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Castle Stalker – in the Gaelic, Stalcaire, meaning Hunter or Falconer – is believed originally to have been the site of a Fortalice (a small fortified building) belonging to the MacDougalls when they were Lords of Lorn, and built around 1320.
Castle Stalker is a four-storey tower house or keep picturesquely set on a tidal islet on Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe. It is about 1.5 miles north-east of Port Appin, Argyll, Scotland.
Road Trip In Scotland -
Le Pays des Nuages (In the land of clouds)
Jour 8 -
- APPIN -
Le Castle Stalker (Caisteal an Stalcaire en gaélique écossais, où Stalcaire signifie « chasseur » ou « fauconnier ») est une maison tour à quatre étages se trouvant sur une île accessible à marée basse du Loch Laich, un bras de mer du Loch Linnhe. Le château se trouve à environ 2,5 km au nord-est de Port Appin dans la division administrative écossaise d'Argyll and Bute.
Il est visible depuis la route principale A828, à mi-chemin entre Oban et Glen Coe. L'île est accessible depuis le rivage à marée basse, bien qu'avec difficulté.
Il a été porté à l'attention du public par le film Monty Python : Sacré Graal ! de Terry Jones et Terry Gilliam des Monty Python, et il fut aussi vu dans Highlander: Endgame.
L'allure pittoresque du château, avec son cadre d'île charmante et l'aspect dramatique des montagnes en arrière-plan, en a fait un sujet préféré des cartes postales et calendriers, ainsi qu'une image quelque peu cliché du paysage des Highlands. Cependant, le château est entièrement authentique et il s'agit de l'une des maisons-tours les mieux préservées de l'ouest de l'Écosse. ( Wikipédia )
Avec une éclaircie ...
Merci pour vos passages sur les vues, favoris et commentaires .
Thanks all for the views, favs and comments, very appreciated.
Loch Linnhe near Port Appin in Argyll and Bute. Castle Stalker is in the distance in the middle of the shot. It is built on a small island on Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe .
The original castle was a small fort, built around 1320 by Clan McDougall. Around 1388 the Stewarts took over the Lordship of Lorn, and it is believed that they built the castle in its present form around the 1440s.
Castle Stalker is now in private ownership and is open to the public at selected times during the summer.
Final port of call on a West Coast trip with Iain yesterday was Castle Stalker near to Port Appin, Argyll. The day was a mixture of sunshine and showers but the rain was definitely in the predominance by the time we arrived at Stalker. That said, there was plenty of drama in the sky to keep us interested and although it was far from the most vibrant sunset, there was a pleasing glow along the horizon post sun-down. A long(ish) exposure and a calming receding tide enhanced the effect with some colourful reflections.
It was a cloudy and hazy day but I think it suited the scene I saw and wanted to share. There are many wonderful images of this beautiful castle by fantastic photographers but here is my take on it with a simple shot.
Castle Stalker – in the Gaelic, Stalcaire, meaning Hunter or Falconer – is believed originally to have been the site of a Fortalice (a small fortified building) belonging to the MacDougalls when they were Lords of Lorn, and built around 1320. The MacDougalls lost their title after their defeat by King Bruce at Brander Pass in 1308 but regained it for a period after 1328. In about 1388 the Lordship of Lorn passed to the Stewarts, the lands including Castle Stalker.
It is believed that Castle Stalker, much in its present form, was built by the then Lord of Lorn, Sir John Stewart, who had an illegitimate son in 1446, and it is reasonable to suppose that he built and occupied the Castle about that time. In 1463 Sir John Stewart was keen to legitimise his son by getting married to his Mother, a MacLaren, at Dunstaffnage when he was murdered outside the church by Alan MacCoul, a renegade MacDougall, although he survived long enough to complete the marriage and legitimise his son, Dugald, who became the First Chief of Appin. The Stewarts had their revenge on MacCoul at the Battle of Stalc in 1468 opposite the Castle when the Stewarts and MacLaren together defeated the MacDougalls, and Alan MacCoul was killed by Dugald himself. The site of this Battle is marked by a memorial stone in the Churchyard in Portnacroish.
In 1497 the Stewarts and MacLarens carried out a combined raid against MacDonald of Keppoch as a reprisal for cattle reiving, but Dugald Stewart was killed and succeeded as Chief of Appin by his son Duncan. King James IV of Scotland, born in 1473, was a cousin of the Stewarts of Appin and when he came of age made frequent hunting journeys to the Highlands. It is understood that he stayed quite often at Castle Stalker, using it as a base for hunting and hawking for which he had a passion. It is thought that further improvements were made to the Castle at this time including the possible addition of what is now the top floor and roof, and that the Coat of Arms over the front door may be the Royal Arms of that time.
