As the English approached up the defile, called by the locals the "Steps of Trool", they were forced to proceed single file. King Robert observed their progress from across the loch and, at a given signal, his men pushed the wall of boulders down the slope. This may have been followed by arrows and hand-to-hand combat as King Robert's men charged down the slope, however, some question the likelihood of being able to charge down an extremely steep 700-meter slope. The narrowness of the path prevented support from either the front or the rear. Without room to manoeuvre, many of the English below were killed, and the rest withdrew. King Robert not only survived but went on the following month to win his first important engagement at the Battle of Loudoun Hill.