skip to main content
Menu
  • Blog
    • Art & design
    • Castles
    • Cycling
    • Edinburgh
    • Edinburgh Festival
    • Food & drink
    • General
    • History
    • Music
    • Sport
    • Walking
    • Whisky
    • Wildlife
  • Castles
    • Glossary
    • Mottes
    • Stay in a castle
    • Castle blog posts
    • Alphabetical list of castles
    • Castles divided by county
    • Photos of castles
    • Castles we've visited
  • History
    • Castles
    • Ancient history
      • barrows
      • brochs
      • cairns
      • caves
      • chambered cairns
      • cists
      • crannogs
      • cursus monuments
      • forts
      • henges
      • rock art
      • sacred sites
      • souterrains
      • standing stones
      • stone circles
    • Pictish history
      • Pictish stones
      • Pictish sites
      • Pictish placenames
    • Clans
      • Surnames
      • Trace your ancestors
      • Tartan
    • Trace your ancestors
  • Culture
    • Music
      • Bands & musicians
      • Music links
    • Film
    • Television
    • Placenames
      • Pictish placenames
  • Eat
  • Drink
    • Scottish beer
    • Scottish gin
    • Scottish vodka
  • Stay
  • Travel guide
    • City guides
    • Car hire
    • Airports
  • Walking
    • Munros
    • West Highland Way
  • Photos
  • Offers
  • Home
  • history
  • castles
Tom-nam-brach

Tom-nam-brach or Tom-na-brach was a fortified site belonging to the Earls of Strathearn in the 12th or 13th centuries on the lands of Fendoch.

There is a reference to an old “castle” on this site in antiquarian notes from 1783, the last stones of which were removed in that year to build a nearby bridge over the River Almond. The castle stood at the western end of an earthwork on a hill named Tom-nam-brach and was said to be around 55m in circumference, perhaps suggesting a round shape.

Today the mound is still visible rising from a wide, largely flat area of land on a slight ridge to the south of the road through Glenalmond. Below the mound is a pile of stones, some of which are quite sizeable. They may be partially field clearance however they do appear to be arranged in a curve arcing out from the east edge of the mound towards the north.

Tom-nam-brach

While most of the stones are rounded boulders of varying sizes there is one rectangular dressed stone visible.

Tom-nam-brach

Tom-nam-brach

On the north side and west sides, above the road, there is what may be evidence of terracing below the mound.

Tom-nam-brach

The site is of strategic importance, being located at the west end of lower Glenalmond where there’s a junction of sorts between the main north to south road from Crieff up through the Sma’ Glen to Aberfeldy and Dunkeld and an old route from Loch Tay in the west to Perth in the east. It is situated high above the River Almond with commanding views up the Sma’ Glen.

The mound is recorded on Canmore with the name of Dallick however the land on which it stands is actually Fendoch. An apparent tower named Dallyk is marked on Pont’s late 16th century map of South Strathearn, however this seems to be quite clearly placed to the north of the Almond and to the west of Alt Douny moir (presumably the Dunie Burn). I believe this may represent an earlier building on the site now occupied by Dallick House. Dallick may just have been applied to the mound by Historic Environment Scotland due to its position opposite Dallick House and it is unlikely to have been called Dallick historically.

Tom-nam-brach

South StrathearnTimothy Pont, c. 1583 – 1596map image courtesy of NLS

By the early 13th century the lands of Fendoch seem to have been owned by Duncan, son of Malise. His son, Conal or Conghal, received the villa of Catherlavenach from Robert, Earl of Strathearn. Conal married Ada, daughter of Ralf or Radulf, and they had two daughters and co-heiresses, Muriella or Muriel and Maria or Mary. Muriel married Malise, Earl of Strathearn, taking with her half of Tullibardine, “the lands of Buchanty, &c., being the half of Finach” and part of Lethendy. The corresponding halves of these lands went to Maria.

In 1284 Maria granted her half of Tullibardine to her niece, Ada, the daughter of Muriel and Malise, who was married to Sir William Murray and so Tullibardine passed into the Murray family.

The last Earl of Strathearn, Walter Stewart, was executed in 1437 following his involvement in the murder of his nephew, James I. In 1443 Sir David Murray of Tullibardine received a charter of the lands of Fynnach in Glenalmond from his cousin, Robert Duncanson of Struan, which the following year were incorporated into the barony of Tullibardine by James II.

