Castle Stalker

Castle Stalker – in the Gaelic, Stalcaire, meaning Hunter or Falconer – is believed originally to have been belonged to MacDougalls when they were Lords of Lorn, and built around 1320. In about 1388 the Lordship of Lorn passed to the Stewarts. It is believed that Castle Stalker, much in its present form, was built by the then Lord of Lorn, Sir John Stewart.In around 1620 the Castle passed into the hands of the Campbells of Airds as a result of a drunken wager. At the time of the 1745 Rising Castle Stalker was held by the Campbells with a Garrison of about 59 Government troops. Although the Stewarts of Appin were solidly behind Prince Charles, and raised a regiment of 300, the Castle was too strong for them to take and their 2lb cannon-balls merely bounced off the walls. In 1908 the Castle was regained from the Campbells by Charles Stewart of Achara who purchased it and carried out some basic preservation work to stem its decay. It is still owned by the Stewarts today.