The Antonine Wall

Rough Castle to Bonnybridge
Earthworks of ramparts and ditches are easily visible here even though the site is grassed over. One of the smallest but best preserved forts is seen here. No disabled facilities. 850mts - ½ mile)

This is one of the best preserved forts on the Antonine Wall and the earthworks of the ramparts and ditches are still clearly visible. The site is pretty much obscured and grassed over but it still provides an impression of how the Roman frontier defense must have looked over 2000 years ago.

From Bonnybridge follow the signs for the Antonine Wall along Foundry Road and Bonnyside Road. A track leads to the Rough Castle car park and from here you can explore the area or follow the circular route as shown on the guide.

The nearest facilities are in Bonnybridge - there are no toilets available on the site. This half mile walk covers mown grass paths but there are no surfaced paths for wheelchair use and there are some steep gradients up and down the track to Rowantree Burn.

From Bonnybridge follow the signs for the Antonine Wall along Foundry Road and Bonnyside Road. The route is also well signposted from Falkirk.

The best views of the Antonine Wall can be found here and the walk should present little difficulty for even the casual walker

Starting from here or a further 150 metres to the car park and the remains of the Wall are immediately obvious. Beyond the car park the ground becomes increasingly difficult for any disabled visitors

The distinctive 'V' of the Wall as the ditch cuts between the earthworks. Intended to be more of a method of controlling the movement of goods and to draw taxes, the Antonine Wall presented a formidable defensive network.

Continually manned with small fortlets at regular intervals along it's length the Romans built the Antonine Wall to rigorous engineering standards and its a testimony to their skill that the remnants of this fascinating construction remain in view today.

The area around the Rowantree Burn becomes quite 'boggy' underfoot. From here on a path winds it way through the Rough Castle woods towards the rear of the Falkirk wheel complex.

There are connecting trails to the B816 which can be found following the trail from the car park. These will take you to the Battle of Falkirk Monument, the Rough Castle Community Woodland and the new section of the Union Canal.