How many days?
Most hikers I met along the wall try to minimise the number of days. If it's just about fitness and sport then I guess that is fine. But if you are actually interested in Roman history then it is wiser to slow things down at least so you can see everything. The itinerary I am showing here incorporates the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow which is situated a bit south from the wall. It also incorporates the two Roman harbour forts East and West from the wall that supplied the whole operation.
Actually knowing what you are looking at during your hike!
There were many forts along the Antonine Wall and a multitude smaller mile forts/castles. Many of these can be seen and many of them cannot be seen. The wall can be seen by traces of the ditches the Romans dug north and south of the wall or around forts. In some locations, foundations can be seen and in Bearsden a stone foundation of a bath house.
Names of the known forts from East to West:
Cramond and port- Rumabo
Carriden - Velunia
Kinneil Fort
Inveravon Fort
Mumrills - Volitanio
Falkirk Fort
Watling Lodge Fortlet
Rough Castle Fort
Seabegs Wood Fortlet
Castlecary - Pexa
Barhill - Begesse
Balmuildy - Medio
Kirkintilloch - Colania
Golden Hill Fort
Old Kilpatrick - Nemeton
Dumbarton Fort and port - Subdobiadon
SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN FOR THE DIGITAL MAP
The all including itinerary!
DAY 1 - Day of Arrival
Edinburgh Airport / Edinburgh Waverley Station
Visit: National Museum of Scotland Edinburgh
Visit: Edinburgh
BandB/Hotel: Acelyn Bed and Breakfast
- The National Museum of Scotland has artefacts from the Eastern part of the Antonine Wall including the Bridgeness distance slab.
- Edinburgh has many architectural gems including the Neo Classic National Monument in the shape of a temple ruin and the Edinburgh Observatory which reminds of the Acropolis including the temple of Nike in the front right corner. You just have to love those Victorians.
Start: Cramond (Rumabo) Fort
via: The beautiful shoreline of the river Forth with several Castles and other historical and architectural sites
via: Carriden (Velunia) Fort location en the start location of the wall in Bo'ness
Finish: Bo'ness
BandB/Hotel: Richmond Park Hotel
Campsite: No campsite available
- Cramond (Rumabo) Fort and port was established around 140AD and occupied until around 170AD and a further period of occupation from around 208 to 214. The most famous archaeological find is a sculpture known as the Cramond Lioness.
- At the start location of the wall in Bo'Ness is a replica of a Roman stone slab.
Start: Bo'ness
via: Kinneil Museum (stable house)
via: Kinneil Roman Mile Fort
via: Remains of the wall and ditch at several locations
via: Callendar House
via: Anson Avenue remains of the wall and ditch
via: Rough Castle Roman Fort
Finish: Castlecary (Pexa)
BandB/Hotel: Castlecary Hotel
Campsite: No campsite available
- Kinneil Museum (stable house) is often closed. It has a small exhibition about Romans and the Antonine Wall.
- Kinneil Roman Mile Fort shows the most clearly visible example of an Antonine Wall fortlet in a field to the west of Kinneil House.
- Callendar House has a permanent exhibition about the Romans and the Antonine Wall on the 1st floor left. The fast garden in front of the house shows remains of the ditch and wall and it is possible to walk through.
- Anson Avenue has a surprising section of remains of the wall and a very deep ditch in a good condition.
- Rough Castle Roman Fort had an area of about 4,000 square metres. The fort contained several buildings, made of stone. There are traces of the commander's house, the barracks, the headquarters, the bath house and a granary.
- The Castlecary Hotel was built on the location of Garnhall Temporary Camp no. 1
Start: Castlecary (Pexa)
via: Remains of the wall and ditch at several locations
via: Croy Hill Fort and Fortlet locations
via: Bar Hill (Begesse) Fort
via: Auld Kirk Museum / Fountain with Foustina, daughter of Antoninus
Finish: Glasgow, River Kelvin
BandB/Hotel: Glasgow House
Campsite: No campsite available
- Croy Hill Roman Fort was a fort, fortlet and also a probable temporary camp. At Croy Hill fragments have been found of Jupiter Dolichenus, an altar dedicated to Nymphs and an altar to Mars and can be seen in the Hunterian Museum.
- Bar Hill (Begesse) Fort. An altar of Silvanus was found at the fort in 1895 and can be seen in the Hunterian Museum. Foundation remains were found of the houses in the fort.
- Auld Kirk Museum, with exhibits on the Antonine Wall and Romans. The park behind the museum is the location of Colania Fort and several plaques and a fountain with Foustina the daughter of Antoninus, are featured in the park.
Visit to the Hunterian Museum and see more of Glasgow.
- Hunterian Museum at the University of Glasgow has a large collection of artefacts from the western half of the Antonine Wall with 17 of the 19 known distance slabs.
- Bothwellhaugh (Clotagenium) Fort and Bath House are situated in Strathclyde Country Park in Motherwell, South-East from Glasgow. This is not nearby but if you are really interested it is possible to take a train/car/taxi and visit. The Bath House foundations are fully visible and the Clotagenium Fort is still a square area on the hill. Hundreds of artefacts were found on the site and are on display at the Hunterian Museum.
