Greig McBride | Scotla...
Greig McBride | Scotland Uncovered
Perched dramatically on a tiny islet near Port Appin on Scotlandās west coast, Castle Stalker is one of the best-preserved medieval tower houses in the Highlands. Its name comes from the Gaelic Stalcaire, meaning āhunterā or āfalconer.ā
The current structure was built around 1446 by Sir John Stewart of Lorn, part of the powerful Stewarts of Appin. It replaced an earlier fortification and was designed for both residence and defence, with thick stone walls and limited access via boat or drawbridge.
Over the centuries, Castle Stalker saw clan feuds, especially between the Stewarts and Campbells, and briefly passed into Campbell hands in the 17th century. By the 1800s, it had fallen into ruin until it was lovingly restored in the 1960s by a Stewart descendant.
Still privately owned, the castle can be visited on special tours and is best viewed from the Castle Stalker View cafeĢ. It also made a famous appearance in Monty Python and the Holy Grail as the legendary āCastle Aaaaargh.ā
67Fought on the bleak expanse of Drumossie Moor near Inverness, the battle pitted around 5,000 weary Jacobite troopsāsupporters of Charles Edward Stuartāagainst a well-equipped government force of over 8,000 under the Duke of Cumberland.
Itās often seen as a fight between Scotland and England, but the reality was far more complex. More Scots actually fought for the British government than for the Jacobite cause, including Lowlanders and Highland clans loyal to the Crown.
The Jacobite Highland charge was met with disciplined musket volleys, cannon fire, and brutal bayonet tactics. The battle lasted less than an hour. Around 1,500 Jacobites were killed or wounded, compared to under 300 on the government side.
Culloden was more than just a military defeatāit marked the end of the Jacobite dream and led to the systematic suppression of Highland culture. Today, we remember the lives lost and reflect on the lasting impact of that fateful day.
#scotland #jacobite #culloden
67
Castle Stalker: The Island Fortress of Loch Laich
Perched dramatically on a tiny islet near Port Appin on Scotlandās west coast, Castle Stalker is one of the best-preserved medieval tower houses in the Highlands. Its name comes from the Gaelic Stalcaire, meaning āhunterā or āfalconer.ā
The current structure was built around 1446 by Sir John Stewart of Lorn, part of the powerful Stewarts of Appin. It replaced an earlier fortification and was designed for both residence and defence, with thick stone walls and limited access via boat or drawbridge.
Over the centuries, Castle Stalker saw clan feuds, especially between the Stewarts and Campbells, and briefly passed into Campbell hands in the 17th century. By the 1800s, it had fallen into ruin until it was lovingly restored in the 1960s by a Stewart descendant.
Still privately owned, the castle can be visited on special tours and is best viewed from the Castle Stalker View cafeĢ. It also made a famous appearance in Monty Python and the Holy Grail as the legendary āCastle Aaaaargh.ā
a year ago
On this day, 16 April 1746, the Battle of Culloden brought the Jacobite Rising to a bloody and decisive end.
Fought on the bleak expanse of Drumossie Moor near Inverness, the battle pitted around 5,000 weary Jacobite troopsāsupporters of Charles Edward Stuartāagainst a well-equipped government force of over 8,000 under the Duke of Cumberland.
Itās often seen as a fight between Scotland and England, but the reality was far more complex. More Scots actually fought for the British government than for the Jacobite cause, including Lowlanders and Highland clans loyal to the Crown.
The Jacobite Highland charge was met with disciplined musket volleys, cannon fire, and brutal bayonet tactics. The battle lasted less than an hour. Around 1,500 Jacobites were killed or wounded, compared to under 300 on the government side.
Culloden was more than just a military defeatāit marked the end of the Jacobite dream and led to the systematic suppression of Highland culture. Today, we remember the lives lost and reflect on the lasting impact of that fateful day.
#scotland #jacobite #culloden
a year ago