By 1450 Sir David was Bailie of the Earldom of Strathearn and Keeper of Methven Castle. Following Sir David’s death in 1451 or 1452 he was succeeded by his son, William Murray of Tullibardine, who like his father was Bailie of the Earldom of Strathearn but also Shield Bearer to the King, Sheriff of Perth and Keeper of Doune Castle (from 1456 to 1458).

In 1456 William received a fresh charter of the barony of Tullibardine from James II, which stated that “the lands of Fynach are granted in free Forest according to the meiths and marches following – namely, beginning at the Burn of Corrymorgil and so passing by the water of Almond as the said water runs to the Mill of St. Mavene and thence to the Burn called Connachon.”

In 1613 various lands in Perthshire, including the lands of Eister, Wester and Myddill Fyndoch with the forest of Fyndoche, were granted by John Murray, 1st Earl of Tullibardine, and his son William, to Patrick Lyon, 1st Earl of Kinghorne, the husband of John’s daughter, Anne. James VI granted the same lands in Perthshire to Patrick Murray, son of John Murray, 1st Earl of Tullibardine, in 1622. The grant was re-confirmed in 1624 and in 1631 Patrick granted the same lands to his second wife Elizabeth Dent, Countess of Tullibardine.

Fendoch remained in the Murray family as part of their Glenalmond estate until the early 19th century when the estate was broken up and sold by John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl. In 1807 the Duke sold Wester, Mid and Easter Fendoch, Tomnacroiche and parts of Newton and Craignafarar, to his cousin, Charles Moray Stirling of Abercairny, for £10,500.

Later in the 19th century possible Romano-British or Romano-Belgic metalwork dating to the late 1st or early 2nd century AD was found around 700m to the east of the site and Fendoch Roman fort is around 600m to the south-east. The mound is now within farmland associated with Fort Cottage, named after the nearby Roman fort.

stay in a castle
  • advertisement/

Alternative names for Tom-nam-brach

Feandoche; Feannach; Fendoch; Fendoche; Finach; Fynach; Fyndoch; Fynnach; Fynnache; Tom-na-brach; Tom-nam-broch

Clans associated with Tom-nam-brach

Murray

Surnames associated with Tom-nam-brach

Crichton

Murray

Where is Tom-nam-brach?

Tom-nam-brach is in the parish of Fowlis Wester and the county of Perthshire.

Grid reference: NN 9135 2849

Lat / long: 56.436090, -3.763551

  • advertisement
Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Tom-nam-brach

OS map OL47
Crieff, Comrie & Glen Artney (Strathearn & Auchterarder)
OS Explorer map OL47


OS map 379
Dunkeld, Aberfeldy & Glen Almond
OS Explorer map 379


Directions to Tom-nam-brach

Enter a starting point

  • Beer Gifts from Beer Hawk
  • advertisement

Weather at Tom-nam-brach

9°C
max 9°C / min 9°C
6km/h NW
1026mb
83%
89%
03:24 21:08

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Perth and Kinross at 00:47

References (books)

Chronicles of the Atholl and Tullibardine Families (Volume I)
John Stewart-Murray
Edinburgh, 1908
Chronicles of the Atholl and Tullibardine Families (Volume IV)
John Stewart-Murray
Edinburgh, 1908
Native Lordship in Medieval Scotland
Cynthia J. Neville
Dublin, 2005
The formation of the parish unit and community in Perthshire
John Malcolm Rogers
Edinburgh, 1992
The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland A.D. 1424-1513
James Balfour Paul
Edinburgh, 1882
The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland A.D. 1513-1546
James Balfour Paul
Edinburgh, 1883
The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland A.D. 1609-1620
John Maitland Thomson
Edinburgh, 1892
The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland A.D. 1620-1633
John Maitland Thomson
Edinburgh, 1894

References (websites)

Canmore
  • Ancestry UK

Castles near Tom-nam-brach

Dallick House (possible) (site of)

0.3km away

Castleton (site of)

5.2km away

Cultoquhey (site of)

5.6km away

Monzie Castle

5.6km away

Abercairny (site of)

6.6km away

Gorthy (site of)

6.8km away

Inchbrakie Castle (site of)

