The Antonine Wall Antonine Wall - Map

Antonine Wall


 Bar Hill & Croy Hill
Edge of Empire - Scotland's Roman Frontier Lonely Planet, Walking in Scotland

Photographs of the Ruins of the Roman Fort

and the Antonine Wall at Barr Hill

and Croy Hill near Twechar


Sign at Roman Fort on Barr Hill at Twechar

Sign at Roman Fort

on Barr Hill at Twechar



Ruins of Roman Fort on Barr Hill at Twechar

Ruins of Roman Fort

on Barr Hill at Twechar





Ruins of Roman Fort on Barr Hill at Twechar

Ruins of Roman Fort

on Barr Hill at Twechar





Ruins of Roman Fort on Barr Hill at Twechar

Ruins of Roman Fort

on Barr Hill at Twechar






Aerial view of Ruins of Roman Fort on Barr Hill at Twechar

Aerial view of Roman Fort

on Barr Hill at Twechar






Information Board for Roman Fort on Barr Hill at Twechar

Information Board for Roman Fort

on Barr Hill at Twechar

(  Click here or on image for large format version )






Information Board for Roman Fort on Barr Hill at Twechar

Information Board for Roman Fort

on Barr Hill at Twechar

(  Click here or on image for large format version )




Town of Kilsyth and Kilsyth Hills viewed from Roman Fort on Barr Hill

Town of Kilsyth and Kilsyth Hills

from Roman Fort on Barr Hill





Remains of Roman Fort on Barr Hill at Twechar

Remains of Roman Fort

on Barr Hill at Twechar




Remains of Roman Fort on Barr Hill at Twechar

Remains of Roman Fort

on Barr Hill at Twechar




Distance marker on the Antonine Wall

Distance marker stone

on the Antonine Wall






Village of Twechar and Forth and Clyde Canal viewed from Roman Fort on Barr Hill

Village of Twechar

and Forth & Clyde Canal

from site of Roman Fort on Barr Hill





Signpost to Croy Hill at Craigmarloch

Signpost to Croy Hill

at Craigmarloch




Map of Antonine Wall at Croy Hill

Map of the Antonine Wall at Croy Hill

(  Click here or on image for large format version )




Roman Gravestone on Croy Hill

Roman Gravestone

on Croy Hill





Edge of Empire - Scotland's Roman Frontier

Auchinstarry Basin on Forth & Clyde Canal

and village of Kilsyth 

from route of Antonine Wall at Croy Hill




Kilsyth and Auchinstarry Basin on Forth & Clyde Canal from Croy Hill

Auchinstarry Basin on Forth & Clyde Canal

and Kilsyth

from Croy Hill










Antonine Wall information board in Twechar

Antonine Wall information board

 in
Twechar





Map of Antonine Wall across Scotland

Map of Antonine Wall

across
Scotland





Map of Antonine Wall around Croy Hill

Map of the Antonine Wall

around Croy Hill




Map of Antonine Wall from Croy Hill to Tollpark at Cumbernauld

Map of the Antonine Wall

from Croy Hill to Tollpark

at Cumbernauld






Location Map of Roman Fort on Barr Hill at Kilsyth

Location Map of Roman Fort

on Barr Hill
 at Kilsyth




Map of Roman Forts on the Antonine Wall

Map of Roman Forts

 on the Antonine Wall





Route Map - Kirkintilloch to Kilsyth

Route Map - Kirkintilloch to  Kilsyth




ANTONINE WALL WALK - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

This walk is a long the Antonine Way from Twechar to Bar Hill and Croy Hill running by the Forth and Clyde Canal.
It is a six mile walk with the first half having some steep climbs, but the second part is easy with much of it on the
towpath beside the canal. On the main access road into
Twechar look for a signpost to the Antonine Way beside the War Memorial on the left and just opposite a small industrial estate.
Start at this signpost. It is a steady climb before you reach a sign to Bar Hill Roman Fort.
These way marks bear the John Muir Way logo. This is because the newly opened John Muir Way follows this part of the Antonine Way.
There is an information panel when you arrive at the outer edge of the Roman Fort which was built. in the 140s AD. lt housed 480 soldiers drawn from many parts of the Roman Empire. How the recruits from the Mediterranean must have felt the cold. The Antonine Wall was abandoned after 20 years and the troops were withdrawn to Hadrian's Wall.
The foundations of the Fort’s buildings can be seen and each is labelled. There are clear views to the north but in other directions the view is blocked by huge deciduous trees.
The signs now point to a high hill nearby where an Iron Age fort was situated.
The view from this vantage point eastwards along the wall would be spectacular if the conifers were removed.
The walk continues along the edge of the huge ditch which the Romans dug in front of the Wall to impede attackers.
Eventually you cross the road to the Auchinstarry Marina and continue to follow the John Muir signs to Croy Hill.
From this point on you are on a continuous long climb to the plateau summit of the hill. It's quite a slog.
Pass a ruined brick building on your right ( not Roman ). About 600 yards further on, on the left of the track, is a low rock with a panel on it which describes the Roman Croy Hill Fort which was built here—but there are now no obvious signs of it. On the descent you soon come to a surfaced path. Take the one signposted to Auchenstarry and at one point there is a choice between a broad track going downhill and a narrower one to the left — both take you to Auchenstarry.
You eventually arrive at the Forth and Clyde Canal. Turn left to arrive shortly at the Auchenstarry Marina with the
Boathouse available for food and drink. Afterwards, cross the canal by the roadbridge and head west towards Twechar.
 It's a delightful walk by the canal. Water lilies and yellow irises line the canal.
After nearly a couple of miles you reach the bridge that takes you across the canal and back to the start.



