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Lot Essay
In this sunset view of Loch Tay, the viewpoint is taken from a path leading along the riverbank from Taymouth Castle towards the village of Kenmore. The loch is flanked by hills, Ben Lawers is seen on the right and in the distance the twin peaks of Ben More and Stobian are visible.
Perthshire's largest loch, Loch Tay is sixteen miles long and at its widest point is over a mile across. The village of Kenmore grew up at the point where the River Tay leaves the loch, close to Taymouth Castle, the principal seat of the Campbells of Glenorchy, later Earls of Breadalbane, one of Scotland's most important landowning familes. Although the present building largely dates from the early 19th Century, Taymouth stands on the site of Balloch Castle which was built in 1550 for Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert stayed in this Gothic Castle 1842 and inspired by their trip to the Highlands acquired Balmoral shortly after.
John, 3rd Earl of Breadalbane, built Kenmore Church, which dates from 1760, and in 1774 he constructed the bridge, both of which are visible in this picture. The view from the bridge inspired Robert Burns to write his poem, in pencil, on the chimney-piece of the Kenmore Inn:
The Tay meand'ring sweet in infant pride,
the palace rising on its verdant side,
The lawns wood-fring'd in Nature's native task,
the hillocks dropt in Nature's careless haste,
The arches striding o'er the newborn stream,
the village glist'ning in the noontide beam.
Perthshire's largest loch, Loch Tay is sixteen miles long and at its widest point is over a mile across. The village of Kenmore grew up at the point where the River Tay leaves the loch, close to Taymouth Castle, the principal seat of the Campbells of Glenorchy, later Earls of Breadalbane, one of Scotland's most important landowning familes. Although the present building largely dates from the early 19th Century, Taymouth stands on the site of Balloch Castle which was built in 1550 for Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert stayed in this Gothic Castle 1842 and inspired by their trip to the Highlands acquired Balmoral shortly after.
John, 3rd Earl of Breadalbane, built Kenmore Church, which dates from 1760, and in 1774 he constructed the bridge, both of which are visible in this picture. The view from the bridge inspired Robert Burns to write his poem, in pencil, on the chimney-piece of the Kenmore Inn:
The Tay meand'ring sweet in infant pride,
the palace rising on its verdant side,
The lawns wood-fring'd in Nature's native task,
the hillocks dropt in Nature's careless haste,
The arches striding o'er the newborn stream,
the village glist'ning in the noontide beam.