6.8km away

Keillour Castle

6.9km away

Dollerie

7.7km away
more castles....
  • advertisement
  • advertisement

Ancient sites near Tom-nam-brach

Giant's Grave cairn

1.4km away

Saddlin' Mare standing stone

1.4km away

Clach Ossian cist

2.8km away

Fowlis Wester stone circle, cairns, standing stones and rock art

3.7km away

Crofthead Farm standing stones

4.5km away

The Thorn rock art

4.6km away

Witches' Stone standing stone

5.4km away

New Fowlis cairn and standing stones

5.4km away

Monzie kerb cairn and rock art

5.4km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Tom-nam-brach

Fowlis Wester Church Class III cross-slab

4.6km away

Fowlis Wester Class II cross-slab

4.7km away

Bore Stone of Gask Class II cross slab

11.9km away

Dupplin Cross Class III cross

16.7km away

Dunkeld 1 Class I symbol stone

17.2km away

Tulloch Class I symbol stone

17.7km away

Blackford Class I symbol stone

18.7km away

Pittensorn Class III slab

20.2km away

Murthly 2 Class II cross slab

20.9km away
more Pictish stones....
  • Staysure travel insurance
  • Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc.
  • advertisement

Pictish sites near Tom-nam-brach

Norrie's Law hoard

53.7km away

Haddington silver chain

81.0km away

Borland silver chain

83.5km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

83.7km away

Traprain Law silver chain

85.3km away

Whitlaw silver chain

99.1km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

109.0km away

Hoardweel silver chain

110.4km away

Dunnicaer fort

112.3km away
more Pictish sites....
  • advertisement

Accommodation near Tom-nam-brach

At The Willows
bed and breakfastNew Fowlis
5.6km away
The Rowans
bed and breakfastNew Fowlis
5.6km away
Murraypark Hotel
hotelCrieff
7.6km away
Crieff Hydro self-catering cottages and chalets
self-catering cottagesCrieff
7.7km away
Crieff Hydro Hotel and Leisure Resort
hotel, restaurantCrieff
7.7km away
Knock Castle Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barCrieff
8.0km away
Galvelbeg House
bed and breakfast, self-catering apartmentCrieff
8.0km away
Merlindale
bed and breakfastCrieff
8.8km away
James Cottage Guest House
hotelCrieff
9.0km away
Comrie Croft SYHA Hostel
hostelComrie
12.5km away

Accommodation search

(leave blank to view all)
Accommodation type
bed and breakfasts
campsites
castles
holiday parks
hostels
hotels
self-catering apartments
self-catering cottages
self-catering lodges
spas
more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Tom-nam-brach

Famous Grouse Experience
restaurant, café, barCrieff
7.5km away
Crieff Hydro Hotel and Leisure Resort
hotel, restaurantCrieff
7.7km away
Knock Castle Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barCrieff
8.0km away
Torlum Café, Auchingarrich
caféComrie
15.4km away
Huntingtower Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barAlmondbank
16.2km away
Atholl Arms Hotel, Dunkeld
hotel, bar, restaurantDunkeld
18.1km away
Holiday Inn Express Perth
hotel, barPerth
18.5km away
Best Western Queens Hotel & Leisure Club
hotel, restaurant, barPerth
20.6km away
Breizh
restaurant, caféPerth
21.2km away
Habitat Café
caféAberfeldy
21.4km away
more food.... / more drink....

Related pages

Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
Dunbar harbour and castle
Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 16th of April 2017 at 5:29 pm. Updated on the 20th of May 2020 at 5:50 pm.

Leave a comment

back to the top of the page

Connect with us

Like us on Facebook

Receive our newsletter

Follow us on Twitter

Tweets by Stravaig_Aboot

Quick links

Stay in a Scottish castle
Edinburgh Festival accommodation
Hotels in Scotland
Car hire in Scotland
Places to eat and drink in Scotland
Castles in Scotland
Trace your Scottish ancestors
Scottish clans
Standing stones in Scotland
The Picts
Pictish symbol stones
Pictish placenames
Scottish bands and musicians
Scottish films
Scottish TV shows
West Highland Way

About

Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
read more....

Cookies

To make this site work properly we use cookies to store information on your computer. Click here to read more.

Affiliate links

This site includes affiliate links and adverts. If you click on these links we may receive a small commission at no cost to yourselves. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This modest income goes towards funding the site.
© 2003 - 2025 Andy Sweet / Stravaiging around Scotland. Powered by WordPress. Hosted by Tsohost.