Constructed in the 14th century, Castle Stalker was controlled by various Scottish clans over its long history, and was later featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Rising starkly from a tiny islet in Loch Laich on Scotland’s rugged west coast, Castle Stalker is one of the most well known tower houses in the Highlands. The fortress has a long and storied history, though most might know it best as “The Castle of Aaargh” from Monty Python.
For centuries, Castle Stalker’s lonely silhouette has stood over the waters near Port Appin. What was once a proud medieval fortress gradually fell into ruin before it was revived in the 1960s by Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Allward for his family. Over the course of a decade, Allward transformed the castle into habitable condition, modernizing the structure while maintaining many of its charming, medieval features.
Take a look inside Castle Stalker in the gallery below, and read on to learn more about the fortress’ fascinating history.
The Dramatic History Of Castle Stalker
According to the official website for Castle Stalker, the structure was likely built sometime around 1320 as a "fortalice" — a small fortified building — for the MacDougall clan when they were the Lords of Lorn. The fortress' name in Gaelic, Stalcaire, roughly translates to "Hunter" or "Falconer."
At the time, the MacDougalls were one of the most powerful families in western Scotland. They were also staunch allies of the Comyns and enemies of Robert the Bruce. The MacDougalls unfortunately backed the wrong side in the Wars of Scottish Independence, leading to the gradual decline of their prominence, though they did remain influential enough to maintain a fortified position in Loch Laich.
The clan's original fort was likely constructed of timber and earthworks, serving as a watchpoint for sea routes through Loch Linnhe. This placement gave them command over one of the key arteries linking the Inner Hebrides with mainland Scotland, but while little of their original structure remains, the importance of the site became clear to later clans who inherited it. The islet's natural defenses — surrounded by water, accessible only at low tide, and within bowshot of passing vessels – made it a natural stronghold for any family seeking to assert dominance in Argyll.
Castle Stalker, Argyll/FacebookThe Great Hall of Castle Stalker in the 1960s.
That family happened to be the Stewarts.
In the 14th century, the original Castle Stalker passed into the hands of the Stewart clan. And sometime around 1440, Sir John Stewart of Lorn replaced the MacDougall fort with the stone tower house that still stands today. Built in the classic Scottish tower house style, Castle Stalker rose four stories high, with thick walls and a narrow entrance designed for defense. Even this did not enable the Stewarts to keep the castle forever, though.
Castle Stalker regularly figured in clan rivalries in the centuries that followed, shifting hands in feuds between the Stewarts and the Campbells. While the Stewarts managed to hold onto Castle Stalker for long stretches, a drunken gamble made by Duncan Stewart, the 7th Stewart Chief, saw ownership shift to the Campbells. The Stewarts briefly regained the castle in 1689, but suffered a defeat at the Battle of Dunkeld and once more lost the castle to the Campbells.
The Campbells used the castle mostly as a hunting retreat rather than a permanent residence. Without the same level of care or symbolic attachment that the Stewarts had shown, however, the castle gradually fell into disrepair. By the early 19th century, the Campbells abandoned it entirely, and the roof soon collapsed.
For much of the 19th century, Castle Stalker stood in ruin. It wasn't until 1908 that the castle's future once again had hope.
Restoring The Scottish Fortress
Castle Stalker, Argyll/FacebookLt. Col. Stewart Allward and his wife Marion shortly after purchasing the castle in 1965.
Charles Stewart of Achara, a descendant of the original Appin Stewarts, bought the ruined tower from the Campbells in 1908 with the goal of restoring the castle's dignity. He began some initial repairs, but sadly lacked the resources to complete a full restoration. Though Castle Stalker was still technically in ruin, it at least had a renewed sense of symbolic importance as a reclaimed family heritage site.
Stewart's successor, another Duncan Stewart, was murdered while serving as the Governor of Sarawak in 1947, after which the castle fell under the ownership of his widow. Finally, in 1965, the task of restoration fell upon Lt. Col. Stewart Allward, who spent much of the next decade with a team of craftsmen reconstructing the roof, floors, and stonework to bring Castle Stalker back to habitable condition.
20th Century StudiosCastle Stalker seen in the background in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Although Castle Stalker was, by then, a relatively quiet local landmark, it did reach some international acclaim thanks to an appearance in 1975, when it featured in the closing scene of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In the film, Castle Stalker serves as the setting for the fictional "Castle of Aaargh."
Its status as a cult classic eventually led to some fans making pilgrimages to Loch Laich to glimpse the iconic tower where King Arthur and his knights ended their quest.
When Stewart Allward died suddenly while out walking on Feb. 5, 1991, his wife Marion inherited the castle. After her death on July 7, 2005, ownership of the property fell to their four children, Sine, Ross, Alasdair, and Morag.
Talk a walk through Castle Stalker in the gallery above.
After this fascinating look at the history of Castle Stalker, take a look inside McDermott's Castle, the Irish palace with a haunting secret. Then, learn all about New York's Boldt Castle and the tragic story behind it.
