Places of Interest
Clan MacThomas Gathering Ground
Rocking Stone and other historic stones in the area
Clan MacThomas Gathering Ground
Located to the west of the A93, some 7 miles north of Bridge of Cally is the traditional gathering ground of the clan MacThomas. Members of the Clan MacThomas Society gather on the third weekend each August to swear allegiance to the clan chief as he stands on the Cock Stane.
The clan left Glenshee long ago. The story surrounding the clan's dispersal goes as follows:
Taxmen were never the most welcome of visitors to the glens. Once they went to collect taxes from the house at Forter in Glenisla. The man of the house had died and the widow was unable to pay the tax demanded. The taxmen made off with what belongings she had. Distraught, she sent a servant to the clan MacOmish in Glenshee for help. On finding out what had happened, the chief of the clan, MacCombie Mhor gathered a band of men and headed down the Glen. He met the tax collectors crossing a ford and an argument developed which broke into a fight. One of the tax collectors was killed, some were injured and the rest surrendered. Ill advisedly one of the taxmen shouted "MacCombie Mhor, we are the King's men and will bear witness against you". "There will be no witnesses" came the reply. MacCombie instructed his men to kill all the tax collectors and he then ordered them to be beheaded and the heads to be thrown in the burn. They say that he then roared down the Glen "Now swim back to your masters in Edinburgh and tell them what happens to thieves they send to Glenshee".
For this crime, the MacOmish were eventually pursued and driven out of the Glen. Because of the persecution most of the surviving clansmen changed their names to MacThomas, Thomson, Thoms or Thomas.
Dirnanean Garden
Regenerating the vestiges of a traditional Victorian Scottish garden a family affair; perhaps Scotland’s Heligan
- Extensive lawns with shrubbery including some unusual ornamental trees towered over by a huge Wellingtonia (6.9m girth)
- Walled garden with herbaceous border Form garden – or what you can do with a rockery
- Vegetable garden and orchard
- Taj Mahal – or what you can do with the site of a long gone greenhouse Brand new greenhouse and potager
- Conservatory with collection of scented leaf Pelargoniums Display of old garden and estate tools
- Peacocks and mad poultry
Over the next few years the Burn Walk which is over a mile long is being restored and the policies are being replanted.
11.00 am to 5.30 pm everyday (except Mondays and Tuesdays) to August 28th
Autumn colour weekend October 22nd and 23rd
Dirnanean Enochdhu Blairgowrie Perthshire PH10 7PD
Tel 01250 881400
Listed in VisitScotland Perthshire gardens alongside other glorious gardens in the county.
