the barmakin or walled courtyard existed with towers at the angles on the area between the two relatively deep glens created by small un-named rivulets. the castle guarded and controlled a mountain pass as well as the old road portpatrick road that then ran along the high ground. the tower had two vaults, one over the great hall and the second over the ground floor. 19th century engravings show that substantially more of the great hall vaulted ceiling survived at that time. red sandstone appears to have been selectively used as a decorative feature in the upper vault, window arches, etc.