Castle Stalker

Castle Stalker stands on a small tidal islet in Loch Laich, an inlet of Loch Linnhe in Argyll. The four-storey tower house rises from the rock, its grey walls reflected in the water at low tide. It lies about two and a half kilometres north-east of Port Appin and can be seen from the A828 road between Oban and Glen Coe. The name comes from the Gaelic Stalcaire, meaning ‘hunter’ or ‘falconer’. This medieval keep is one of the best preserved of its kind in western Scotland and forms part of the Lynn of Lorn National Scenic Area. The castle began as a small fort built by Clan MacDougall around 1320. The Stewarts enlarged it in the 15th century and King James VI of Scotland visited in person. A drunken wager in the early 17th century transferred the stronghold to Clan Campbell. After changing hands again, the Campbells left it roofless by the 19th century. Charles Stewart of Achara bought it in 1908 and carried out basic repairs. Lieutenant Colonel D. R. Stewart Allward restored the castle fully between 1965 and 1975 and it remains in private hands. Visitors reach the islet at low tide by walking across the exposed seabed from the shore. Inside, the tower contains four floors of stone chambers and narrow staircases. The restored rooms show how the laird and his household lived centuries ago. Outside, the castle’s grey walls and crow-stepped gables stand against the hills of Lorn. Films such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail have used its dramatic silhouette as a backdrop.