>> Local Walks >> Drummond Hill
This walk from the village of Kenmore or forest car park. The walk is through Scotland's Oldest Managed forests planted by Black Duncan the Laird of Breadalbane in the 17th Century.
The Drummond Hill Walk has a choice of two walks. The longer is 4.5miles or about 3miles for the shorter route. The 4.5 miles walk rewards you with of an absolutely fabulous view on the village of Kenmore from Black Rock.
The walks are way-marked, the good paths are maintained by the Forestry Commission of Scotland. If you follow the route in the direction indicated by the trail it gives you a very gentle climb to Black Rock Viewpoint. If you are short of time you can walk straight up the forestry road, this route is steeper but shorter.
Pitlochry ScotlandThe start of this walk is a very short distance from The Mains of Taymouth Courtyard on the back road that takes you from Kenmore to the B846 Weem toTummel Road.
Turn in at the Forestry Sign marked 'Drummond Hill'. Those with cars will find a large car park. There are also a couple of good information plaques in the car park about the walks options.
Drummond Hill is one of Scotland's Oldest Managed forests, having first been planted by Black Duncan the Laird of Breadalbane in the 17th Century. The Forestry Commission of Scotland was created in 1919 after the first World War. Its purpose was to manage and replenish timber after the huge amount used in the war. Drummond Hill is also home to the Capercaille, Britain's largest Game Bird. If you are very very lucky you might see one. We also saw butterflies, dragonfly and various birds in the trees as we walked.
View from Black Rock on Drummond HillThe viewpoint is superb - we met a couple on holiday from Suffolk who said Suffolk has some nice views but "Drummond Hill was Superb"!
The couple told us, they had been to Switzerland which has similar breathtaking views. They said walks in Switzerland are very busy with lots of other walkers. The experience was that walking in Scotland you generally have the path to yourself. Only very occasionally meeting other walkers.
So as you walk up Drummond Hill it is worth remembering that this Kenmore walk has a long history of forestation, going back to the early 16th century when Sir Duncan Campbell - 'Black Duncan' (on account of his reputation of being ruthless), who ordered that Drummond Hill be planted with oak, birch and pine, thereby creating Scotland's first managed forest.
In the early 19th century it was feared that the Scottish Capercaille, the largest member of the grouse family, was extinct in Scotland. So birds were introduced from Sweden in 1837 to Drummond Hill and their descendents have remained there to this day. So if you are quiet as you walk along the Kenmore walk, you might be very lucky and spot a Capercaille. (It is interesting to note that it is now thought the Scottish Capercaillie were not extinct in Scotland, as recent DNA has shown that the Capercaillie on Loch Lomond, to have a different DNA from the introduced Swedish birds).