A lot of MacBeans I correspond with have asked for a list of sites to visit while in Scotland. The following sites in Scotland have strong connections to Clan MacBean. If anyone knows of any additions or corrections that need to be made to this list, please let me know.
Culloden (Battle of): The battlefield of Culloden is well marked and just east of Inverness on the B9006.
Gillies MacBean slew thirteen troops including Lord Kerr single-handedly while defending a break in a stone wall on the right side of the Jacobite line. The exact location is not marked, but is not too hard to approximate with the recent reconstruction of enclosure walls around the battlefield. A MacBain assisted Cameron of Lochiel who was shot and unable to walk, and Aeneas MacBean is supposed to have escaped English soldiers by jumping back and forth across a stream.
Drummond (MacBeans of): Just like states in the USA can have towns with the same name, counties in Scotland can also share towns with the same name. There is a Drummond in the Parish of Dores, just south of the town of Dores on the B862. As you head south on the B862 from Inverness on the road to Dores, the B862 veers to the left inland from Loch Ness when you get to Dores.
Edinburgh Castle: In Edinburgh Castle is a display portraying a Pvt. MacBean in the English army at the battle of Malplaquet. A woman having her baby with him before the battle, Pvt MacBean went into the battle with the baby in a pouch at his side.
Faillie (MacBeans of): One of the MacBean families in the Inverness area. Go south from Inverness on the A9. The first major right turn after Daviot should be at a spot called the Tor. Turn right and the village of Faillie is off to the right.
Fowlis Wester Kirk: A 13th century church in the town of Fowlis Wester, a few miles east of Crief on the A85 to Perth. It is dedicated to St. Bean and known for its two Pictish cross slabs.
Harlaw (Battle of): Myles MacBean was known to have played a major role on the side of the MacIntosh against the Red Comyn. In this 1411 battle, several MacBeans fell. It took place near Inverurie, a town northwest of Aberdeen on the A96.
Killiecrankie (Battle of): The Soldier’s Leap is a landmark of the Battle of Killiecrankie. A Donald McBane, fighting on the side of the English, is said to have escaped from Highland troops by leaping across the river. The battlefield is a couple miles southeast of Blair Atholl between Edinburgh and Inverness on the A9 .
Kinchyle (MacBeans of): Area that was home to the main family of MacBeans. Follow directions to the MacBean Memorial, only at the “T” in the road off the main road to Dores, take the left fork instead of the right that leads to the memorial. You will be paralleling the main road between Inverness and Dores heading north. On the right, about a mile up this road, is a farm with the name Kinchyle.
MacBean Memorial: Site established by current Chief’s father as a permanent memorial. Go south from Inverness on the B862 that goes to Dores. There is an Aldourie Farm/Castle sign approximately 2 miles south of Scaniport on the right. Take your first left after the sign. There may be a small sign to the memorial with an arrow to the left. You will come to a “T” in the road after a few hundred yards. Take the road to the right. After going for a quarter mile or so, the road will wind around to the left. The memorial will be on the left with a wrought iron fence and gate.
Sawney Bean’s Cave: Sawney Bean was the head of a cannibalistic family (most likely fictitious) mentioned in S.R. Crockett’s 1896 novel “The Grey Man”, as having roamed Ayrshire in the late 1500’s and early 1600’s. Bennane Head is roughly three miles north of the town of Ballantrae, on the west coast, on the A77. About a mile north of the top of the hill is a layby or pullover area next to a point called Balcreuchan Port. Sawney Bean’s supposed cave is toward the beach.
Stirling Castle: Within the Castle is a Museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Private William MacBean rose through the ranks to General, won the Victoria Cross at the battle of Lucknow, and is the subject of an exhibit.
Tomatin (MacBeans of): Another family of MacBeans in the Inverness area. The town of Tomatin is 15 or so miles southeast of Inverness off the A9
Tulloch Castle: Tulloch Castle is in the town of Dingwall near Inverness. It was owned by the Bains of Tulloch who aligned themselves with Clan Mackay. Tulloch Castle is now (1997) a convention center and hotel.
Worcester, Battle of: The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England, and was the final battle of the English Civil War. John Bean (later of Exeter) was captured and a prisoner of the English afterward and was sent to the Colonies. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II. The 16,000 Royalist forces were overwhelmed by the 28,000 strong “New Model Army” of Cromwell. Worcester, officially known as the City of Worcester, is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some 17 miles (27 km) southwest of the southern suburbs of Birmingham and 23 miles (37 km) north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 100,000 people. (Wikipedia)