Castle Stalker is a four storey tower house or keep picturesquely set on a small islet on Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe. It is located about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) north east of Port Appin , Argyll, Scotland and visible from the A828 main road about mid-way between Oban and Glen Coe. The islet is accessible from the shore at low tide. The name "Stalker" apparently comes from the Gaelic Stalcaire which means Hunter or Falconer. In recent times the castle was brought to fame by the Monty Python team.

History

The site is similar to the prehistoric crannogs, but the official web-site history page gives the origin of the castle as being 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 web-site tells a dramatic story of arguments, murders, hunting visits by the Stewart's relative King James IV of Scotland and a drunken bet around 1620 resulting in the castle passing to Clan Campbell. After changing hands between these clans a couple of times the Campbells finally abandoned the castle around 1840, when it lost its roof. Then in 1908 a Stewart bought the castle and carried out basic conservation work, and in 1965 Lt. Col. D. R. Stewart Allward acquired the castle and over about ten years fully restored it.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

While the other castles in Monty Python and the Holy Grail were filmed in and around Doune castle (or were only a model), Castle Stalker appears in the final scene as Castle Aaaargh. First we see the castle from a distance, next John Cleese uses his outrageous French accent to taunt Arthur from its battlements, then finally a massive attack is launched at the castle with an odd conclusion.

Public access

Castle Stalker is in private ownership, but the official web-site (below) gives details of dates and arrangements by which visits can be made by appointment, subject to advance notice, weather and tides.

External links

• Castle Stalker, Appin, Argyll ( official web-site of Castle Stalker. virtual tour)
• Port Appin on Undiscovered Scotland