The Estate will not be a gated community. We are fully committed to the letter and spirit of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the public’s right to roam. When the project is complete, the core path network will be restored as closely as possible to its original state.
There are approximately 7.3km of core paths on the Taymouth Castle Estate. Core path diversions have been approved by the Perth and Kinross Council for the safety of visitors and to facilitate the construction work. Please find the current construction-related diversions here or visit our News page for further updates.
The project currently directly employs more than 200 people, plus contracted workers. 90% of these individuals live in Scotland, many of them locally. We estimate that an additional 200 third-party service providers will work across the Estate.
We understand that the region already faces a shortage of workforce housing, and we continue to look for opportunities to expand the availability of affordable options.
People who live locally are already employed on the Estate. To create additional housing, we have fully renovated the Gatehouse, Am Fasgadh, Brae units, Police House, and other facilities within Kenmore.
The Estate has also acquired Moness Resort with the goal of expanding access to workforce housing. When not utilised for hospitality, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom cottages at Moness Resort will be used as staff accommodation.
Over the past several months, we have undertaken a number of initiatives to keep our neighbours apprised of our activities and progress on the property.
For example, every quarter we send local residents a direct mail newsletter with updates on our activities. We participate in regular meetings with the local and neighbouring community councils. We have also held a meeting for Kenmore residents, which included a presentation by our GM and an opportunity for questions from attendees.
We welcomed a dedicated, full-time community relations manager to our team who meets with local businesses and residents to share information and answer any questions. The welcometotaymouth.com website is kept updated with regular news posts, the latest maps of the project and other timely information.
As we have seen at other Discovery Land Company properties, we anticipate that new homeowners will enjoy being a part of the community and supporting local businesses.
To improve safety, we are making several roadway and utility improvements within the Estate, all of which follow approved plans. A new West Access Road has been created just before Kenmore Beach. Once open, this road will minimise additional traffic entering Kenmore itself.
In response to local community needs, a new cycle path running parallel to Drummond Hill Road has been created. This not only improves road safety but also extends the existing cycle and pedestrian route from Kenmore. The project was carried out in cooperation with the Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust.
After conducting a detailed survey of the property, we determined that very little maintenance work, if any, has been completed in the past 70 years, and significant tree management is required to preserve the natural landscape and historic and important trees. Our team is working closely with an expert arboriculture consultant to remove dead, dying, and potentially hazardous trees and invasive plants that are threatening native habitats.
We have been working closely with Perth and Kinross Council Tree and Woodland officers and the planning department to take into account the Designed Landscape designation by Historic Environment Scotland.
To safeguard the Estate’s outstanding natural environment and wildlife, we are working closely with two ecology consultants who have surveyed the Estate and the Loch as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
We are in close contact with NatureScot regarding our planning applications, and we are working closely with experts to protect and enhance wildlife across the Estate. For example, we have engaged a respected veterinary surgeon specialising in deer health to help us monitor and, where possible, improve the health and habitat of the population of roe and red deer on the Estate. We have also conducted surveys of beaver, fox, otter and red squirrel populations and habitat, so they may be protected.
We are also working closely with Environmental Consultants, Gavia and Tay Ecology, to ensure that appropriate measures and precautions are in place to protect the varied fauna on site, including the enhancement of both bat and bird populations.
Fly fishing for trout is permitted from the north bank of the river between Kenmore Bridge and Chinese Bridge. All catches should be reported online and include the location, species, length and weight of fish. This will permit us to secure accurate information relating to the health and number of fish in Estate waters. To preserve fish stocks, we request that all fish be returned to the river unharmed.
Daily trout fishing permit applications can be made online here.
Local residents in the Kenmore area can apply to purchase a Seasonal pass here.
People who seek to fish for salmon will have to do so outside of the Estate. We apologise if this creates an inconvenience.
Yes. We purchased the Glenlyon Estate in 2022. There will be no change in use from the previous owner.
The Kenmore Hotel, the Village Shop and post office, Taymouth Trading, Brae Cottages, Am Fasgadh & Gatehouse, Paper Boat, Police House, St. Margaret’s & Willowbank, Nurses Cottage, and Boathouse cottages are owned by DLC or entities affiliated with DLC.
The Kenmore Hotel requires extensive upgrades to comply with current building control standards. Essential measures have been taken to preserve the building’s structure; however, the full refurbishment is still in the planning stages, and a reopening date has yet to be confirmed.
