Castle Stalker

Castle Stalker, 20+ miles north of Oban. I’ve photographed this castle, along with every other visitor to Argyll, countless times. But I’ve never taken it from the Appin road before. This afternoon the sun made a sudden appearance as we were passing, it called for us to stop.

The name in Gaelic means Hunter or Falconer. Probably built as early as the 1300 for the MacDougalls when they were Lords of Lorn, but they lost their title after a defeat by King Bruce. Eventually the title passed to the Stewards, and the lands included Castle Stalker which was then built in its present form.

For the next two hundred years or so, various skirmishes up and down Argyll meant the castle stayed in Stewart hands, but something as simple as a drunken wager meant it passed into Campbell hands in 1620 in exchanged for an 8-oared wherry.

The castle’s ownership ebbed and flowed but eventually in 1908 it was bought back by a Stewart and was restored in 1965 by Lt Col Stewart Allward and is still in the family today. You can get across to the island for a tour on certain days of the year.

But my favourite bit of Castle Stalker history, pleb that I am, is that this castle featured in 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' as Castle Aaargh!


Guard: Who goes there?

King Arthur: It is I, Arthur, son of Uther Pendragon, from the castle of Camelot. King of the Britons, defeater of the Saxons, Sovereign of all England!

Guard: Pull the other one!

King Arthur: I am, and this is my trusty servant Patsy. We have ridden the length and breadth of the land in search of knights who will join me in my court at Camelot. I must speak with your lord and master.

Guard: What? Ridden on a horse?

King Arthur: Yes!

Guard: You're using coconuts!

King Arthur: What?

Guard: You've got two empty halves of coconut and you're bangin' 'em together.

King Arthur: So? We have ridden since the snows of winter covered this land, through the kingdom of Mercia, through.....

Guard: Where'd you get the coconuts?

King Arthur: We found them.


and so on ….....