Hidden Scotland
Sign in
The castle walls reflected in the moat.
Argyll and Bute

Rothesay Castle

The round, moated castle of the Stewarts in the middle of Rothesay, with Scotland's only circular curtain wall.

Visit website
Welcome

Rothesay Castle stands in the middle of Rothesay, on Bute, its round walls of red sandstone rising from a water-filled moat among the town's streets, and it is one of the most unusual castles in Scotland.

It dates from the 1200s and has the only circular curtain wall in the country; the four towers that project from it were added after the Norse siege of 1263.

It was a castle of the Stewarts, the family who became Scotland's royal line, and its story is bound up with theirs. Inside, the restored gatehouse holds the great hall, with exhibitions on the castle's royal past, and you can walk right round the moat for the best view of the walls, with ducks for company. From April to September it opens daily from 9.30am to 5pm; in winter, from Saturday to Wednesday, 10am to 4pm. It closes for lunch from noon to 1pm.

Close byAmbience CaféA café and restaurant on Victoria Street in Rothesay, known for its fresh breads, cinnamon buns and focaccia.1 min by roadSee itThe front of Ambience on Victoria Street, Rothesay, under its blue awning.
Before you go

Open daily 9.30am to 5pm from 1 April to 30 September; Saturday to Wednesday 10am to 4pm from 1 October to 31 March.

Closed 12 noon to 1pm for lunch; last entry 30 minutes before closing. Adults £7.50 online.

Summer
1 Apr to 30 Sep, daily 09:30 to 17:00.
Winter
1 Oct to 31 Mar, Sat to Wed 10:00 to 16:00.
Lunch
Closed 12:00 to 13:00.

Opening hours

Monday
9.30am–noon, 1pm–5pm
Tuesday
9.30am–noon, 1pm–5pm
Wednesday
9.30am–noon, 1pm–5pm
Thursday
9.30am–noon, 1pm–5pm
Friday
9.30am–noon, 1pm–5pm
Saturday
9.30am–noon, 1pm–5pm
Sunday
9.30am–noon, 1pm–5pm
Where it is

The centre of Rothesay, Bute.

Close byIn Rothesay.
  1. Display cases of birds and finds in Bute Museum's hall.Bute MuseumThe island's own museum on Stuart Street in Rothesay, by the castle, with the archaeology, history and wildlife of Bute.Under a mile1 min by road
  2. Rothesay's seafront terraces rising above the bay.Rothesay TownBute's Victorian resort town on a wide bay, with a moated castle, a royal charter of 1401 and celebrated toilets on the pier.Under a mile1 min by road
  3. The Kettledrum café on its corner in Rothesay, a red shopfront with CAFE in white letters above the door.Kettledrum CaféA family-run café and bistro on East Princes Street in Rothesay, for fish and chips, pies and early dinners.Under a mile1 min by road
  4. The white shopfront of Musicker on Rothesay's High Street, its name on a green sign above the windows.MusickerA vegetarian café on Rothesay's High Street, opened in 2002 for good coffee and good music.Under a mile1 min by road
  5. Rothesay Castle's round walls behind its moat.Isle of ButeAn island in the Firth of Clyde, a train and a short ferry from Glasgow, with a round moated castle, Mount Stuart and sandy bays.2 miles5 min by road
Directions
The front of Ambience on Victoria Street, Rothesay, under its blue awning.RestaurantsAmbience Café0.3 miles
The roofless gable of St Mary's Chapel among the graves.AttractionsSt Mary’s Chapel0.6 miles
Mount Stuart's red sandstone front across the lawns.AttractionsMount Stuart3.9 miles
The wide sands of Ettrick Bay at low tide.AttractionsEttrick Bay5.1 miles
The low brick café at Ettrick Bay on a sunny day, with blue pillars and doors, benches and parasols along the front.CafeEttrick Bay Café5.1 miles
Scalpsie Bay's sand and the green fields behind, from above.AttractionsScalpsie Bay5.8 miles
A bus on the shore road round the wide sandy bay, the village beyond.AttractionsKilchattan Bay8.0 miles
The ruins of St Blane's under a blue sky.AttractionsSt Blane's Chapel8.9 miles
Viking longboat beside the Battle of Largs 1263 monument signAttractionsVikingar, Largs14 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the castle, and when each is next free.

A white harled house with crow-stepped gables catches the sunset glow above a loch, yellow flowering shrubs in the foreground.Glenstriven House
  • To stay
  • In Argyll and Bute
  • 8 miles from the castle
Free 25–27 OctThe Hollies, Argyll and ButeThe Hollies
  • Sleeps 18
  • In Argyll and Bute
  • 9 miles from the castle
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in Argyll and ButeAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
Hidden Scotland, the magazine

Scotland, in print.

Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.

Get Issue 13Read it here
Find out more

For further reading, before you go.