1. No. 82
Donald Corr the Woodcarver and Chieftan of the Clan MacBogNo. 82 (now a private house) was once Alistair Aitken’s shoemakers, or ‘soutars’ in Scots, during the 60s and early 70s when it became Wade’s Way Snack Bar and ice cream shop. In 1976 Donald Corr opened his Woodcarver Shop until the early 2000s when it then became Tomintoul Art Gallery. Over the years many thousands of feet have passed through the doorway of this humble cottage: The Kinks, Billy Connolly and Dame Judi Dench to name but a few.
The Clan MacBog – Scotland’s smallest and most ferocious clan!
Walk down the Street, past the red house, until you reach the big house across the lane.
2. Bynac Mhor (no.78) and Bynac Beg
Postmaster William Meldrum & Family outside Bynac Mhor c1898a good example of the ‘house-cum-half-house’ construction typical of the village. Each plot of land was unusually broad, measuring approximately 22m as opposed to 14m. Because of this, many houses included an extra outbuilding or attached ‘half-house’ alongside them. Some half-houses were used to accommodate elderly relatives or operate businesses.
The half-house ‘Bynac Beg’ was the village Post Office from the 1870s until 1912.
Post Office c1903
Jean McLellan and her mother outside Bynac Mhor during the winter of 1978
3. Site of the old Tomintoul School
Tomintoul School 1960sAcross the street from Bynac Mhor is the new ‘affordable housing development’, completed in 2023 on the site of the old Tomintoul School.
Tomintoul School c1910
4. No 73
The half-house attached to No.73 was once The Real McKay souvenir shop and then Tomintoul’s first and only ski equipment hire outlet, Scottish Alpine Ski Hire.
5. Tomintoul Parish Church
A Postcard early 20thCTomintoul Parish Church One of Thomas Telford’s 32 Parliamentary Churches, it opened for worship in 1827.
- 1776 – Gaelic was spoken throughout the area at the time of Tomintoul’s founding.
- 1794 – ‘The dialect spoken in this country is growing more corrupted by the admissions of Anglicisms’
- 1824 – Gaelic no longer being taught in the school, although the people use no other language.
- 1842 – Language generally spoken is Gaelic although decreased considerably in the last 40yrs.
‘There is not an individual between twelve and forty who cannot speak English. They all read English, and many of the rising generation cannot speak Gaelic.’
- 1872 Education (Scotland) Act – no provision for the teaching of Gaelic. Pupils were punished if caught speaking Gaelic.
- 1876 – The last Tomintoul church service to be given in ‘the Gaelic’.
Gaelic in Tomintoul had all but died out by the beginning of the 20thC.
There is an information board outside the church giving its history. Services are still held every Sunday.
6. Filming Location - One Last Chance
No.86a in the film One Last Chance 2004On the corner of the next lane (Findouran) is a row of four ex-council houses. No.86a featured in the 2004 film One Last Chance as the family home of lead character ‘Fitz’ (played by Jamie Sives).
In 2002, a team of seventy actors, directors, and technicians visited Tomintoul for a month-long film production. Tomintoul served as the stand-in for the fictional town of Tullybridge in the film One Last Chance.
Welcome to Tullybridge aka Tomintoul
Continue down Main Street until you reach No.89 Roslyn, which sits side onto the pavement.
7. No 89
No.89 was once home to Jimmy Shaw (1922-1998) a bard of Tomintoul, he was a Gordon Highlander and served with 14th Army in Burma during WWII and wrote longingly about returning to his native land.
‘I’d give my five years army pay
To sit aince mair on Campdale’s Brae
And breathe the crisp and scented air
That drifts around her valley fair
Mid heathered hills and moss sae broon
A gift frae heaven – My Hame Toon’
After the war Jimmy vowed never to leave his country again, although his family did manage to persuade him southwards over the border a couple of times.
8. Diamond Cottage
Diamond Cottage 1960sDiamond Cottage – taking its name from the diamond-shaped slates above the front door.
Author and historian Dr. Victor Gaffney lived in Diamond Cottage during the 1960s.
Gaffney spent a lifetime researching the history of the countryside and peoples of Strathavon. His book The Lordship of Strathavon (1960) remains the authoritative reference on the area’s history.
There is a memorial cairn to Dr. Gaffney and viewpoint located 750m outside the village. To visit the cairn continue down to the carpark and follow the signed path.
Now cross over the Main Street and head back up Main Street.
9. No. 101, Highland
No. 101 Highland This is the second house on this side heading up the Street. It was once the home of the musically talented Hastings family and their pet bear (yes, a real bear)!
Julian ‘Pye’ Hastings (b.1947 Tomnavulin) is a founding member and vocalist/guitarist with the ‘Canterbury Scene’ progressive rock band Caravan. His elder brother Jimmy Hastings (1938-2024) was the saxophonist, clarinettist and flautist in Caravan and in the Humphrey Lyttelton Band. Their sister Jane (1931-2001) was a model and was married to the zoo and casino owner John Aspinall.
10. Former Mission Hall
Former Mission Hall built 1896, used for religious meetings
11. Former Grants Garage
The derelict building site opposite the playpark was once John Grant’s Garage.
Actors Iain Robertson and Jamie Sives in a scene from the film One Last Chance.
12. Former United Free Church
Former 19thC United Free Church now a private house, Westacre
Our thanks to the following who provided information, images, and help in producing these Trails:
Tomintoul & Glenlivet Development Trust (copy maps); Sandra Stubbs; Reuel Chisholm; Allan Geddes (Old Tomintoul, 2004); Aberdeen University (GWW Collection – CC BY 4.0 license); the McLellan family; John MacIntyre; Ebeth Coutts; IWM (D22626 IWM Non-Commercial License). Donald and Fenella Corr; Royan Fettes; Lord Lieutenant Banffshire; Victor Gaffney (Lordship of Strathavon 1960; Tomintoul its glens and people 1976); Lionsgate; Eve Shaw. Family of Monica Jackson; Hamish and Caroline McIntosh; Alistair Chisholm, Jennifer Stewart, Malcolm MacGarvin, Paul Alderson, Angela Burstow, Micky Gibbard, Allan Cameron, Edward H. Peck (Avonside Explored 1989); ‘The Touler’; Tomintoul & Glenlivet History Group.
Written by Reuel Chisholm, April 2026.