Start: Glasgow, River Kelvin
via: Stone foundations of the wall in Bearsden
via: Remains Roman Bath House Bearsden
via: Remains of the wall and ditch at several locations
via: Castlehill Roman Fort
via: Golden Hill Roman Fort
via: End of the wall and fort location Old Kilpatrick (Nemeton)
via: Dumbarton Castle and other historical and architectural sites
Finish: Dumbarton (Subdobiadon) Fort Location
BandB/Hotel: Loch Lomond Apartments
Campsite: No campsite available
- Roman Bath House Bearsden. Not just the remains of a Roman bath-house but also the latrine within the area of the fort’s annexe. Part of the steep slope of the defence of the fort annexe can be seen when you walk into the grounds of the Bearsden Baptist Church opposite the bath house.
- Castlehill Fort was mostly located on the east slope of the hill. Gates and defences have been found and some of the structures within the interior of the fort. Two distance slabs have been found. One was built into a cottage at Castlehill around 1698 and the other was ploughed up in 1847. The small plateau at the north-west might have been a former fortlet before the fort was constructed.
- Golden Hill Fort. Within Golden Hill Park, a small fort and an earlier fortlet have been found with on the west slope of Golden Hill a Roman bath-house near the Duntocher War Memorial.
- Subdobiadon Fort Location Dumbarton. One of the forts located to the east and west of the wall guarding against any unauthorised crossing of the two waterways. A Roman road was built on the northern shores of the Clyde extending west from Old Kilpatrick. It is believed to link the Wall with a Roman port at Dumbarton.
Start: Dumbarton
Finish: Bishopton Fort location
It is possible to hike to Bishopton Fort location.
From here take a taxi to the airport if you fly from Glasgow Airport.
No remains are visible of the Fort. Now Ingliston Country Club Bishopton with a outdoor terrace. Not a bad destination for refreshments.
- Bishopton Roman Fort and two fortlets at Lurg Moor and near Skelmorie monitored the upper Clyde River. Sadly no remains can be seen and the site is now Ingliston Country Club Bishopton with an outdoor terrace at fort location. Not a bad destination for refreshments.
ANIMALS
Depending on the time of the year you might meet animals along your hike.
Midges can be greeting you everywhere in Scotland. Maybe bring some anti-mosquito spray.
Cows with calves can be a bit troublesome. But there are only two fields on the entire stretch where you might meet them: a field just West from Bar Hill Fort and between location Garnhall Watchtower and Cumbernauld Airport, and they will probably not be there when you hike by. Just in case: The mothers with calves can quickly walk up to scare you away. This can be really scary and they are faster than you think. If you wear a heavy backpack you won't outrun them. Luckily most cows will be nowhere near you and on the other side of the field and don't even think of approaching you. Best is to climb the fence and walk through the neighbouring field past them. Even if they don't have calves and are in the way this is the best strategy. Don't worry, farmers know you will have to do this. It's not a problem.
Dogs are hardly found on this route with the odd exception of locals walking them. Luckily people in this part of the country have well behaved and nice dogs (hunting-species, standbys and retrievers) so no worries there.
MUD and WET GRASS
There will be muddy patches here and there. There are stretches of grass which can be wet and East from Falkirk, Castlecary and Croy you will walk off-road for quite a bit. The weather in this part of the country changes all the time as you will experience. Bring a super lightweight raincoat and think of a solution for walking in the mud and wet grass. Most hikers I met along the way are not really ready for it. Even hiking shoes and gaiters are not really ready for it. The last time I walked the wall I wore army/police-grade rubber overboots over my low hiking shoes, which is the only working solution.
Blanes´ full Antonine Wall Hike
Unlike the route of Hadrian´s Wall in England, The Antonine Wall has no signage that is connecting the full route. There are signs, but only to some of the remains and only from local main roads. I have solved this problem for you by creating a full route map.
Features:
- Surprisingly green middle Scotland!
- Intended to stay as close to the wall location as possible.
- No unnecessary detours.
- Includes locations of temporary and marching camps
- Includes locations of temporary and marching camps
- Includes Cramond Fort (Carriden Bo´ness - Cramond)
- Includes Bishopton Fort (Old Kilpatrick - Bishopton)
- Includes Hunterian Museum and Bothwellhaugh Fort.
- Includes National Museum of Scotland and replica Roman dome temple.
Red line: The Antonine Wall
- Includes Hunterian Museum and Bothwellhaugh Fort.
- Includes National Museum of Scotland and replica Roman dome temple.
- Additional walk to Camelon Fort location.
- Additional walk to the Stenhouse Roman dome temple location. Also known as Arthur's Oon.
- Additional walk to the Stenhouse Roman dome temple location. Also known as Arthur's Oon.
- Additional visit Bothwellhaugh (Clotagenium) Fort and Bath House Strathclyde Country Park.
- Additional walk to Bishopton Fort location
Blue line: Walking route paved
Green line: Walking route unpaved or path
Purple line: Alternative route or Additional route
Green objects: Visible remains of The Antonine Wall and/or Ditch
Light Orange logos: Little or No remains: Important Locations and Locations Forts and Fortlets
Dark Orange logos: Visible remains: Important Locations and Locations Forts and Fortlets
Red Caution Logo !: Traffic situations that need extra caution.
Use the Google maps app on your smartphone to open the following map:
Blanes´ full Antonine Wall Walk:
What an amazing detailed route. This will be really helpful when walking the antonine wall.
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