Following its closure by the previous owner, the Kenmore village shop was refurbished and reopened in early 2024, now operated by Ballintaggart.
Current plans include a restaurant and pub, open to the public. The full refurbishment is still in the planning stages, and a reopening date has yet to be confirmed.
Significant progress has been made across the Estate, with the successful completion of a number of key restoration and development projects. The main Castle and West Wing have undergone full restoration, bringing these historic buildings back to their former glory. The East Gate has also been completely refurbished, and a state-of-the-art water treatment plant has been installed to modernise essential infrastructure.
Elsewhere on the Estate, the front nine holes of the golf course have been completed. In addition, the nearby Deer Park Bridge has been carefully renovated and fitted with new railings.
Additionally, a tree nursery has been developed to supply native plant stock, which is being used to support the extensive replanting programme taking place across the Estate.
Several new planning consents have been secured to support the Estate. Temporary offices, laundry facilities, storage areas, and recycling units have been approved for the rear of the Castle, ensuring the smooth running of daily operations. Consent has also been granted for the temporary installation of an outdoor kitchen and spa area, providing additional amenities.
The refurbishment of the Dairy, which will be transformed into the new Golf Clubhouse, has also received planning approval. Finally, consent has been secured for the reinstatement of the borrow pit, following the conclusion of its use for sand extraction. This measure will help reduce the need for material haulage from the Central Belt.
In 2023, an investment group affiliated with Taymouth Estate acquired Moness Resort, a popular hotel, restaurant and spa in Aberfeldy. The proposed plan will allow select cottages to serve a dual purpose of both holiday rentals for Moness guests and residential staff accommodation for Taymouth Castle employees. This initiative is designed to tackle the shortage of accommodation in the area while maximising cottage occupancy.
Moness Resort’s facilities, including the hotel, restaurants, bar, spa, and leisure areas, will remain fully operational and unaffected by this proposal. Additionally, the plan will not result in any changes to current staff numbers.
Presently, the cottages are not fully occupied throughout the year. Full occupancy should support local economic activity overall, particularly during the winter months when fewer people come to the area on holiday.
We are committed to ensuring Taymouth Estate lives in harmony with Scotland’s rich culture and traditions, the local community, and the natural beauty of the region. Here is how we intend to make this a reality:
We will honour the letter and spirit of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2023.
There are approximately 3.8km of core paths on the Taymouth Castle Estate. When the project is complete, visitors will have access to new amenities, such as water stations, toilets and pet rest areas.
We will protect, preserve, and improve the landscape and natural surroundings.
We will continue to work with tree experts to assess, protect, and replant historic and native trees across the Estate. We will remove invasive vegetation that threatens the natural habitat.
We are committed to the welfare of native wildlife and have a long-term plan to ensure the health, safety and sustainability of all fauna at Taymouth Castle.
Our team of specialists will conduct thorough wildlife censuses to provide recommendations for their protection and welfare.
Throughout the design and construction, we will prioritise renewable energy sources to maximise recycling, limit water use, and minimise the Estate’s carbon footprint.
We will harness renewable energy sources, cutting-edge heat and energy recovery technologies, and natural materials wherever feasible. We aim to surpass conventional methods, adopting innovative strategies to conserve water and energy and reduce waste.
We will work to protect and preserve the quality of the River Tay
We are working to remove existing sources of pollution and invasive species while monitoring fish stocks and maintaining the grounds in a manner that eliminates runoff.
We will restore historic and listed structures using original materials, techniques and specialised craftspeople wherever possible.
Working with experts in restoration, preservation, and architecture, in accordance with planning regulations we are restoring Taymouth Castle and historic structures, bridges, and historical objects on the Estate. All restorations seek to meet or surpass Historic Scotland’s standards.
Commercial properties affiliated with Taymouth Estate in Kenmore Village will be renovated, restored and reopened to the public.
After considered refurbishment, the public toilets, Village Shop, Taymouth Trading and Kenmore Hotel will be reopened to the public.
We will continue to engage with the local community to share plans, address questions, and listen to suggestions and concerns.
We commit to meeting with nearby community councils and elected officials, share and update information through the community website and newsletter, and engage with local people
To stay updated on the progress of the development, please see our news section for updates.