Rothesay is the main town on the Isle of Bute in Scotland. This town's history dates back hundreds of years, even before 1400, when it received Royal Burgh status by King Robert III. It was a popular tourist resort, even in Victorian times and was home to many wealthy industrialists. You can reach Rothesay by taking a ferry from Wemyss Bay. The town enjoys a long association with the Royal Family, as the heir to the throne has always been known as the Duke of Rothesay. This tradition continues with Prince Charles currently holding that title. However, there is no land entitlement with this title and the main landowner on the island is the Marquis of Bute.

The most prominent feature of Rothesay is its castle, which is located in the centre of the town. This castle dates back to the 13th century and after the Stewarts gained control of the Scottish throne, the family spent a lot of time at this castle. As a result, the town has long had an association with the Stewarts. The castle was burned in 1685, and remained in ruins until the early 19th century. At this time, the Marquis of Bute began restoring the castle, but it was not until the 1960’s that the restoration work was completed and the castle was passed over to the Historic Trust of Scotland. Rothesay Castle is unique among the castles of Britain because of its circular structure and the fact that it still has a moat.