The North Terrace

Continuing along the terrace you will come to the Star Battery. This is a fake gun emplacement. It was used during Queen Victorias visits to give a 21 gun salute (one of the cannon can now be found in the village square). You will also find on the big beech trees names carved during the last war by Poles billeted at the Castle. There are some very fine specimen coniferous trees around this area.

Just past the Star Battery is the area known as Inchadney. When the Castle was built in the 1500's the Breadalbanes moved the whole village lock stock and barrel from this area to its current site. It is thought that the village was sited here because it offers one of the few crossing places on the Tay where it is possible to wade the river.

The North Terrace walk starts at the Kenmore Bridge (north side) and follows the river eastwards past the caravan park. There are nice views back through the bridge towards the loch. The Hotel pool is a popular fishing spot and in the winter months salmon can often be seen spawning in the tail of the pool. Otters are very occaisionally seen in this pool during quieter months.

The pool here is still called the Ford. Routes from here would have connected to Rannoch, Killin, Dunkeld and the Sma' Glen, so it would have been an important junction. Some old maps even show stange structures across the river at this point. They may have been fish traps or just crossing points or both. Don't try to wade the river today as it can be dangerous unless you know what you are doing!

After 300m on a small rise you will find Maxwell's Tower - a tall folly. This is a good vantage point to look back on the village. From this point on mature beech trees line the walk. Many of these trees are over 300 years old. Features, lying between the North Terrace and the river include the Elysian Field. This was once an ornamental park. Close to the river you will find the Ladies Pool

The original plans for the Castle grounds intended that the walk should continue from here right down to the River Lyon. Today the track links to the back road. There are still some fine beech trees, but the avenue was never completed.

If you want to continue your walk from here you can connect with the forest walks on Drummond Hill or double back to the Chinese Bridge and then follow the walks along the South Terrace. There are still some remains of the Newhall bridge which used to connect to the South Terrace. This bridge is now unsafe so please do not try to cross it.

Half way along the terrace is the Chinese Bridge, a small car park (on the grounds of the original church) and to one side the Rock Lodge. The story goes that Lord Breadalbane kept a chinese concubine in the Rock Lodge and had the Chinese Bridge built so that he might visit her more easily! There was once a white seat overlooking the Bridge and the Castle. Kingfishers are known to nest in this area, but are only rarely seen. Dippers, herons, and mallards are commonly seen. In summer evenings watch out for the many bats that hunt along the river.

Mature planting and natural regeneration of trees and shrubs obscure views in many locations, including at planned viewpoints. The Estate is currently putting together a management plan to re-open some of these views.