Rothesay Castle

Rothesay Castle is unusual among Scottish castles because it was built very early and has a rare circular design. It is also closely linked with the Stewart family. Before they became kings in 1371, the Stewarts served as hereditary high stewards — a title passed down through the family. Their job was to manage the king’s household and estates. Today, the heir to the throne still carries the traditional title Duke of Rothesay.

Walter, the 3rd High Steward, probably built the first stone castle in the early 1200s to defend against attacks from Norway. Norwegian forces besieged and captured the castle twice, in 1230 and 1263. To strengthen the defences, the Stewarts later added four projecting towers. These improvements worked so well that the castle was never taken again.

The great gatehouse was added later, but over time the castle fell into ruin. In the 1800s, the Crichton Stuarts, the Marquises of Bute, restored the remains and gave the castle much of the appearance it has today.

In 1098, Scotland’s King Edgar surrendered the Hebrides and Bute to Norway, following centuries of Viking pressure. But his descendants were determined to reclaim the islands.

By 1200, Alan, 2nd High Steward, had retaken Bute. His son, Walter, 3rd High Steward, probably built the mighty, circular sandstone wall that still dominates Rothesay Castle.

It soon became clear why such a formidable castle was needed. In 1230, Haakon IV of Norway ordered his loyal followers to sail into the Clyde and capture Rothesay. This they did, after a three-day siege and much loss of life. But they were soon forced to retreat.

The Norse returned in 1263, this time led by the king himself. They retook the castle, and would doubtless have done more damage, but a violent storm scattered their longships.

After an inconclusive skirmish at Largs, the Norse retreated. Haakon died in the Bishop’s Palace, Kirkwall, on his return to Norway. Three years later, his son Magnus handed back the Hebrides to Alexander III.

When David II died in 1371, the throne passed to his nephew, Robert Stewart, 7th High Steward. Robert – the son of Walter Stewart and Robert the Bruce’s daughter Marjorie Bruce – was the first monarch of the Stewart dynasty.

Now a royal castle, Rothesay was given a makeover in the later 1400s. James IV and James V carried out major works, including adding the impressive gatehouse and St Michael’s Chapel in the courtyard.

Rothesay then fell into ruins and was restored only in the 1800s, by the Crichton Stuarts, as keepers of the castle.