Jaseinthewild

The ruined Dunluce Castle.

Initally a stone fort from around 1300, the current structure was built in 1608. Although visually striking, the castle was rather short-lived.

Nevertheless, there's no shortage of stories when it comes to Dunluce.

In 1588, Dunluce was home to the famous Scottish warrior chieftain Sorely Boy MacDonnell. One night, the galleass La Girona of the Spanish Amarda was smashed against the rocks below the castle. Of the 1300 crew, just 9 survived, and only 260 bodies were recovered from the shore. From the wreck, Sorely Boy managed to salvage three brass cannons and two treasure chests - happy accident for old mate Sorely.

It's said that at one point, due to the erosion of the supporting cliff, the castle's kitchen plummeted into the sea without warning.

Dunluce Castle was razed during the Irish Rebellion of 1641, and from that point on, the castle has been a ruin only - but the stories continue.

For example, Dunluce was, at one time, owned by Winston Churchill after it passed into the ownership of the Churchill family as a result of inter-marriage.

If you look inside the inner sleeve of the Led Zeppelin album Houses of the Holy, you'll see Dunluce Castle.

Even more contemporary, the castle featured as the seat of House Greyjoy in Game of Thrones.

There's more, but suffice to say that this castle is pretty darn interesting. It's also just neat to look at!

Failed to 'Outlander' myself.

It's not that I want to vanish from modern life and end up in historic Ireland - I absolutely don't. But when you stand in front of an ancient druid's stone altar, or cist, you can't help but gently press a hand against the ~5,000 year old stone.

Perhaps it's just a Scottish phenomenon?

The purpose of this ancient structure is debated - an altar is one suggestion. Another is a cist, which would mean that it once held the remains of an ancient tribal chieftain.

Around this moss covered stone structure, the entire landscape has changed. Kings and Queens have come and gone. Wars, disease, and famine have raged on. Yet all the while, this structure has stood silently among the Oak trees, ever still, as the centuries have continued to march on.

It's hard not to let your imagination run absolutely wild.