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The roofless gable of St Mary's Chapel among the graves.
Argyll and Bute

St Mary’s Chapel

The roofless chancel of Rothesay's medieval church, with the canopied tombs of a Stewart knight and an unknown lady.

Welcome

St Mary's Chapel stands on the southern edge of Rothesay, beside the High Kirk, and it is easy to drive straight past it.

It is the roofless chancel of the town's medieval parish church, built in the early 1300s, when the north of Bute was growing in importance around the castle, and it served both the castle and the townsfolk.

Small as it is, it holds two remarkable canopied tombs. In one lies the carved effigy of a knight, whose coat of arms shows that he was of the blood of the royal Stewarts; in the other, the effigy of a lady, whose name is not known. It has been suggested that Robert II had the knight's tomb made for an ancestor, or even for himself before he was buried elsewhere. The chapel is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland, and it is a quiet, surprising place to stop on the way south from the town.

Close byMusickerA vegetarian café on Rothesay's High Street, opened in 2002 for good coffee and good music.2 min by roadSee itThe white shopfront of Musicker on Rothesay's High Street, its name on a green sign above the windows.
Before you go

The chapel is on the southern edge of Rothesay, beside the High Kirk, on the road south from the town.

Where
The south edge of Rothesay, PA20 9JH.
Care
Historic Environment Scotland.
Where it is

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. The castle walls reflected in the moat.Rothesay CastleThe round, moated castle of the Stewarts in the middle of Rothesay, with Scotland's only circular curtain wall.Under a mile2 min by road
  3. 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 mile2 min by road
  4. The front of Ambience on Victoria Street, Rothesay, under its blue awning.Ambience CaféA café and restaurant on Victoria Street in Rothesay, known for its fresh breads, cinnamon buns and focaccia.Under a mile2 min by road
  5. 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 mile2 min by road
Directions
The white shopfront of Musicker on Rothesay's High Street, its name on a green sign above the windows.CafeMusicker0.8 miles
Rothesay Castle's round walls behind its moat.AttractionsIsle of Bute2.4 miles
Mount Stuart's red sandstone front across the lawns.AttractionsMount Stuart4.0 miles
Scalpsie Bay's sand and the green fields behind, from above.AttractionsScalpsie Bay5.3 miles
The wide sands of Ettrick Bay at low tide.AttractionsEttrick Bay5.5 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 Café5.5 miles
A bus on the shore road round the wide sandy bay, the village beyond.AttractionsKilchattan Bay7.4 miles
The ruins of St Blane's under a blue sky.AttractionsSt Blane's Chapel8.3 miles
Viking longboat beside the Battle of Largs 1263 monument signAttractionsVikingar, Largs14 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the chapel, 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 St Mary's
Free 25–27 OctThe Hollies, Argyll and ButeThe Hollies
  • Sleeps 18
  • In Argyll and Bute
  • 9 miles from St Mary's
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
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