150 men and women at a time. These changes cost £126,000. When it opened in December 1950, it was called the most modern training center in the world. The center included a fake 'blitzed village'. This village was built and partly destroyed for trainees to practice rescue skills. The village looked very realistic.

Volunteers received advanced training in how to deal with atomic, chemical, and biological attacks.

The Corps grew to 330,000 people by 1956. However, it was disbanded in 1968. This was due to new ideas on how to handle nuclear attacks. But the castle's role in national defense continued. From 1968, it was a secret location for plan PYTHON. This plan was for the government to continue working during a nuclear war.

Boarding School Days (1970 – 1974)

After being a Civil Defence center, Taymouth Castle became a boarding school. It opened in 1970 for high school students from the US. The school followed a US curriculum. Most students came from families in the US or whose parents worked on North Sea oil rigs. There were 7 teachers for 17 students.

Subjects included English, US History, British History, Geography, Math, Science, French, and German. Students also had 'study halls' and PE. Weekend trips were arranged to local places.

Boys' dorms were on the second floor to the east. Girls' dorms were to the west. Rules were somewhat relaxed compared to British schools. Older students could smoke with parent permission. But boys needed "businessman's haircuts." Girls were asked to "dress neatly" and "be ladylike." All students had to stand when an adult entered a room.

All students lived at the school and had meals together. Staff ate in the famous 'Banner Hall'. This hall's ceiling had the coats of arms of important visitors. The school hoped to grow but didn't. It closed within a few years. A website was set up in 2001 to remember this unique school.

Speech and Drama School (1982)

In September 1981, an advertisement announced the Taymouth Castle Residential School of Speech and Drama. Classes were to start in January 1982. They offered courses in stage performance and puppetry.

Not much more is known about these courses. The castle has been closed and empty since around that time. The golf course continued to operate separately. But it is also currently closed for changes.

Restoration Plans (1982 – Present)

The MacTaggart family, who first made the castle a hotel in 1922, still owned it. But they couldn't find a good use for it after the boarding school closed in 1979. They tried to sell the estate in the 1990s. Even famous singers Madonna and Cher were interested at first. In 1995, the castle was for sale for £5.5 million.

By 2000, the castle was in bad shape with leaks and rot. A building group bought it in 2005 for £12 million. They planned to turn it into a "six-star" hotel with 150 rooms. The local council had already approved these plans.

However, progress has been slow due to huge costs and finding investors. Millions of pounds have been spent to stop the castle from getting worse. Work has started and stopped many times. By May 2006, the main buildings were stable. New windows, refurbished rooms, and a new roof were added in later years.

One developer said in 2008, "We have spent millions of pounds saving one of Scotland's finest, most beautiful properties." They were proud of saving the east and west wings.

By 2015, work began on hotel suites. By 2016, enough work was done for the castle to host events. It held weddings, corporate events, and banquets. An Open Day was held in October 2016 to promote it as a wedding venue.

By 2018, restoration plans faced problems. Concerns arose about ownership and possible money-laundering. The castle's ownership passed through unclear companies. It was believed to be owned by Ali Ibrahim Dabaiba, a former official under Muammar al-Gaddafi. The Libyan government asked for help from UK authorities. They said Dabaiba stole government money and invested it in Scottish properties, including Taymouth Castle.

The main construction company stopped work in April 2018. This was after a tax investigation. Later, Discovery Land Company (DLC) was able to buy the property. Specific plans for its development have not yet been shared.

Early History of Balloch Castle

Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy (1550 – 1583)

Taymouth Castle painted in 1733 by James Norie, showing William Adam's improvements to the house and gardens

Sir Colin Campbell, also known as 'Grey Colin', became the leader of Glenorchy in 1550. One of his first acts was to remove the Clan Gregor from Balloch. In 1552, he built a tower house there called Balloch Castle. Balloch means 'the house at the narrow pass'. Sir Colin supposedly chose the site after a dream told him to build where he first heard a blackbird sing.

Later, in 1787, the poet Robert Burns described the beauty of Balloch Castle and its lands in a poem.

The castle was the main home of Clan Campbell. At their peak, their lands stretched over 100 miles. Sir Colin quickly expanded his territory. He built or enlarged several other castles.

There was a long and bitter feud between the Campbells and the Gregor clan. This was over lands the Campbells had taken. The fighting lasted from 1562 to 1569. The Gregor clan chief, Gregor Roy, was captured by Sir Colin. On April 7, 1570, Sir Colin personally executed Gregor at Balloch Castle. Gregor's wife wrote a sad poem about it. The fighting continued, but a peace agreement was finally reached in 1570.

Sir Colin claimed the right to imprison and execute people. He was described as a great 'justiciar' (judge) who fought the Gregor clan and executed many 'lymars' (rogues).

King James VI visited Balloch Castle in August 1582. He gave money to the gardener. A few days later, the king was captured in an event called the Ruthven Raid. Sir Colin had ten children and died in April 1583.

Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy, 1st Baronet Campbell (1583 – 1631)

Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy (1545-1631)

Sir Duncan Campbell was knighted in 1590. He was a Member of Parliament and a Baronet. He had 23 children and died in 1631. There's a story that he secretly married a low-born lady. He supposedly locked her in an underground vault while he courted another woman. He swore he had "no wife above ground."

He was known as 'Duncan of the (seven) Castles' because he built so many. He was also called 'Black Duncan'. The King appointed him to keep peace between feuding clans. But he was known for causing trouble to gain more land. He greatly expanded his family's estate. He also made Balloch Castle bigger.

In April 1603, King James VI and I outlawed the Clan Gregor. This was after the Battle of Glen Fruin, where the Gregors killed many men. It became legal to kill anyone named Gregor and take their property. Over the next ten years, over 100 Gregors were killed. Their lands were given to the Campbells. Sir Duncan was said to be key in this.

One of Sir Duncan's castles was Finlarig Castle, built in 1629. It has a pit where nobles were executed. Sir Duncan was also a smart manager of his estate. He introduced livestock and planted forests. He ordered Drummond Hill to be planted with trees, creating Scotland's first managed forest.

Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy, 2nd Baronet Campbell (1631 – 1640)

Sir Colin Campbell, the 8th Laird of Glenorchy, was more peaceful than his father. He was a supporter of the arts. He repaired and extended family castles, including Balloch Castle. He hired famous artists to paint portraits. He also traveled a lot and collected fine furniture and paintings.

Sir Colin was married for many years but died without children in 1640. He did, however, raise Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll. Archibald Campbell was later executed in 1685.

Sir Robert Campbell of Glenorchy, 3rd Baronet Campbell (1640 – 1657)

Sir Robert Campbell was the brother of the 2nd Baronet. He was a Member of Parliament.

Sir Robert lived during a very difficult time in Highland history. His lands were destroyed during the Scottish Civil War. This was by the forces of the James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose. His lands were burned and destroyed in 1644 and 1645. These actions left Campbell with huge debts.

One key battle was the Battle of Inverlochy in 1645. The Campbell army was defeated. About 1,500 of their 2,000 men were killed. Sir Robert had 16 children and died in 1657.

Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy, 4th Baronet Campbell (1657 – 1677)

Sir John Campbell became the 4th Baronet Campbell. He was a Colonel in the army and a Member of Parliament. He had 31 children from three wives and died in 1677.

John Campbell, 1st Earl of Breadalbane and Holland (1677 – 1717)

John Campbell, known as 'Slippery John', became the 1st Earl of Breadalbane and Holland in 1681. In 1692, he played a role in the sad Massacre of Glencoe. He instructed a relative to carry it out. Thirty-eight McDonalds were killed by their own guests. Another 40 women and children died from cold after their homes were burned.

Campbell was also involved in plots to bring back King James II and VII. In 1692, he was jailed in Edinburgh Castle. But he was released when it was found he was working with King William III.

In 1672, Campbell gained lands and titles in Caithness. He took the title of Earl of Caithness. But his right was challenged. He fought a battle called the Battle of Altimarlach. Campbell's army easily won. It is said that so many enemies were killed that Campbell's soldiers could cross the river on their bodies. Despite this win, he lost the title in court. King Charles II then made him the 1st Earl of Breadalbane and Holland.

The people of Wick disliked Campbell. He eventually sold off all his portions of Wick in 1690.

King William III once gave Campbell £20,000 to make peace among Highland Chiefs. Instead of spending it, Campbell negotiated a deal. When asked for the money, he said, "Gentlemen - the money is spent, the Highlands are at peace."

Slippery John was an early fan of golf. He bought golf clubs for his children in 1672. He had four children and died in 1717. A government agent described him as "cunning as a fox, wise as a serpent, and as slippery as an eel."

John Campbell, 2nd Earl of Breadalbane and Holland (1717 – 1752)

In 1720, John Campbell, 2nd Earl of Breadalbane and Holland hired William Adam to redesign the castle and gardens. Adam's design included six long avenues of trees that met at the castle. Gardens and orchards were also planted.

In 1739, Jan Griffer made more changes. He removed the long avenues and added new buildings. He also planted more individual trees, making the design less formal. John Campbell also moved the orchard and walled garden. He planted woodlands on Drummond Hill and Craig Hill.

John Campbell was Lord Lieutenant of Perthshire. During the Jacobite rising of 1745, he sent a thousand men to fight. He had three children and died in 1752.

John Campbell, 3rd Earl of Breadalbane and Holland (1752 – 1782)

John Campbell, 3rd Earl of Breadalbane and Holland made more changes in the 1750s. He built a beautiful bridge over the River Tay. He also built Kenmore's church in 1760. By the 1780s, the formal gardens were replaced with a more natural, picturesque landscape.

John was an important official and an ambassador to Denmark and Russia. He had four children but no surviving male heir. So, his direct family line ended. The title passed to his third cousin, John Campbell, who became the 1st Marquess of Breadalbane. This Marquess went on to tear down Balloch Castle and build Taymouth Castle.

Images for kids

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  View from the south

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  Chinese bridge