The Sites of Clan MacNab

Clan MacNab commanded their territory with strength and passion. The family were deeply connected to their land, and proud of their strongholds, so we think exploring the places they have called home for centuries is the perfect way to get to know the MacNabs better! 

To start, we’d like to take you right back to the very beginning.  

Clan MacNab are thought to have some very holy ancestors. It is believed that their progenitor, Abaruadh the Abbot of Glendochart, was the nephew of the renowned St Fillan. 

St Fillan was an 8th century Irish monk who was much admired for his rumoured spiritual capabilities. People would travel from far and wide to benefit from his healing powers, and it is even said that his left arm emitted a supernatural glow that allowed him to study scripture in the darkness of night.  

There are many marks of his great influence still left in the MacNab’s territory today.   

You can find the ruins of St Fillan’s priory at the foot of the scenic hills to the north side of Strathfillan, halfway between Tyndrum and Crianlarich. While it is largely derelict, parts of the original north and south walls are still standing, and the foundations of the other walls remain visible under a covering of moss and grass. 

St Fillan’s Priory Ruins, Strathfillan- Credit: Andrew Bowden

If you walk 5 minutes up the hill past the priory, you will come across St Fillan’s pool, and if you visit the Old Mill Museum in Killin, you can see a set of stones pulled from the water thought to have been given healing powers by the saint.  

The pool itself was also used in frequent rituals attempting to cure the ill and suffering, though the method certainly sounds unconventional! The patient would be submerged in the water, before having their hands and feet bound, and being left in the churchyard overnight. It is said that they would then be blessed with a surge of strength, allowing them to escape the ties, and finding themselves cured in the morning. Sadly, the story goes that the pool lost its powers in the 19th century, when a farmer sought treatment for an unruly bull.  

While Killin is definitely the place to visit if you’d like to see St Fillan’s old stomping ground, you can also find a fascinating relic of his in Edinburgh!  

‘The Bernane,’ a bronze bell that once belonged to him, is displayed in the National Museum of Scotland, and is linked to numerous intriguing and supernatural tales. Legend has it that St Fillan would use this instrument to heal those suffering from mental ailments by placing it over their heads. It is believed that the bell would go flying through the air on its own accord when St Fillan called for it.  

Having such a powerful ancestor definitely goes some way in explaining Clan MacNab’s fearsome spirit and strength!  

Now we have explored the lands of one of MacNab’s most significant forebearers, let’s discover a few of the clan’s ancestral seats.  

Clan MacNab’s first castle stood on the island of Eilean Ran, an enviable position that commanded the strategic Port of Ran at the mouth of the River Lochay. It was burned by Cromwell’s forces in 1654 to punish the MacNabs for fighting as Royalists in the English Civil War. 

Luckily, the resilient Clan MacNab soon found another home and moved to Kinnell House on the other side of the River Lochay the following year. 

Kinnell House was made with striking white-harled walls, meaning they were fortified with lime mortar mixed with small stones to protect the great building from the harsh Scottish weather. However, while the clan seat was undeniably designed with practicality in mind, there was also thought of leisure, as it boasted an impressive walled garden.  

Kinnell House- Credit: Clan Macnab Society

The house was set within the South-Eastern wall of the garden and used the traditional form of a Scottish castle, with a central projecting gable. The MacNabs did make sure to flaunt their status in a few ways though, as Kinnell notably had a 5-bay form, setting it apart from the more common 3-bay houses of its type. The grounds also included a stylish vinery glasshouse, which was home to a huge black Hamburg vine which was brought from Auchlyne in 1832.  

The interior was equally impressive, adorned with such sophisticated features as a timber turnpike staircase and 6-panel timber doors. Parts of the décor paid tribute to key tales in the clan’s history, such as plaster heads displayed above classical columns in the library, which are thought to represent the heads that the MacNab sons brought back from their infamous battle with Clan MacNeish.  

Kinnell was held by the MacNabs until 1978, when it was sold to another private owner.  

As we come to the end of this tour of Clan MacNab sites, we feel that we have saved the best for last. The island Innis Bhuidhe is located by the stunning Falls of Dochart in Killin and contains the ancient burial ground of Clan MacNab, a beautiful and spiritual place.  

The site is near the Bridge of Dochart and set within a tranquil walled enclosure. You can access it via an iron gate and some ancient stone steps, though you will need to get the key for the gate from the local tourist information centre. 

Innis Bhuidhe- Credit: Tom Pennington / CC BY-SA 2.0

There are nine chiefs buried there, including one marked by a West Highland effigy, and a series of further graves to the east marking the resting place of less senior clan members.  

Innis Bhuidhe itself is also extremely historically significant. It is home to two Iron Age forts, their foundations still discernible, which are protected as ancient monuments.  

The burial closure, along with the entrance wall and arches, are listed as being of historic interest by Historic Scotland.  

The chief of Clan MacNab officially gifted Innis Bhuidhe to the MacNab Memorial Trust in 1987 to contribute to its preservation and restoration. The hope is that this ancient, spiritual place will remain in MacNab hands in perpetuity, so that the clan can continue to visit and pay respects to their ancestors.  

We hope you have enjoyed exploring a few notable MacNab sites with us! If you are looking for a way to connect with your heritage, planning a visit to Killin would be perfect. If you do, be sure to let us know, we would love to hear about your travels!  

 

In the meantime, why not head to our Clan MacNab page to learn more about the fascinating Clan MacNab.

Image Sources:

St Fillan’s priory ruins, Strathfillan- Andrew Bowden

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_remains_of_St_Fillan%27s_Priory.jpg

Kinnell House- Clan Macnab Society

https://www.clanmacnabsociety.com/?lightbox=dataItem-k6pstobv

Innis Bhuidhe - Tom Pennington / Clan McNab Burial Ground / CC BY-SA 2.0

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inchbuie.jpg

Cover Page Image- MacNab burial Ground-N Chadwick / CC BY-SA 2.0

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Entrance_to_Burial_Grounds,_Innis_Bhuidhe_(geograph_6986827).jpg