Explore the Roman Antonine Wall

29th Mar 2025

What is the Antonine Wall?

The Antonine Wall is the northernmost frontier barrier of the Roman Empire in Britain, stretching across central Scotland. It was built around 142 AD during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius. The Wall marked the Roman Empire’s furthest incursion into Caledonia (modern-day Scotland).

It was constructed primarily from turf on a stone foundation and spanned roughly 37 miles (60 km) from Bo’ness on the Firth of Forth (east) to Old Kilpatrick on the River Clyde (west).

Today, it’s a part of the “Frontiers of the Roman Empire” UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also includes Hadrian’s Wall in northern England.

🔗 UNESCO World Heritage – Antonine Wall

🔗 Historic Environment Scotland – Antonine Wall

You can get lots of great information on the main Antonine Wall website re-launched in 2025. We also linked to a range of other sources below.

Note: many parts of the Antonine Wall – like Hadrian’s Wall – have disappeared into the mists of time. However, you can still see good sections of the Wall ditch and view artefacts in museums (as well as some Roman replicas near the line of the Wall). There is also public art and interpretation panels along the route.

Roman soldiers in historical costumes marching on a grassy field towards a large stone building. — Members of a Roman re-enactment group approach Kinneil House, Bo’ness – highlighting the connection to the Antonine Wall.

Walking the Antonine Wall

Walking the Antonine Wall offers a journey through Roman history and Scotland’s scenic landscapes. The route is best followed from Bo’ness to Old Kilpatrick, passing through fields, towns, and woodlands.

In 2025, the Rediscovering the Antonine Wall project produced an online guide, highlighting a suggested walking route along the line of the Antonine Wall.

There are also individual sections/areas to explore, with signage and well maintained trails.

Many parts of the much-longer John Muir Way also visit Antonine Wall sites.

Here are some notable walking spots:

Kinneil Estate, Bo’ness – Start your journey here with preserved Roman fortlet remains.
Callendar Park, Falkirk – A stretch through beautiful woodland with ditches and ramparts.
Rough Castle Fort – The best-preserved Roman fort on the Wall. Park at the Falkirk Wheel and walk up to the site (pictured below).
Croy Hill and Bar Hill Fort, near Auchinstarry Marina, by Kilsyth.
Forth and Clyde Canal – the canal towpath links a number of important sites, including Old Kilpatrick (the end of the Wall) and Lambhill Stables (home of a modern Roman sculpture).

Public bodies and charities have produced guides to walks around the Antonine Wall:

A group of people walking along a grassy path beside the Antonine Wall, surrounded by trees and rolling hills. — Walking along the scenic route of the Antonine Wall at Rough Castle, near the Falkirk Wheel.

A wooden signpost indicating the Antonine Wall and the John Muir Way, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and cloudy skies. — The John Muir Way crosses parts of the Antonine Wall (like here at Croy Hill).

Roman sites to visit along the Wall (east to west)

Carriden Roman Fort site, Bo’ness
Did you know the Carriden area of Bo’ness was once called Velunia? The name was given to the local Roman fort, serving the Antonine Wall. It was located in what’s now an empty field, on land looking down on Carriden Beach and the John Muir Way. Check out our audio guide to the area.
Bridgeness Slab Replica, Bo’ness
The slab marks the eastern end of the Wall. This replica was unveiled in 2012. The site also includes interpretation panels. Other replicas are also located along the line of the Wall.
Kinneil Museum and Estate, Bo’ness
Roman artefacts are on show in the museum. A short walk away are the remains of a Roman fortlet (pictured below). The site also boasts the impressive Kinneil House.
Callendar House Museum and Callendar Park, Falkirk
See long stretches of the Antonine Wall ditch and the excellent museum in Callendar House.
Watling Lodge, Falkirk
See the best-preserved section of the Antonine Wall ditch. A Roman fortlet was also located in this area.
Rough Castle
Rough Castle, a short walk from the modern Falkirk Wheel, is seen as the best-preserved fort site. There are extensive interpretation boards and a good section of the Antonine Wall ditch, as well as lilia defensive pits.
Seabegs Wood
A short walk from Rough Castle. Offers good views of the Antonine Wall ditch and rampart, as well as the best-preserved visible remains of the Military Way.
Castlecary Roman Fort
At the edge of the Falkirk Council area, this site is one of two Roman forts on the Antonine Wall that featured stone ramparts. You can see portions of building above ground.
Croy Hill
Between Croy and Kilsyth. Was once home to a fort, a fortlet, a temporary camp, and two raised platforms, known as ‘expansions’, which may have been used for signalling. The site offers stunning views to the hills in the north.
Bar Hill
The highest fort on the Antonine Wall. You can see the remains of some Roman buildings. You can walk from Auchinstarry Marina.
Bearsden
You can see exposed and preserved remains of a Roman bath house here.
New Kilpatrick Cemetery, Bearsden
Two sections of the Wall’s stone foundation are preserved and visible in the cemetery.

