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 Highlands of Scotland. It sits on a large estate of about 450 acres, next to the River Tay and close to Loch Tay. The castle is surrounded by mountains and rivers, making it a beautiful and historic place.

The castle you see today was built on the site of an older castle called Balloch Castle, which was constructed in 1552. The Campbell family, who owned the land, decided to tear down Balloch Castle in the early 1800s to build the much larger and more impressive Taymouth Castle. The stone for the new castle came from a nearby quarry.

Taymouth Castle was built in a style called Neo-Gothic, which means it looks like old medieval castles but with a newer design. It's considered one of Scotland's most important privately owned castles. Inside, the rooms are decorated with amazing carvings, plasterwork, and paintings from the 1800s. Many of these beautiful decorations are still there today.

A famous designer named Francis Bernasconi created the castle's main staircase, which connects all four floors of the central tower. Many of the ceilings were painted by Cornelius Dixon.

Taymouth Castle is a very important historical building. Its grounds, which include parks and woodlands, are also recognized as significant gardens. Experts from Historic Environment Scotland have called the castle 'outstanding' for its art, history, architecture, and scenery. They also noted its special trees, including some of the first larches brought to Scotland from the Tyrol region.

For many years, Taymouth Castle was empty and falling apart. However, new owners bought the estate in 2019. They decided to restore the castle and turn it into a luxury private club. The restoration project was finished in November 2024. The main castle building now has nine fancy suites for its members.

Exploring Taymouth Castle's Estate

Special Places on the Estate

Taymouth Castle, Kenmore Gate entrance.

The 450-acre estate has several interesting old structures that you can still see:

• Rock Lodge: This is a ruined circular tower from the 1830s. It was built to look like an old ruin, but people actually lived in it!
• Apollo's Temple: A small, ruined circular building that might be from the 1770s. It may have once held a sculpture.
• The Fort: A semi-circular structure that was built to look like a small fort.
• Maxwell's Temple: Built in 1830, this temple honors Mary, Countess of Breadalbane.
• The Dairy: This historic building on Tom Mor is called the 'House that Sparkles'. It looks white and sparkly because it's made from quartz stone. When Queen Victoria visited in 1842, she tried fresh milk and oatmeal bread there.
• The Monument: An old urn that stands as a historic landmark.
• A Ruined Tower: Another old tower that is now in ruins.

All these structures are protected by Historic Environment Scotland.

Taymouth Castle Golf Course

Taymouth Castle has its own 18-hole golf course. It was designed by famous golfer James Braid in 1925 and built on what used to be the castle's deer park. The golf course was closed for a while to be made bigger and to bring back some of Braid's original design features. It was increased from 6,066 yards to 7,039 yards.

Long ago, in 1839, the deer park was home to many animals, including about 700 fallow deer, 100 red deer, and even some wild Indian buffaloes!

Fishing at Taymouth

The estate offers 2.5 miles of salmon fishing along the River Tay. You can also fish in Loch Tay, which has fish like pike, perch, roach, and trout.

More About Taymouth Castle

The Campbell Family of Breadalbane

For many years, from 1550 to 1922, Taymouth Castle and the surrounding lands were owned by the Campbell family. They were a powerful Scottish clan. The ownership usually passed from father to son. This branch of the Campbells held important titles like Earls of Breadalbane and Holland.

The Campbells of Breadalbane were very powerful because they owned so much land in Scotland. They were involved in many historical conflicts between Scottish clans. They were known for being determined to gain more power and protect their lands. They also had a long-running rivalry with the Clan Gregor, which included the famous Rob Roy MacGregor.

The Black Book of Taymouth

In 1855, a book called The Black Book of Taymouth was published. It contained historical papers from the Campbell family's records. Much of the book was written between 1598 and 1648 by William Bowie, who was a tutor and writer for the family. The book mainly focuses on the history of the Central Highlands of Scotland.

Taymouth Castle Ships

At least three ships have been named Taymouth Castle. One was a sailing ship built in 1851. Another was a large sailing ship built in 1865, but it was wrecked two years later, and all 19 people on board were lost. There was also a steamship called Taymouth Castle, built in 1877, which used both steam engines and sails.

