Castle Stalker

Castle Stalker sits surrounded by water at the mouth of Loch Laich on a rock known as Rock of the Cormorants. By car it's on the A828 18 miles from Oban and 23 miles from Fort William.

History?

Try keep up here, so many twists and turns it's like a TV soap!

Castle Stalker derives its name from the gaelic stalcaire which translates as falconer or hunter.

The castle has a long and turbulent history. Originally built as a fortalice (a small defendable fort) by the MacDougalls, (See Dunollie & Dunstaffnage pages) in the early 14th century around 1320 when they were Lords of Lorn.

In 1388 the Stewarts became the Lords of Lorn and were granted the land which included the castle. Around about 1446 Sir John Stewart built the castle much as it is in its present form.

For the next 200 years, amid much drama, murders revenge murders, illegitimate children and mysteries the castle remained a Stewart stronghold.

Drunken Wager

In 1620, as the result of a drunken wager by Duncan, the 7th Stewart Chief, the castle passed into the hands of the Campbells of Airds in exchange for an eight oared wherry - a gentlemans rowing boat. Now that's akin to swapping your house for a bicycle!

The Stewarts of Appin once more regained possession in 1689 by order of King James 7th as payment for siding with him against King William. Unfortunately after defeat at the battle of Dunkeld the castle again passed to the Campbells in 1690.

Come the Rising of 1745, with a garrison of around only 60 soldiers, the castle was defended by the Campbells against an unsuccessful onslaught by the Stewarts with a regiment of 300 men. It's said that their 2lb canon balls simply bounced of the castle walls.

The Campbells continued their occupation of the castle until 1800 when they built a new house on the mainland at Airds. The castle was then used as little more than a storehouse until it lost its roof in 1840, either due to decay or deliberate removal to avoid the roof tax. The castle was then abandoned.

In 1908, this time without bloodshed, the Castle passed back to the Stewarts when it was purchased by Charles Stewart of Achara who carried out some remedial work to stem the decay.

In 1947 Duncan Stewart, his successor, who was Governor of Sarawak was murdered and his widow inherited the castle. In 1965 Lt. Col. D. R. Stewart Allward purchased the castle and spent the next ten years renovating and restoring it to its current habitable condition. He died suddenly in February 1991 and ownership passed to his family.

There's a recently built cafe and gift shop, Castle Stalker View, immediately above the castle. It appears to be popular with a full car park during peak season. I haven't tried it myself so can't recommend it but I do hear good reports from those who have visited. Why not drop me a line with a review?