Famous castles of Scotland
In 1263, Rothesay
was taken again by the Norse under Haakon IV before the Battle of Largs. Although the
Battle of Largs was indecisive, Haakon's campaign was unsuccessful, and effectively ended
Norse influence in western Scotland.The 13th century curtain wall seen from the south-east,
across the moat. The bases of the south-east and south-west towers can be seen.The early
castle comprised only the roughly circular curtain wall, 3m thick and around 43m across, built
on a low mound, with a battlement on top accessed by open stairs. The moat was connected
to the sea, the shoreline being some 100m further south than today. The broad crenellations
can be made out within the walls, which were later raised. Holes in the upper wall would
have supported a timber bretasche, a projecting structure serving as an extended battlement.
This curtain wall was built of coursed ashlar, and had only two openings in its length. The
main gate was an arched opening with a simple timber door
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