Castle Stalker is a four story 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 (with difficulty) from the shore at low tide. 56°34′16.64″N, 5°23′10.79″W. Clononey castle in Co. ... The keep of Scarborough Castle Rochester Castle featuring a massive turreted keep Early 13th century keep (Rouen, France) The 14th century residential keep at Largoët A keep is a strong central tower which normally forms the heart of a castle. ... Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. ... Argyll, archaically Argyle (Airthir-Ghaidheal in Gaelic, translated as [the] East Gael, or [the] East Irish), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a traditional county of Scotland. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic) Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English (de facto)1; Gaelic[1]2 and Scots3 (recognised minority... For other uses, see Oban (disambiguation). ... Glen Coe is a glen in the Highlands of Scotland. ...

Castle Stalker

The name 'Stalker' comes from the Gaelic Stalcaire, meaning 'hunter' or 'falconer', and should therefore be pronounced 'stal-ker', with the 'l' sounded, not as in the pronunciation of the English word 'stalker'. In recent times the castle was brought to fame by the Monty Python team, appearing in their film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It also appeared in the film Highlander: Endgame. The Castle's implausably 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. It should be noted, however, that Stalker is entirely authentic; it is one of the best-preserved medieval tower-houses surviving in western Scotland. Image File history File links Scotlandcastlestalker. ... Image File history File links Scotlandcastlestalker. ... // Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Monty Python, or The Pythons, is the collective name of the creators of Monty Pythons Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

History

The site is similar to the prehistoric crannogs, but the official website 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. A crannog is the name given in Scotland and Ireland to an artificial island or natural island, used for a settlement and usually linked to shore with a timber gangway or stone causeway. ... Events January 20 - Dante - Quaestio de Aqua et Terra January 20 - Duke Wladyslaw Lokietek becomes king of Poland April 6 - The Scots reaffirm their independence by signing the Declaration of Arbroath. ... Clan MacDougall is a Scottish clan traditionally associated with the lands of Argyll and Lorn in Scotland. ... Events Beginning of prosecution of Lollards in England The Battle of Otterburn between England and Scotland A Chinese army under Xu Da sacks Karakorum Births September 14 - Claudius Claussön Swart, Danish geographer September 29 - Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence, second son of Henry IV of England (d. ... Introduction In Scotland, the Stewarts of Appin are the West Highland branch of the Stewart family and have been considered a distinct clan since the fifteenth century. ... Events and Trends Categories: 1440s ... James IV (March 17, 1473-September 9, 1513) was King of Scots from 1488 to his death. ... Year 1620 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Saturday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Campbell Clan Badge - A Boars head represents the positive qualities of the boar: courage and fierceness in battle. ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ...

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Castle Stalker

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 Aaaaarrrrrrggghhh. 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: The police officers who were investigating the death of the historian earlier in the film arrive and arrest Arthur and the other knights for killing the historian. One of them then turns to the camera and says, "All right, sonny, that's enough, just take off", forcibly ending the movie. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3000x1996, 944 KB) Summary Photographer - Alan M Hughes Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Castle Stalker ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3000x1996, 944 KB) Summary Photographer - Alan M Hughes Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Castle Stalker ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Doune Castle sited above the River Teith. ... John Marwood Cleese (born 27 October 1939) is an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award winning English comedian and actor. ... A bronze Arthur in plate armour with visor raised and with jousting shield wearing Kastenbrust armour (early 15th century) by Peter Vischer, typical of later anachronistic depictions of Arthur. ...

The Castle Today

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