Castle Stalker & Islet

This image of Castle Stalker and the island was taken on the west coast of the city of Appin. When driving to this location, you can find parking at The Old Inn (56.572072, -5.379212). From there, walk south near the path toward the cycle track. Turn right and you'll find the Castle boathouse and jetty about 30 meters along on your left. Reference the GPS Coordinates to see where I stood to get this west-facing view of Castle Stalker. By public transportation: - Closest bus station: Post Cottage (via 405 and 918 lines) - Head southeast on A828 - Turn right

Castle Stalker and the Islet can be photographed from the shore of the mainland year round, but in order to photograph the vibrant green landscape on the islet, you'll need to visit in the summer. Please note that if you're trying to go to the castle, it's only available for tours from April to September.

You'll find similar lighting conditions during an overcast day in the morning, midday and late afternoon. In my opinion, sunrise and sunset provide excellent light, too.

Other than a normal lens, I also recommend using a telephoto lens to help compress the frame. Pro tip: the longer your lens is, the bigger the mountains will appear in the background.

To give an extra dimension to your image, use a low angle and try to find a nice foreground from the mainland. You could even try incorporating some foliage in the foreground to make the shot more dimensional.

A tripod could be great for this spot, as it would allow for a slower shutter and some motion blur of the water.

If you keep walking along the shore, the angle will change and you'll get some good opportunities to shoot the castle from varying perspectives. A drone shot could be interesting as well. Get creative and experiment!

If you're visiting from April to September, the tours for the castle will be available. Check out the boat dock near where I stood for this shot and you can take a small boat over to the islet.

Tour prices are as follows: £20 for adults and £10 for children under 16 with Family Tickets available for £50 (2 adults and up to 3 children). Free trips for school parties ( max 12 ) and 10% discount to local residents (of Appin, Duror and Barcaldine).

Head to MacCaig's Tower, which is a 30-minute drive away from this location. The prominent tower in Oban, Scotland was built from Bonawe granite and has two-tiers of lancet arches. It's a great place to visit if you want to get some medieval-style photos!