Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe

Kilchurn is probably the most aerially photogenic castle in Scotland: a gaunt Campbell ruin on a low peninsula at the head of Loch Awe, ringed by reedbeds and framed by Ben Cruachan. Morning mist sits on this loch more reliably than almost anywhere in Argyll, and a drone above the mist with the tower breaking through is a genuinely special image. Park in the free car park off the A85 and walk the track toward the castle; the legal nuance is that Kilchurn is a scheduled monument in the care of Historic Environment Scotland, and HES requires prior written consent to TOAL from land under its care. The clean approach is to launch from the rough grazing or loch shore short of the monument boundary — outside HES's managed footprint — and keep a respectful distance from the fabric of the building and any visitors on it. Overflight from adjacent land is airspace, not trespass, but be sensible about height and proximity. Oban Airport's FRZ is over 20km west, so no airspace issue. The site pulls a steady stream of photographers and, in summer, tour traffic; early morning is both the best light and the emptiest window. Watch for waterfowl in the reedbeds in spring, and note the ground floods after rain — wellies are not a joke here. A West Highland Line train crossing the viaduct behind makes a bonus shot.