Veronica and Monica's Mommy Abandonment Tour 2008

Not much is left...  Though from this angle you can see how defendable the castle would've been.

Standing before the ruins of Toward Castle (pronounced "Howard"), on the Cowal peninsula, in Argyll.  Dating from the fifteenth century, Toward was once the primary castle of the Lamont family.  The structure on the left would've once been your basic tower house, off of which stretched a courtyard and gatehouse.

The only masonry I felt secure enough to stand under!

Here I am with "Queen Mary's Gate" in the background.  The Queen paid a visit to Toward in 1563, and though one would think this was an unequivocal honor, such royal visits often ended up bankrupting families, as they'd need to do things like, well, like build elaborate additions and special gates in honor of the occasion!

Climbing up for a closer look...

Here's intrepid Iain, braving the depths.  My vantage point is about as far in as I'd go.

A "Tower House" style of castle, once owned by the Campbells of Argyll.  Midway up the face of the castle, you can see what would've been the front door.  For security, clansmen simply retracted the stairs at night!

To return home, the eighteenth-century Cambpell clansman had to pass through what the soldiers called Hell's Glen, so named for the Jacobites who'd stand above, shooting at them.  The spot marking the edge of Campbell land in Argyll--and safe haven--is known as "Rest and Be Thankful."

Castle Sween, on the west coast of Argyll.  MacColla, the hero of Warrior of the Highlands, captured the castle in 1644.  I got quite emotional there, imagining MacColla's victory...how he and his men would've stormed up that hill, looked out those windows, and, yes, pissed in that very castle latrine...  It was a very powerful experience for me.

I was SO excited to be there, knowing MacColla once stood on that very ground.  Monica was so sweet, totally understanding how emotional I was, and just as excited for me.