Twilight photo of Castle Stalker, located near Appin, on the Argyll coast between Oban and Glencoe. I was fascinated by Castle Stalker, it’s got a history full of intrigue, and a murder there led to the Battle of Stalc, a clan battle which took place in 1468. The castle is on an islet in Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe. This was taken at 10:30pm on 12th June 2023 with a Sony A7 111 and 28-70mm lens; ISO 50, f/13, 3/5s.
As you wait for the Lismore ferry to Port Appin you can lean on this. in the sunshine this afternoon.
Well I was delighted to see this castle. I have seen many photos of this castle. I believe the castle is under private ownership these days. In the summer months you can actually get across to see it and oh how I wish I had booked a trip. Have a look at the website for a much broader history of the place, www.castlestalker.com
A spur of the moment decision, on my way back from Appin several weeks ago, saw me revisiting a favourite viewpoint from the past. The gamble paid off spectacularly as the day neared it's end in a memorable fashion. All the desired elements, including fine light, snow on the tops & a fabulous sky capping the scene off, simultaneously fell into place producing a result that repaid the modest physical effort many times over.
From the start, the Stewart lordship of Castle Stalker was wrapped in violence and intrigue. In 1463 Lord Stewart was murdered at his wedding at Dunstaffnage by Alan MacCoul, of the MacDougalls. Stewart survived long enough to complete the marriage and legitimise his son, Dugald. Dugald thus became the first Chief of Appin. Just 5 years later the combined forces of Stewart and MacLaren defeated the MacDougalls at the Battle of Stalc, and Dugald himself killed his father's murderer. The Castle continued to be the scene of many murders and revenge over the following centuries. More recently, castle is more famous for roles in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Outlanders, and Game of Thrones.
This is one of a set of photos I took of Castle Stalker over a couple of evenings. It was one of the first I took over a 1 ½ hour timeframe on 12th June 2023, at 9:15pm as the sun dipped below the mountains but before it was due to properly set. Castle Stalker is located near Appin, between Oban and Glencoe, where Loch Laich opens out into Loch Linnhe. Taken with a Sony A7 111 and 28-70mm lens at 29mm; ISO 200, f/10, 1/320s.
“I never think he is quite ready for another world who is altogether weary of this.” Hugh Hamilton
Ducks and swans on Loch Laich and the day's last light on the remote Morvern peninsula.
Watching the sunlit mountainside through a narrow space between the grey clouds and grey horizon, it felt a bit like looking through some kind of portal at another place altogether.
We always planned to finish at Castle Stalker near Port Appin and hopefully capture a sunset. As it was, we arrived some 2.5 hours early to decent enough conditions but with ever thickening cloud to the west decided against waitiing it out for some (unlikely) dusk colour.
Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña - Escocia - Lago Linnhe - Castillo Stalker
ENGLISH
Castle Stalker (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal an Stalcaire) is a four-story tower house or keep picturesquely set on a tidal islet on Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe. It is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north-east of Port Appin, Argyll, Scotland, and is visible from the A828 road about mid-way between Oban and Glen Coe. The islet is accessible (with difficulty) from the shore at low tide. The name "Stalker" comes from the Gaelic Stalcaire, meaning "hunter" or "falconer".
(In recent times, the castle was brought to fame by the Monty Python team, appearing in their film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.)
The island castle's picturesque appearance, with its bewitching island setting against a dramatic backdrop of mountains, has made it a favourite subject for postcards and calendars, and something of a cliché image of Scottish Highland scenery. Castle Stalker is entirely authentic; it is one of the best-preserved medieval tower-houses surviving in western Scotland.[1] It forms part of the Lynn of Lorn National Scenic Area, one of forty in Scotland.
The original castle was a small fort, built around 1320 by Clan MacDougall who were then Lords of Lorn. Around 1388 the Stewarts took over the Lordship of Lorn, and it is believed that they built the castle in its present form around the 1440s. The Stewart's relative King James IV of Scotland visited the castle, and a drunken bet around 1620 resulted in the castle passing to Clan Campbell. After changing hands between these clans a couple of times the Campbells finally abandoned the castle in about 1840, when it lost its roof. In 1908 the castle was bought by Charles Stewart of Achara, who carried out basic conservation work. In 1965 Lt. Col. D. R. Stewart Allward acquired the castle and over about ten years fully restored it. Castle Stalker remains in private ownership and is open to the public at selected times during the summer.
