Photographs, route description and location map of the Ruins of the Roman Fort on the Antonine Wall at Barr Hill and Croy Hill near Twechar

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 The Antonine Wall was abandoned after 20 years and the troops were withdrawn to Hadrian's Wall.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.