rothesay castle

one of the earliest surviving castles in Scotland unusually designed as a round fortress built in the 1200s on the site of an earlier wooden fortress against the Norse invasions of the Isle of Bute as they tried to retain control of the western islands
after defeat of the Norse at Largs the castle had a long and close association with the Stewarts and from 1371 with the royal family when Robert 11 gained the throne
it has a wonderful moat and restored great hall and other features make it  well worth a visit
followed by a good lunch at the Esplanade restaurant "where the locals eat"