Out of this world: Stunning aerial photographs show ruins of 13th century castle in frozen loch in Scottish Highlands where temperatures plunged to -6C

• Lochindorb Castle in the Scottish Highlands was surrounded by ice last Monday as temperatures fell to -6C
• Photographer James Foster, 33, 'got lucky,' after visiting the site just hours before Scotland's latest lockdown 
•  The shadow of the 13th century ruin, once visited by King Edward I, could been reflected against the ice Stunning photographs taken above a 13th century castle show the ruin surrounded by a frozen loch as temperatures dropped to -6C.

  Lochindorb Castle - meaning 'loch of trouble,' - sits on a partly man-made island at the heart of the lake in the Scottish Highlands.

  Hours before Scotland entered a Covid-19 lockdown last week, photographer James Foster, 33, drove out to the loch - despite the freezing temperatures.

  

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  Incredible pictures taken in the Scottish Highlands show Lochindorb Castle surrounded by icy waters, after temperatures dropped as low -6C

  

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  As the loch's waters swirled beneath the ice, strange patterns surrounded Lochindorb Castle, which means 'loch of trouble' in Gaelic

  He arrived last Monday to see the island enveloped by ice, with shifting waters underneath creating bizarre patterns on the surface. Mr Foster, from Nairn in the Scottish Highlands, said: 'I think I got really lucky, I wasn't expecting the loch to be frozen over.

  'The shapes look like an Aztec pattern. It reminded me of crop circles.

  

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  Photographer James Foster snapped the scene last Monday, capturing the castle's shadow stretching out against the ice 

  

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  Following his visit last Monday, Mr Foster revealed he 'got really lucky,' as he wasn't expecting the loch to be frozen over

  'Everything came together with the loch frozen over and the sunlight hitting it.

  'I've been there many times before, it's very peaceful and very quiet, it's a very still loch.

  'You get some amazing sunsets.'

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  Aerial shots show the swirling patterns surrounding the 13th century ruin - which was once occupied by the English during the Wars of Independence 

  The shadow of the ruins reflected on the surface of the loch, with mountains looming on the horizon.

  He was stunned by the patterns which formed beneath the water which reminded him of the Aztecs. 

  Located in the heart of the south-eastern Highlands, Lochindorb Castle was originally owned by the Comyns clan, but was later occupied by the English during the Wars of Independence.

  In 1303, King Edward I visited the castle, but it was later dismanted in the 15th century.

  Its original cast iron gate, known as a 'yett,' was transported to nearby Cawdor Castle and is still on display.