Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1543791
C O U R T E S Y O F TAY M O U T H C A S T L E , A D I S C OV E R Y L A N D C O M M U N I T Y Originally built in 1801 for Clan Campbell, Taymouth Castle is famed for enchanting rooms like its Chinese drawing room and library (now used as a private dining room), spaces so significant they were listed with Historic Environment Scotland. Yet decades of neglect had left the castle in disrepair, awaiting the right steward to restore its legacy. That legacy includes one of Taymouth Castle's most legendary moments: Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's three-day visit in 1842, her first trip to Scotland. Her hosts spent 80,000 (GBP roughly 8 million in today's value) to prepare for their arrival. The castle became a spectacle of its era, serving meals for 730 people a day, and providing elaborate entertainment, including then-exotic fireworks. Today, Taymouth Castle is once again a place of gathering, though with a different kind of extravagance. Discovery's resort communities are defined by relaxed exclusivity and expert-led outdoor pursuits—here, beyond lesssons on the links, one might try clay pigeon shooting, or stag and hind stalking. What's more, Taymouth Castle offered the brand the rare opportunity to apply that signature ease within a historic setting. "Having realized that it would be part club, some notes of the brief were about what members would expect to see at a Discovery property, whether it was located in Scottsdale or Scotland," says Bingham. "Things like great gathering spaces, rooms dedicated to kids and teens, comfort stations. The goal was never to modernize Taymouth, but to allow it to function beautifully again—to feel warm, coherent, and, of course, luxurious." At Taymouth, rather than starting from scratch, Discovery's task was to honor the myth and memory of what had come before, reviving a landmark estate while making it livable, welcoming, and enduring. For the renovation, Bingham drew inspiration from iconic hotels including the Ritz Paris, the NoMad London, and the August Antwerp. The directive was clear: Taymouth Castle should feel elevated and immersive, but never overly formal. The experience begins on the ground floor, where guests arrive into a warm reception space alongside a tavern-style pub and open kitchen. It's an intentional shift away from museum-like grandeur toward something more convivial. Upstairs, Taymouth Castle's most celebrated rooms unfold: the drawing room, a whiskey bar, private dining spaces, and intimate turrets to enjoy a wine tasting, or tea service. Above it all are nine one-bedroom suites, each designed as a serene retreat. Pale oak chevron floors, cream-toned fabrics, brass accents, and velvet curtains in jewel shades of blue and green create an atmosphere that feels quietly sumptuous rather than showy. And yet, part of Taymouth Castle's magic is FROM TOP The heavily gilded Chinese drawing room and library, left, now used for private events, are so significant that they were listed with Historic Environment Scotland. The team worked with an antiques dealer to track dow n 22 chairs that belonged to Queen Victoria's original dining table, which had been sold and scattered across Scotland. BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M