Old Tales of Taymouth Castle

There's an old story about a blue sapphire stone that belonged to another family. In the 1600s, a man tried to save his old nurse, Katherine Niven, from being drowned because people thought she was a witch. He couldn't save her, but she was grateful and gave him the blue sapphire. She said that as long as he had the stone, he would have good luck, and the Campbells would not have a male heir. People say both these predictions came true.

It is also said that Taymouth Castle is haunted!

Taymouth Castle's Story Through Time

Here's a look at the owners of Taymouth Castle and important events that happened there.

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

John Campbell became the 4th Earl of Breadalbane and Holland when he was 19. He wanted to build a grand new castle to replace Balloch Castle. From 1806, a new Gothic-style building was constructed. Many architects and artists worked on it, including James and Archibald Elliot, Francis Bernasconi (who did the fancy plasterwork), and William Atkinson. Stained glass was made by William Raphael Eginton.

In 1793, John Campbell created three regiments of soldiers, called the Breadalbane Fencibles, to help defend the land. He gathered 2,300 men, with 1,600 from his own estate. The castle even had its own fire brigade!

In 1819, Prince Leopold, who later became the king of Belgium, visited the castle. He was greeted by over two thousand Highlanders, with cannons firing and bagpipes playing. The Marquess held a huge party for him with entertainment and plenty of food and drink.

In 1823, a writer described Taymouth as the 'most magnificent residence in the country'. He noted the beautiful mountains, lawns, and tree-lined riverbanks, with magnificent walking paths.

John Campbell became the 1st Marquess of Breadalbane in 1831. He was known for improving his large estates.

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

John Campbell inherited the estate from his father in 1834. He continued to improve the castle. The west wing was remodeled by architect James Gillespie Graham, with stunning interiors designed by A. W. N. Pugin. The ceilings in the west wing are considered some of the best of their time in the UK. An Italian painter spent almost ten years painting the ceilings with the family's coats of arms.

The Marquess also brought capercaillie birds back to Great Britain at Taymouth Castle. These birds had died out in the country around 1785. Our current population of capercaillie comes from the 28 birds he brought from Sweden in 1837–38.

In 1842, the castle was ready for a special visit from the young Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. They stayed at Taymouth for three days. When they arrived, cannons fired, and over 200 Highlanders welcomed them. The castle was decorated with 50,000 lamps arranged to spell "Welcome Victoria and Albert." Their visit reportedly cost the Marquess a huge amount of money.

During their stay, Queen Victoria went boating on Loch Tay, while Prince Albert went hunting. The estate was enormous, stretching for 100 miles. Before leaving, the Queen and Prince Albert planted four ceremonial trees: two Scotch Firs and two oak trees. Years later, Queen Victoria visited again, quietly remembering her first visit.

John Campbell passed away in 1862 without children, and his titles ended. The estate then went 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)

When the 2nd Marquess died, there was a disagreement over who should inherit the estate. John Alexander Gavin Campbell's claim was challenged, but after a court case, it was decided that he was the rightful heir. He had four children and was a captain in the army. He passed away at age 46.

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

Sir Gavin Campbell was a soldier and a politician. He held many important titles and honors, including Knight of the Garter. In 1872, he married Lady Alma Imogene Graham.

Many royal visitors came to the castle during his time, including Prince Arthur and Prince Leopold (Queen Victoria's sons), Prince George, King Oscar II of Sweden, and Prince Frederick of Hanover. In 1879, former Prime Minister William Gladstone also stayed at Taymouth Castle.

Sir Gavin started a steamboat company on Loch Tay to help his tenants travel and later offered pleasure cruises. In 1888, he was awarded a medal for saving a servant who had fallen into the flooded River Tay.

When he inherited the estate in 1871, it was nearly half a million acres. However, Sir Gavin faced financial problems due to an expensive lifestyle and gambling. He was forced 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, Sir Gavin and his wife left the castle after 50 years. He passed away shortly after, in October 1922, without children. Most of his titles ended with him.

Taymouth Castle Hotel (1922–1940)

The new owners, a hotel company from Glasgow, bought the castle and 520 acres of land, bringing the estate to about 2,000 acres. They planned to turn the castle into a health resort hotel with a new golf course. They also bought fishing and shooting rights. All the castle's furniture and belongings were sold in a huge auction, though the new owners bought some back to keep in the castle.

