Drummond Hill – The Black Rock above Kenmore
About 2.8 miles on foot.
Drummond Hill is the long, wooded hill behind Kenmore at the east end of Loch Tay, planted with oak, birch and Scots pine in the 17th century.
A forest trail zigzags up through beech and larch to the Black Rock, a crag with the village, its bridge and the end of Loch Tay right below you. Lunch is at the Courtyard, a few minutes from the car park.
- Time
- About two hours: the Black Rock Trail, 4.5 km from the Drummond Hill car park to the Black Rock viewpoint and back. A walk with a steady climb.
- The path
- Wide, uneven gravel with long moderate slopes and some fairly steep sections.
- Where to start
- Forestry and Land Scotland's Drummond Hill car park, a quarter of a mile from Kenmore (PH15 2HN); free during the day.
- Set off
- From November to February, set off by 1pm to be down in daylight.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. The long Caisteal MacTuathal Trail is closed for windblown trees. The Courtyard asks you to book at weekends.
- Dogs
- Under close control; keep back from the edge at the viewpoint.
- Children
- Fine for children who can climb for an hour; keep back from the edge at the viewpoint.
- Toilets
- At the Mains of Taymouth courtyard in Kenmore, a quarter of a mile away.
- Before you set out
- The Caisteal MacTuathal Trail is closed for windblown trees: keep to the Black Rock Trail.
The walk
The walk starts at Forestry and Land Scotland's Drummond Hill car park, signed Drummond Hill Forest Walks from the A827 on the north side of Kenmore, a quarter of a mile from the village (nearest postcode PH15 2HN). Parking is free during the day. The Black Rock Trail is 4.5 km, about two hours, and the forest's owners grade it strenuous: wide, uneven gravel with long moderate slopes for up to a mile and some fairly steep bits.
It zigzags up through beech and larch to the Black Rock viewpoint. From the rock Kenmore sits right below, with its church, its bridge over the Tay and Loch Tay running away west. Keep children and dogs back from the edge at the viewpoint.
The forest's longest trail, to the Pictish hill fort of Caisteal MacTuathal, is closed after windblown trees fell across the path, so stay on the Black Rock Trail. Toilets are at the Mains of Taymouth courtyard in the village.
If it rains
Under the trees most of the way, but the view from the Black Rock goes in low cloud: on a wet day walk the lower forest tracks instead and go straight to lunch.
Afterwards
The Courtyard Brasserie & Bar
Lunch
Lunch is at the Courtyard Brasserie and Bar at Mains of Taymouth, a couple of minutes' drive down into Kenmore. It serves lunch every day from noon, children are welcome, and well-behaved dogs can come into the bar and out to the tables outside, though dog space in the bar is limited, so say when you book. Booking is essential at weekends, on 01887 830886 or on its website.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is The House at Dun Aluinn, 5 miles away. Sleeps 18.
Book the Courtyard Brasserie & Bar
Book a table at the Courtyard on 01887 830886 or online, and say if a dog is coming; booking is essential at weekends.
Where to eat
The Courtyard Brasserie & Bar, a restaurant in Kenmore.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by Anna Adamska via Google