‘Caisteal an Stalcaire’, as it was named in Scottish Gaelic, sits on a tidal island on Loch Laich, just off the west coast of Scotland. The name translates to “hunter” or “falconer,” but today the building is known as Castle Stalker. The four-story tower house or “keep” sits picturesquely on a tidal islet on Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe. It is about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) north-east of Port Appin, Argyll, Scotland. The islet is accessible (with difficulty) from the shore at low tide.

The island castle is one of the best-preserved medieval tower-houses to survive in western Scotland. Castle Stalker has changed hands several times through the centuries. It began as a small fort, built around 1320 by Clan MacDougall. 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 Stewarts' relative King James IV of Scotland visited the castle, and a drunken bet around 1620 resulted in the castle passing to Clan Campbell. After the castle changed hands between the clans a few more times, the Campbells finally abandoned it about 1840 when it lost its roof.

In 1965 Lt. Col. D. R. Stewart Allward acquired and fully restored it. Today Castle Stalker Is privately owned but is open to the public at selected times during the summer; generally the castle hosts one small tour per day via boat.

Some may recognize the castle from the final scene of the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org