The roman fort and bath house is situated atop Bar Hill in Twechar.
The fort and separate bath house was built as part of Antonine’s Wall, erected between AD142-144, and running the best part of 60 km.
Construction began on the commands of the roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, the wall and fort made
of stone and turf and taking 12 years to finish.
It is thought due to the strategic placement of the fort, the roman soldiers who occupied it would have been monitoring and controlling the movement of people and goods in the surrounding areas.
The Bar Hill fort provides stunning, panoramic views of the unspoilt countryside, surrounding town and Campsie Fells, with the view stretching as far back as the high-rise flats of Glasgow city.
The site was part of an excavation project between 1979-1982 which exposed the fort and bathing house near Antonine’s wall.
The excavation gave an excellent visual sense of what both the fort and bath house would have looked like, and its positioning back when it was first constructed.
Extensive research has since gone into discovering the layout of each side, and plaques are now situated at the site to provide a rough guide of each buildings layout.
Down from the barr hill fort is Antonine’s Wall, an extensive ditch which carries on through to the surrounding town of Kilsyth. The build was similar to Hadrian’s wall in the South, but has not preserved as well, with less remains evident.
Following Antonine’s wall will take you further up to a preserved Iron Age site, on display at the highest summit.
Access to Antonine’s wall is via a pedestrian walking path in Twechar. Starting at a war memorial, the path passes by farmhouses and private fields before reaching a water reservoir and veering off to the left over a hill. The site is excellent for hill walkers, with steep and difficult terrain.
If you are taking your dog, then they must be kept on a leash while taking the pedestrian pathway, as open fields contain farm animals.
Excellent for days out and picnics, it is a quiet area with only the occasional hill walker passing by. A perfect day out for the whole family, providing an education experience for children, who may even be learning about the roman empire at school.
As long as you pack food (and a treat for getting to the top) this is a great family adventure.
If you are bringing your dog, we would advise you bring water, as Holly was exhausted after her walkies here.
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