Kenmore Walks

Black Rock walk, Kenmore

The reward for this excellent Kenmore walk is a fabulous view over the village of Kenmore from Black Rock. It is well signed posted with a gentle climb up well maintained paths and forest roads. You have a choice of walking straigh up Drummond Hill toe Black Rock in which case it is a 3 mile walk or you can take the more leisurely route which is 4.5 miles in length.

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).