For the 2011 census the island on which the castle stands was classified by the National Records of Scotland as an inhabited island that "had no usual residents at the time of either the 2001 or 2011 censuses."
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ESPAÑOL
El Castillo Stalker está situado en un islote en la Roca de los Cormoranes (una pequeña isla dentro de un lago en la costa oeste escocesa), se encuentra cerca de 1,5 millas (2,4 km) al noreste de Port Appin, Argyll, Escocia, y es visible desde la carretera A828 a mediados de camino entre Oban y Glen Coe, en una pequeña isla, cercana a la costa (cuando la marea lo permite se puede ir andando, pero no es recomendable por su peligrosidad) en Loch Laich, un lago que a su vez forma parte de otro, Loch Linnhe.
El castillo original fue una pequeña fortaleza, construida alrededor de 1320 por el Clan MacDougall que eran entonces señores de Lorn. Alrededor de 1388 los Stewart se hizo cargo del señorío de Lorn, y se cree que se construyó el castillo en su forma actual en torno a la década de 1440.
La relación de Stewart Rey Jacobo IV de Escocia visitó el castillo, y una apuesta borracha hacia 1620 resultó en el castillo pasa en Clan Campbell. Tras cambiar de manos entre estos clanes un par de veces los Campbell finalmente abandonaron el castillo alrededor de 1840, cuando perdió su techo. En 1908 el castillo fue comprado por Charles Stewart de Achara, que llevó a cabo el trabajo de conservación básica.
En 1965 el teniente coronel Stewart DR Allward adquirió el castillo y más de unos diez años totalmente restauró. Acosador del castillo sigue siendo de propiedad privada y está abierto al público en momentos seleccionados durante el verano.
El nombre de "Stalker" viene de la Stalcaire gaélico, que significa "cazador" o "cetrero", por lo que debe ser pronunciada stal-ker.
Con su aspecto fantasmal y junto a un paisaje de montaña, es una de las postales de Escocia, contando además con unos siete siglos de historia. Es de propiedad privada y pocas veces suele estar abierto al público. Es uno de los mejores ejemplos medievales de castillos con forma de torre (algo muy escocés), en este caso de 4 plantas, por su excelente estado de conservación (en parte por que no permite visitas de forma regular, debido a su ubicación). Fue escenario de películas tales como "Los Inmortales" o "El Santo Grial" de los Monthy Python.
A picturesque castle surrounded by water located 25 miles north of Oban on the west coast of Scotland.
The castle is privately owned but we do run a limited number of tours each year – these can be arranged by prior appointment.
Extended 2020 tours will be operating between April and September. Please check our Opening Times for full details of 2020 tour dates*.
Castle Stalker – in the Gaelic, Stalcaire, meaning Hunter or Falconer – is believed originally to have been the site of a Fortalice (a small fortified building) belonging to the MacDougalls when they were Lords of Lorn, and built around 1320. The MacDougalls lost their title after their defeat by King Bruce at Brander Pass in 1308 but regained it for a period after 1328. In about 1388 the Lordship of Lorn passed to the Stewarts, the lands including Castle Stalker.
It is believed that Castle Stalker, much in its present form, was built by the then Lord of Lorn, Sir John Stewart, who had an illegitimate son in 1446, and it is reasonable to suppose that he built and occupied the Castle about that time. In 1463 Sir John Stewart was keen to legitimise his son by getting married to his Mother, a MacLaren, at Dunstaffnage when he was murdered outside the church by Alan MacCoul, a renegade MacDougall, although he survived long enough to complete the marriage and legitimise his son, Dugald, who became the First Chief of Appin. The Stewarts had their revenge on MacCoul at the Battle of Stalc in 1468 opposite the Castle when the Stewarts and MacLaren together defeated the MacDougalls, and Alan MacCoul was killed by Dugald himself. The site of this Battle is marked by a memorial stone in the Churchyard in Portnacroish.
Information courtesy of the official website.
March '04. One of those days when the conditions just got better and better. There have been many times when I've ended a day here, with no photographs at all. This day made up for those.
Nikon F2. Fuji Provia.
DSC03954-HDR_Lr9-2
Two weeks spent in Scotland.
Our next adventure took us along the road from Glencoe down to Castle Stalker. Along the way, we stopped at the church in Ballachulish.
Another image from a great sunset at Castle Stalker near Appin on the west coast of Scotland.
Explore #11