ANTONINE WALL - KIRKINTILLOCH to KILSYTH - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:


Location: Central Belt
Map: OS Landranger 64
Distance: 8 miles ( 13km )
Time: 4-5 hours
Terrain: Canal towpath and hill paths

Give your legs a much-needed stretch on this straightforward walk, which uses a section of the John Muir Way ( ]MW ) and combines canal paths with a section of the Romans’ more northerly coast-to-coast barricade ( the other being of course Hadrian’s Wall ). The Antonine Wall was an earth barrier so less of it remains; consequently it's less dramatic than its more illustrious counterpart but it is still worth seeking out. The start and finish points are eight miles apart so to avoid being stranded due to seasonal disruption to bus timetables it's probably best that you arrange for someone to collect you from the end of the walk, at Auchinstarry Marina.
From Kirkintilloch you head east along the towpath of the Forth and Clyde Canal for 5km to Twechar.
This is very easy walking and has a surprisingly rural feel given the generally urban nature of the surrounding areas. The canal is lined with trees and bushes and holds a fair amount of waterbirds including some graceful swans.
The canal, which was largely built by the itinerant labourers called navies, is left at Twechar, over an old swing bridge, and the route heads uphill before turning off to reach Bar Hill, one of the best sections of the Antonine Wall. The wall was built between 142 and 154AD on the orders of the Emperor Antoninus Pius and is about 63km long, with 16 forts. The wall was abandoned only eight years after being finished. The elevated nature of the wall, which generally aimed to keep to the higher ground, provides good views of the Campsie Fells to the north and the sprawl of
Glasgow to the south-west. The route drops from Bar Hill on a track to cross the B802 then swerves around a bit ~ keep a careful eye on the waymarks here, particularly at a point where you go straight ahead on a track and not the more obvious right turn — and then goes through a gate to climb on to Croy Hill. There was a Roman fort here and you pass beneath part of the high banks of the fortification.
The final stretch of the walk is back along the canal path — not part of the JMW — to the marina at Auchinstarry where there is also a sensory garden trail, a welcoming bar and restaurant called the Boathouse and just across the road the well-known climbing crags in the old quarry. Alternatively, call your personal taxi and head home so you can crack on with replacing all those calories you've just burned.

Route:
Start at Kirkinlilloch ( GR: NS656739 ).
Follow the canal towpath east for 5km.
Cross the bridge at Twechar and walk uphill.
In 400m go L on a track, still uphill.
After the track curves R go L on path and follow John Muir Way signs over Bar Hlll.
Leave the woods and follow a track down to the road.
Cross and follow signs to pick up a track then a narrower path leading on to Croy Hill.
Follow clear grass path over the hill, dip L and walk through a small valley.
Continue with grass path.
Under power lines go L on a track.
Follow JMW signs down to the canal.
Cross and TL on the towpath back to Auchinstarry.
Cross the bridge for the marina ( GR: NS722767 ).
Return by bus via Kilsylh, or arrange to be collected.


 
Antonine Wall Gallery Thumbnail Gallery :: Forth & Clyde Canal Gallery Photo Gallery

<< BackAntonine Wall Index : Next >>


References:



Scotland Index :: Scotland Walks

Glencoe | Ben Nevis | Knoydart | Isle of Skye | Isle of Arran | The West Highland Way

The Eastern Highlands | The Central Highlands | The Southern Highlands | The NW Highlands


Adventure Travel : Worldwide Mountaineering : Site Index

fb icon  google+ icon Linkedin icon  twitter











Guide Books & Maps - Scotland:-


Western Scotland & the Western Isles OS Road Map Northern Scotland OS Road MapSouthern Scotland OS Road MapGlasgow Popular Hills - Map





  

Edge of Empire - Scotland's Roman Frontier  The Antonine Wall  Antonine Wall - Map

Glasgow Visitor Guide - Colin Baxter Itchy Insider's Guide to Glasgow Glasgow Footprint Pocket Guide Glasgow Insight Pocket Guide Glasgow Guide Pub Companion Glasgow Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Scotland - Rough Guide

Glasgow Insight Pocket GuideCollins Street Map of GlasgowGlasgow: Then & NowThey belonged to Glasgow Phillips Street Atlas of Glasgow & West Central Scotland Glasgow: The Photographic Atlas100 Hillwalks around Glasgow 50 Walks in Glasgow & SW Scotland

Visit Scotland - Touring Guide Scotland: Where to Stay - Hotels & Guest Houses Scotland: Where to Stay - Bed & Breakfast Rough Guide ScotlandScottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Scotland - Lonely PlanetScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet Great Glasgow StoriesGlasgow & Surroundings - Insight Guide

West Highland Way: Official GuideWest Highland Way: Rucksac ReadersWest Highland Way: TrailblazerThe West Highland WayWest Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map West Highland Way Wet Highland Way - Official Guide

Munro Almanac The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club The Isle of Skye The Isle of Arran Wilderness Walks Ski Mountaineering in Scotland

More Wilderness Walks 50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay Skye - W.A.PoucherMagic of the Munros Mountaineering in Scotland and Undiscovered Scotland by W.H.MurrayA Long Walk on the Isle of Skye

Classic Climbs - Central & Southern Highlands The Isle of Arran Lonely Planet, Walking in ScotlandPathfinder Guide: Skye and NW Highlands WalksPathfinder Guide: Fort William and Glen Coe Walks Rambler's Guide: Ben Nevis and Glen Coe50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay - Chris Townsend









extremetracking
 eXTReMe Tracker


extremetracking
Sitelock caingram.com
SiteLock
Sitelock
Sitelock caingram.info
SiteLock
Sitelock