The Forth and Clyde Canal and Antonine Wall

Park in the public car park, just off the A802 at Auchinstarry Basin, just opposite the Boathouse restaurant.

Cross the road and go into the Restaurant car park. Find the start of the Scents and Sensitivities Trail and follow it to a gate. Go over the bridge, cross the road and descend to the canal tow path. The canal is very pleasant and the walking easy. In summer, water lilies are in flower and blue damselfies flit around the water edge.

Follow the path to Twechar. Cross the bridge and walk on the pavement for a short distance before turning left (signposted to Barhill Fort / Antonine Wall). Follow the track uphill, looking back to take in the views over Twechar:

Take the left turn to the site of Barhill Fort. Take time to explore the site, interpretation panels give the history.

Leaving the site, pick up a grassy path that soon leads to the trig point at the top of Castle Hill. Here almost 360 degree views are possible. Come off the hill and descend beside the Roman ditch that was in front of the Antonine Wall. The path undulates a bit, then turns right at a wall with an intrepretation panel, and then goes down to join a track. Turn left.

Follow this track all the way to the A802. Carefully cross the road and go through the gate. Go straight ahead on the grassy path until you reach another track. Almost immediately turn left, signposted to Croy Hill. The grassy track is steep in places, but only in short sections and so not difficult. The views are worth taking in and it is very peaceful. Follow the well trodden grassy path until you reach a well made path. Turn left onto it and then just follow the signs for the John Muir Way to make the descent back to the level of the Canal. Go through the gate at the end, walk over the bridge and then turn left back onto the tow path and walk beside the canal till you arrive back at Auchinstarry Basin.

July 2014