The hotel opened on June 30, 1923, with about 100 bedrooms. It had modern features like central heating and electricity. It offered music, dancing, tennis courts, and drives to interesting places.

Despite being popular, the hotel company went out of business in March 1926, due to the high costs of converting the castle. The hotel closed in September 1926, and parts of the land were sold off. It reopened for summer seasons in 1927 and 1928. In 1927, the Prince and Princess of Korea visited. The hotel's future was secured when a London company bought it, keeping it as a health resort.

Taymouth Castle Hospital (1940–1948)

During the Second World War, the castle was taken over by the government to help with the war effort. From 1940, it became the No. 1 Polish General Hospital. It was the main Polish hospital in the country, with modern equipment like operating theaters and X-ray machines.

Thousands of Polish patients were treated there over eight years, especially after the battle of Cassino, when over 200 Polish soldiers arrived. At its busiest, it had 1,200 beds and 200 staff. The hospital closed in December 1947.

During its time as a hospital, care was taken to protect the castle's beautiful carved oak walls, doors, marble fireplaces, and stained glass windows by covering them. Many temporary huts were removed from the grounds, but their foundations can still be seen.

Civil Defence Training School (1949–1968)

In February 1949, the government created the Civil Defence Corps, a group of civilian volunteers ready to help in national emergencies, like a nuclear attack. Taymouth Castle became one of three training centers in Scotland. It was designed to train 100 to 150 men and women at a time. The cost of these changes was about £126,000.

When it opened in December 1950, it was described as one of the most modern training centers in the world. It even had a mock 'blitzed village' where trainees could practice rescue operations. The village was built and then partly destroyed to look like a war-torn area, helping volunteers get practical experience.

Volunteers received advanced training in how to deal with atomic, chemical, and biological warfare. The Corps grew to 330,000 people by 1956 but was disbanded in 1968.

Taymouth Castle's role in national defense didn't end there. From 1968, it was a secret location for a plan called PYTHON. This plan meant that in case of a nuclear attack, the government and important people could be moved to secret, protected places around the country. Taymouth Castle was one of these sites.

Speech and Drama School (1982)

In September 1981, it was announced that the Taymouth Castle Residential School of Speech and Drama would start classes in January 1982. They offered courses in acting and puppetry. Not much more is known about these courses, but the castle has been closed and empty since around that time.

The golf course continued to operate separately, but it was also closed for a time while improvements were made.

Restoration Plans (1982–Present)

Even though the castle had many different uses and was taken over by the government, the MacTaggart family, who first turned it into a hotel in 1922, still owned it legally. They tried to sell the estate for many years without success. Famous singers like Madonna and Cher were even rumored to be interested. In 1995, the castle and estate were on the market for £5.5 million.

By 2000, the castle was in bad shape with leaks and rot. It was finally sold to a building group in 2005 for £12 million. Plans to turn it into a "six-star" hotel with 150 rooms were approved. However, progress was slow due to the huge costs and finding enough investment. Millions of pounds were spent to stop the castle from getting worse and to start its conversion. By May 2006, the main buildings were stable, and restoration continued, including new windows, refurbished rooms, and a new roof.

By 2015, work began on hotel suites. By 2016, enough work was done for the castle to host events like weddings and banquets.

In 2019, Discovery Land Company bought the estate. They decided to convert the main castle building into a luxury private members’ clubhouse. The project was completed in November 2024.

Early History of Balloch Castle

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

Before Taymouth Castle, Balloch Castle stood on this site. Here are some of its early owners and events.

Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy (1550–1583)

Sir Colin Campbell, also known as 'Grey Colin' because of his white hair, became the leader of Glenorchy in 1550. One of his first actions was to remove the Clan Gregor from Balloch. In 1552, he built a tower house there, which became Balloch Castle. The name Balloch means 'the house at the narrow pass'. Legend says Sir Colin chose the spot after dreaming he should build where he first heard a blackbird sing.

In 1787, the famous poet Robert Burns wrote about the beauty of Balloch Castle and its lands.

The castle was the main home of Clan Campbell, whose lands once stretched over 100 miles across Scotland. Sir Colin quickly expanded his territory, building or enlarging several castles.

