The multimillion-pound redevelopment of Taymouth Castle is seldom far from the news. The Victorian landmark, and its surrounding golf course and estate, was bought by Discovery Land Company in 2019. But the launch of an online petition against the US developer’s plans catapulted this sleepy corner of Perthshire into the limelight last summer.
The Protect Loch Tay petition, labelling DLC “a group of American billionaires who specialise in exclusive gated ‘worlds’ for the super rich”, has since garnered more than 160,000 signatures. And Taymouth Castle and the neighbouring village of Kenmore have found themselves the focus of intense global scrutiny Just last week it emerged Perth and Kinross Council was investigating fresh allegations of unauthorised work by the developers. But it’s just the latest in a line of controversies around the Taymouth Castle takeover in recent months.
Fears that public access to the estate will be curtailed have been high among protesters’ grievances. And in August, Taymouth Castle chiefs told The Courier they remain “fully committed to honouring the letter and spirit of Scotland’s open access laws”. after Ramblers Scotland raised concerns about draft access plans lodged with Perth and Kinross Council.
The maps appeared to show missing paths and large areas of the estate sectioned off as “curtilage”. That’s the term given to land immediately around an individual property, where access can be denied. Discovery Land Company ha.