Ruins of a Roman fortlet with stone foundations and wooden posts, set against a cloudy sky and grassy landscape. — The Kinneil Roman fortlet remains by Bo’ness.

The ditch of the Antonine Wall at Watling Lodge, near the Falkirk Wheel.

A group of people stands on a grassy hill under a blue sky, with trees in the background. The ground features visible circular depressions, likely remnants from historical excavation or archaeological sites. — Visitors exploring the defensive lilia pits at Rough Castle Roman Fort, by Bonnybridge.

Ruins of a Roman bathhouse with stone foundations, situated near a grassy area and surrounding buildings. — Part of the Roman bathhouse remains at Bearsden, near Glasgow.

Museums to visit (east to west)

National Museum Scotland, Edinburgh
Features Roman coins from Falkirk, an altar from Carriden, Bo’ness, and the original Bridgeness Distance Slab from Bo’ness.
Kinneil Museum, Bo’ness (pictured)
Free-entry museum near the Antonine Wall’s eastern end.
Callendar House Museum, Falkirk
Features a permanent Antonine Wall exhibition.
The Auld Kirk Museum, Kirkintilloch
Small local museum with Roman finds and community history.
Hunterian Museum, Glasgow
Houses the UK’s best collection of Antonine Wall inscriptions and artefacts.

Stone building with a red-tiled roof and large windows, set against a clear blue sky. — Kinneil Museum, located near the eastern end of the Antonine Wall at Bo’ness, showcasing Roman artefacts and history.

Callendar House Museum in Falkirk includes displays of Roman artefacts and has a model of the fort at nearby Mumrills.

The Auld Kirk Museum in the centre of Kirkintilloch. A Roman-inspired playpark is located in Peel Park, a short walk from the museum.

Public art / Sculptures

Public art along the Wall brings Roman stories to life.

The Bridgeness Slab is the largest distance stone along the Antonine Wall. An impressive replica is located off Harbour Road, Bo’ness. The postcode is EH51 9LF (Map)

Close-up of a carved stone with Roman inscriptions and figures, depicting soldiers and symbols related to the Antonine Wall.

Since the sculpture (pictured above) was unveiled in 2012, other replica distance stones have been unveiled along the line of the Antonine Wall. These are at:

Nethercroy, near Auchinstarry Marina, by Kilsyth (Map)
Beside the Healthy Living and Enterprise Centre at Twechar (Map)
Lambhill Stables, Glasgow (pictured below) (Map)
By the Forth and Clyde Canal at Old Kilpatrick (Map)

A modern distance stone has also been unveiled at Cow Wynd, Falkirk.

For full directions to the replica sculptures – see https://bit.ly/aw-replicas

These are part of the Rediscovering the Antonine Wall initiative. See a map of the projects here.

The project also helped deliver:

The Kinneil Gate Guardian sculpture at Kinneil Estate, Bo’ness (based on a Roman harness)
Bonnybridge Roman Heritage Plaque (beside the Community Centre)
Silvanus sculpture (pictured below), on Croy Hill (near Auchinstarry Marina)
Cadder Fort Roman Bench
Aurelius sculpture, Lambhill Stables, Glasgow
Lusset Glen Bench and Sculpture, Old Kilpatrick, near Glasgow.