There was a long and bitter rivalry between the Campbells and the Clan Gregor over land. This conflict lasted from 1562 to 1569. In 1570, Sir Colin captured and executed the Clan Gregor chief, Gregor Roy, at Balloch Castle. Gregor's wife wrote a sad song about it. The fighting continued, but a peace agreement was finally reached in 1570.

Sir Colin was known for being a strict judge and for dealing with "lymmars" (rogues). James VI visited Balloch Castle in 1582. Sir Colin had 10 children and passed away in 1583.

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

Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy (1545-1631)

Duncan Campbell was knighted in 1590 and became the 1st Baronet Campbell in 1625. He had 23 children from three marriages. He was known as 'Duncan of the (seven) Castles' because he built so many. He was also called 'Black Duncan'. He was appointed by the King to keep peace between clans, but he was also known for using his power to gain more land. He greatly expanded the family's estate and also extended Balloch Castle.

In 1603, King James VI and I outlawed the Clan Gregor after a battle where they killed many men. It became legal to kill anyone of that name and take their property. Over the next ten years, many Gregors were killed, and their lands were given to the Campbells. Sir Duncan was said to be key in this, leading to many Gregor leaders being killed.

One of Sir Duncan's castles was Finlarig Castle, built in 1629. It had a pit where nobles were executed. The axe used for beheadings was later displayed at Taymouth Castle. Sir Duncan was also a good manager of his estate. He introduced livestock and planted forests, creating Scotland's first managed forest on Drummond Hill.

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

Sir Colin Campbell, the 8th Laird of Glenorchy, was a more peaceful person than his father. He was known for supporting the arts. He repaired and extended family castles, including Balloch Castle, and 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 passed away in 1640 without children.

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

Sir Robert lived during a very difficult time in Highland history. His estates were destroyed during the Scottish Civil War by the forces of the 1st Marquess of Montrose. This left Campbell with huge debts.

One important battle was the Battle of Inverlochy in 1645. The Campbell army was defeated, and about 1,500 of their 2,000 men were killed. Sir Robert had 16 children and passed away 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 passed away 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 was involved in the Massacre of Glencoe, where 38 members of the Clan McDonald were killed by their guests.

Campbell also took part in a royalist uprising and was involved in a plan to bring King James II and VII back to the throne. He was even imprisoned for a time in Edinburgh Castle for talking with Jacobite chiefs, but he was released because he was acting with the King's knowledge.

In 1672, Campbell gained control of some estates and titles in Caithness. He fought a battle called the Battle of Altimarlach to defend his claim, easily defeating his opponent. It's said that so many enemy soldiers were killed that Campbell's men could cross the river on their bodies. This is often called the last true clan battle in Scotland.

The people of Wick, a town in Caithness, disliked Campbell so much that he eventually sold off parts of the town in 1690.

King William III once gave Campbell a huge sum of money, £20,000, to make peace between warring Highland Chiefs. Instead of spending it, Campbell managed to negotiate a deal without using the money. When asked to explain, he famously replied, "Gentlemen - the money is spent, the Highlands are at peace, and that is the only way of accounting among friends."

Campbell was also an early fan of golf, buying golf clubs for his children in 1672. In 1715, he sent 500 of his men to join a Jacobite uprising against the new King George I. Campbell had four children and passed away in 1717.

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

In 1720, John Campbell hired William Adam to redesign the castle and create large formal gardens. Adam's design included six long avenues of trees that met at the castle. Elaborate gardens and orchards were also planted.

John Campbell continued to make changes to the gardens, making them less formal and planting more individual trees. He also planted woodlands on Drummond Hill and Craig Hill. He was Lord Lieutenant of Perthshire. During the Jacobite rising of 1745, he sent a thousand men to fight. He had three children and passed away in 1752.

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

John Campbell oversaw more changes in the 1750s, including building a bridge over the River Tay and Kenmore's church, which dates from 1760. By the 1780s, the formal gardens were replaced with a more natural, picturesque landscape.

John was an important official in the navy and an ambassador to Denmark and Russia. He had four children but no surviving male heir, so his direct family line ended. The title of 4th Earl of Breadalbane and Holland went to his third cousin, John Campbell, who later became the 1st Marquess of Breadalbane. This was the John Campbell who decided to demolish Balloch Castle and build Taymouth Castle in its place.

Images for kids

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  View from the south

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  Chinese bridge

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  View of castle - Photographic print