Old Toward Castle.

[Nagual]

Went down to Toward castle the other day and took some photo's - nothing bushcrafty at all, just castle...

The castle was 'repaired' a couple of decades ago, rather badly I'm afraid. Dodgy cementing etc, still it must have been a beautiful place once.

Can anyone tell me what the tree is? It's very calm and relaxing to be near or in.. and I'd guess very old. Trunk is around 5 or 6 feet wide, and the canopy is about 15 meters wide. Lots of new growth, which you can see in / on the trunk - with roots growing on it.

Also anyone know what the bird is? And the plant pictured last, found growing on the shore?


Thanks for looking.

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

I think the bird may be an oyster catcher.... Someone will know for sure

 

[drewdunnrespect]

looks good thanks for sharing

 

[Toddy]

Is that not where the Campbell's hung the Lamonts ? on a big tree ? A massacre it was called, as bad as Glencoe.

I think they filmed The Raven there too

No idea what the tree is ...... old holly looks a 'bit' like those leaves though, no longer spikey, just oval. Probably so wrong it's on another planet

Cheers for the photos
M

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

No idea what the tree is ...... old holly looks a 'bit' like those leaves though, no longer spikey, just oval.
M

Leave me outta this !

 

[JAG009]

Some good pics there Mark
Dont know what the tree is but i think the bird is an oyster catcher

Cheers

Jason

 

[Mesquite]

Spikey is right about the bird... it's an oystercatcher for sure

The tree looks like an extremely large Bay Laurel

 

[Nagual]

Is that not where the Campbell's hung the Lamonts ? on a big tree ? A massacre it was called, as bad as Glencoe.

I think they filmed The Raven there too

No idea what the tree is ...... old holly looks a 'bit' like those leaves though, no longer spikey, just oval. Probably so wrong it's on another planet

Cheers for the photos
M

Aye thats the place Mary, where the Lamots surrendered, then got bumped off rather nastily. I plan on winning the lottery one day, rebuilding it and moving... clan flag shall be raised once again I say!

Anyhoo... the tree, the leaves certainly have a similar feel to holly, quite firm, waxy. The new growth shoots are ovaloid too. Don't know what trees are likely to grow shoots on themselves though - with root systems growing down the trunk / branches too. It looks like a parasitic growth like Ivy, but it's not, it's the plant itself. The bark isn't like holly however.

 

[Toddy]

What about the Bay Laurel that Mesquite suggested ? Don't think I've ever seen one of those

The Campbells got their comeuppance though, albeit 15 years later, when the fellow in charge was executed. That said, the Lamonts were anything but benign to their neighbours too.....
http://www.clannalba.com/page/index.html/_/articles/clans/lamonts-campbells-early-1646-r137
It's surprising that there are any Scots left with the sheer number of castles and forts in the country. Battled it out for millenia

 

[coln18]

where abouts is Toward Castle, not sure ive heard about the story about the campbells and the LAMONTS, will have to do a wee bit of research on that one, likes my history i do....

 

[Toddy]

Near Dunoon.

The Campbell's fair got about.

"For the covenant's a Campbell mare, that rides across the law,
and ere a Stuart bridles her, the Graham's heid must fa' "
That was the Montrose in the tale
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Graham,_1st_Marquess_of_Montrose

See politics ? It's tame stuff nowadays Can't see the Salmond and Ms Goldie having it out rampaging over Scotland

M