Cowal before it was the defended medieval homestead of the MacEwens; at first there was a palisaded enclosure, and then a promontory fort with a timber rampart. The remote areas in the north east of Cowal, which were theoretically under the dominion of Clan Lamont, were used by Scottish kings for hunting; indeed, Cowal was the last part of Britain to have wild boar. When King John Balliol was threatened by his rival, Robert de Bruys, Balliol's ally, the king of England, established Henry Percy at Carrick Castle, in the region; likewise Dunoon Castle further south. De Bruys expelled the English
Blythe Duff at Edinburgh Castle on 6 March 2003. In November 2005 she helped launch ScotsCare, a charity aimed at helping Scottish people living in London who have money or health problems. She was asked to be an Ambassador of The Prince's Trust, having benefited from the charity in the '80s. In May 2007, she presented an evening in Holyrood Palace in the presence of HRH Prince Charles, The Duke of Rothesay, to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the trust. Blythe was Chieftain of Bute Highland Games in 2009 and Chieftain of the Cowal Games in 2011. She was given an