A sculptural sign for Kinneil Estate featuring abstract shapes and lettering set against a cloudy sky and green trees. — Sculptural sign at Kinneil Estate, Bo’ness – based on a Roman horse harness found in the area.

The Silvanus sculpture – representing a Roman soldier’s helmet – on Croy Hill (a short walk from Auchinstarry Marina).

Aurelius Sculpture at Lambhill Stables, Glasgow.

Roman-inspired sculpure (beside a bench) at Lusset Glen, Old Kilpatrick.

Roman-inspired murals and playparks

As part of the Rediscovering the Antonine Wall initiative, modern murals have been installed near the Antonine Wall, as well as play parks.

The murals are at:

Douglas Park, Bo’ness (pictured below)
Auchinstarry Marina, by Kilsyth
Kirkintilloch
Glasgow – Lambhill Stables (showing a soldier’s head, see below).
Melfort Park, Clydebank
Kirkintilloch

A vibrant mural featuring Roman-inspired designs, including a depiction of the numeral XII and abstract shapes in red, orange, and green colors.

The play parks are located at:

Callendar Park, Falkirk FK1 1YR (pictured below)
Auchinstarry Roman Play Park, Kilsyth, G65 0TD
Peel Park Roman Playground, Kirkintilloch G66 1AA
Monymusk Place, Drumchapel G15 8JL
Golden Hill Park Roman Play Area, Clydebank G81 6BU

There’s also an additional play park, funded by the National Lottery, beside a stretch of wall ditch at Watling Lodge, by Tamfourhill in Falkirk. The postcode is FK1 4SD

A Roman-themed play park at Callendar Park, Falkirk.

The play park beside Watling Lodge, at Tamfourhill, Falkirk (near the Falkirk Wheel).

Roman soldier, overlooking a new play park at Peel Park, Kirkintilloch.

Roman-inspired signage at Peel Park, Kirkintilloch.

Tourist attractions near the Wall

Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway (pictured below)
Historic Hippodrome Cinema, Bo’ness
Kinneil House, Estate, and Museum, Bo’ness
Callendar House, Falkirk
The Helix Park and the Kelpies, Falkirk/Grangemouth (pictured below)
The Falkirk Wheel
The Forth and Clyde Canal
The John Muir Way
Auchinstarry Marina, by Kilsyth

A steam locomotive pulling a vintage train along a scenic waterfront, with smoke billowing from its chimney and a backdrop of rolling hills and a blue sky. — A steam train traveling along the scenic shores of the Firth of Forth at Bo’ness. Discover more Bo’ness attractions here.

Illuminated sculptures of horse heads at night, located near a waterway. — The Kelpies, stunning horse-head sculptures illuminated at night, located between Falkirk and Grangemouth (and close to the Antonine Wall).

The Falkirk Wheel, a unique moving boat lift in Scotland, with a contemporary design, situated beside a waterway under a clear blue sky. — The Falkirk Wheel, a unique rotating boat lift in Scotland, links the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. The canal flowing from the Wheel structure goes under the Antonine Wall.

Antonine Wall videos

Videos produced by the Rediscovering the Antonine Wall project

Also check out “The Secrets Of Antonine Wall: The Sequel To Hadrians Wall” on the Our History YouTube Channel, delivered by ITV Studios.

Fancy discovering the Roman Antonine Wall in Scotland?

Kinneil Roman fortlet and nearby museum, on the outskirts of Bo’ness, are good places to start.

Watch this video to find out more.

You’ll also find lots of information on the Kinneil website at www.kinneil.org.uk

Podcasts / audio

We asked Google’s Notebook LM tool to use AI to create a podcast about the Antonine Wall and some of the information in this web page. Listen here. It’s a great guide (although the American pronunciation of some place names is a little dodgy!).