By Richard Burdge

RUMOURS THAT the multi- million project to breathe new life into Taymouth Castle has finally faltered are rife in Highland Perthshire.

Originally due to have opened as a hotel this month, it is understood that a continuing financial crisis has thrown the ambitious plans into serious jeopardy.

Concerns that the £74 million plan to create a six-star hotel and leisure complex centred on the A-listed castle at Kenmore had run into financial difficulties first came to the surface a year ago when work ground to a halt.

With little visible progress in the intervening period the fears have grown, fuelled by the developers apparently having gone to ground.

After winning planning permission, redevelopment of the castle by the Taymouth Group Ltd got under way with a fanfare in 2005 and the company then embarked on the first step of an ambitious programme of refurbishment which has ensured that the building is now in a better state of repair than it has been for many decades.

But over the past year news of progress dried up and Perth and Kinross Council and other local people with an interest in the project found it increasingly difficult to contact the developers.

The Courier spoke briefly last week to John French, a director of the Taymouth Group, who said he was unable to talk as he was in a meeting but that he would issue a statement to clarify the situation. No statement was forthcoming and subsequent efforts to speak to Mr French were unsuccessful.

The stalling of the ambitious plans has come as a blow to the community who not only benefited from the ongoing refurbishment work, but were relishing the prospect of much-needed employment in the long-term.

“We are disappointed that it has come to a standstill, we just hope it will start up again in the near future,” said James Duncan Millar, chairman of Kenmore and District Community Council. We hope all the good work that has been done will bear fruit in the future.”

Mr Duncan Millar said a lot of money had been spent on the restoration but the community council had been having problems contacting the developer to find out what was going on.

While hopes remain that the standstill will prove to be a temporary setback, indications that things were not proceeding to plan came earlier this month when Kenmore Hotel was given the opportunity to take over the management of Taymouth Castle Golf Club.

The 18-hole course designed by James Braid which has views up Loch Tay has always been seen as an integral part of the plans.

The project which appears to have lost momentum—and may need to be placed back on the market—originally included a new north wing with 72 luxury suites and a health spa and holiday lodges.

The seat of the Campbells of Breadalbane, Taymouth Castle played host to Queen Victoria on an early visit to Scotland.

It was requisitioned as a hospital for Polish servicemen during the second world war and used as a school in the 1960s but had lain empty since 1975, until the hotel plan surfaced.