Bar Hill is the highest fort on the Antonine Wall, at 495 feet above sea level, and the site offers excellent views of the Kelvin Valley below. Within the fort are the foundations of a granary, barracks, water tank, street layout, bathhouse and fort headquarters.
In the courtyard of the headquarters building is an impressive well, 43 feet deep and 4 feet square, lined with carved stones all the way down. This well yielded a great number of archaeological finds, including wooden comb, sandals, shoes, and arrowheads. A short distance to the east is an Iron Age fort.
The most significant discovery at Bar Hill was a small 2nd-century altar to Silvanus, which is thought to have stood at a shrine just outside the fort. This altar, standing three feet high, is now stored at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow.
The altar bears an inscription in Latin which translates as "Erected to the God Silvanus by Caristanius Iustianus, praefect of the first cohort of Hamii, in willing payment of a vow."
About Bar Hill Fort
Address: Antonine Wall, Twechar, Strathclyde, Scotland
Attraction Type: Roman Site
Location: Just east of Twechar, signposted from the village. Access off the B8023 Kirkintilloch to Kilsyth Road
Website: Bar Hill Fort
Historic Scotland
Location map
OS: NS706759
Photo Credit: Andrew Barclay, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence
Opening Details: Open access site, usually accessible at any reasonable time
HERITAGE
We've 'tagged' this attraction information to help you find related historic attractions
and learn more about major time periods mentioned.
Historic Time Periods:
Find other attractions tagged with:
2nd century (Time Period) - hill fort (Historical Reference) - Iron Age (Architecture) - Roman (Time Period)
NEARBY HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS
Heritage Rated from 1- 5 (low to exceptional) on historic interest
Croy Hill Roman Fortlet - 1.2 miles (Roman Site) 
Colzium Estate and Garden - 2.1 miles (Garden)
Dullatur - 3.5 miles (Roman Site) 
Antonine Wall, Castlecary Roman Fort - 5.5 miles (Roman Site)
Antonine Wall, Seabegs Wood - 6.9 miles (Roman Site)
Antonine Wall, Rough Castle - 8.4 miles (Roman Site)
Glasgow Cathedral - 9.1 miles (Cathedral) 
Watling Lodge (Antonine Wall) - 10 miles (Roman Site)
Nearest Holiday Cottages to Bar Hill Fort:
Nearby accommodation is calculated 'as the crow flies' from Bar Hill Fort. 'Nearest' may involve a long drive up and down glens or, if you are near the coast, may include a ferry ride! Please check the property map to make sure the location is right for you.
Stirling, Central Scotland
Sleeps: 4
Stay from:£642 - £1,864
