Photographs, route description and location map of the Antonine Wall from Croy Hill to Tollpark at Cumbernauld

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.