This interesting circular route takes in two Roman hill forts on the Antonine Wall, both good viewpoints, as well as the Forth and Clyde Canal. The route starts and finishes at Auchinstarry Marina on the canal where is parking and toilets.
Canal tow path, grassy path on hills, sometimes muddy.
Train at Croy (1.5km from start), bus at Kilsyth.
Auchinstarry Marina, Kilsyth.
Auchinstarry Marina is just south of Kilsyth on the B802 - there is general car parking on the right side across the road from pub. There is also bike and kayak hire here. Walk around the west side of the marina take the path up behind the toilets to go through a gate onto the road. Turn right to cross the bridge to take the path down to the canal on the right. At the canal turn right to go under the bridge and follow the canal path for a pleasant section to Twechar.
Turn left over the canal at Twechar, cross the road to use the pavement and head up the hill for a short distance before crossing the road to take a lane immediately after the war memorial (signed Barhill Fort/Antonine Wall and John Muir Way). Follow the track uphill, keeping right where it forks and then turning left at a kissing gate just before the crest of the hill - with a John Muir Way sign. Go through the next gate and onto the site of Bar Hill Roman fort. Head diagonally uphill to reach the exposed remains of the fort which stood just south of the Antonine Wall was built around 142 AD and was once home to a garrison of 480 men from all parts of the Roman Empire.
Once you have explored the fort continue ENE from the top of the fort, picking up a grassy path that soon climbs to the top of Castle Hill which is marked by a white trig point and is the site of an even earlier iron-age fort. Continue on the clear grassy path between the heather.
This soon curves slightly right to pick up and runs along the edge of the ditch of the Antonine Wall with thick forestry on your right hand side. The path undulates until you turn right at a stone wall with a sign about the Antonine Wall which was built by the Romans as a northern replacement to Hadrian's Wall. A little further on join a track and turn left along it. Keep straight ahead at a gate and again at a later junction. Continue ahead to the B802 and cross. Go through the kissing gate next to a tree. From here follow the path straight ahead and turn right at a fenced enclosure to follow a surfaced track a short distance before turning left after a gate signed for Croy Hill.
Continue ahead to reach a path and then a gate marked Croy Hill, the ditch of the Antonine Wall is prominent on your left. Follow the main grassy path which follows the line of the Antonine Wall, keeping the ditch on your left, keep left when the path forks to climb a mound formed from the material dug from the ditch. Although the remains of the fort are not prominent, you can see the two hillocks which served as beacon platforms and the ditch is impressive here as it was cut through solid rock. Near the top is a short section where the ditch remains undug and this may have been because the hard basalt defeated the Roman army or the point where two digging teams met.
Continue along the path on top of the ridge - with stunning views - and go straight ahead crossing a path (the site of the fort itself was just to the right here) towards a marker post ahead and soon pass a ground-level information board about Croy Hill. The site has been excavated twice and found to comprise of two forts (one superseding the other as the plans for the Wall changed during the 2 years it took to construct) and a bath house just outside one fort. Remains of a civilian settlement dating back to Roman times was also found and it is likely that this was established to trade with the Roman soldiers, providing food and services.
Continue gently downhill and pass under the electricity lines and turn left onto a path signed for Castlecary. Ignore the next turn right signed for Castlecary and instead go past the picnic benches to take the next path on the right which heads downhill, zig-zagging through trees with views of the canal to emerge on a minor road.
Turn left to cross the canal and then turn left onto the canal towpath to walk west back towards Auchinstarry. This is a relatively wild section where you can usually spot a number of birds before the canal boats at the marina come into view. Return to the start by crossing the road bridge over the canal.
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