Ardoch Roman Fort
Dunblane, Perthshire
Roman Fort Canmore

Around AD 80, some 40 years before the construction of Hadrian's Wall the northern frontier of Roman Britain was marked by a series of forts and watch towers along the Gask Ridge, a ridge of high ground running between Dunblane and Perth.

The Romans retreated to what is now the Scottish-English border and in the 120s constructed Hadrian's Wall. Twenty years later the frontier had moved north again, the Antonine Wall was constructed and some of the Gask forts were reoccupied.

Ardoch Fort is one of those early Gask system forts - possibly constructed at the time of the Battle of Mons Graupius (between the Caledonians and the forces of Roman Governor of Britain, Gnaeus Julius Agricola). When it was reoccupied in the 140s it was one of the largest Roman stations in Britain.

Although there are no visible buildings, the defensive earthworks that remain make this a most impressive location to visit.

Images ©2003 Martin McCarthy, Theasis Photography

Nearby Sites

7km Sherrifmuir Stone Row
8km Peterhead Farm Standing Stone; Pictish Class I Stone
9km Auchterarder Standing Stones
12km Doune Standing Stones
13km Ferntower Stone Circle Stone Circle; Cup Mark
13km Airthrey Castle Stone Standing Stone
13km University of Stirling Standing Stone
14km Monzie Cairn Circle
14km Doune Castle Castle
16km Crofthead Farm Standing Stones
16km Fowlis Wester Pictish Stones Pictish Stones
17km Buchanty Hill Cup Marks
17km Fowlis Wester Stone Circles Stone Circles; Standing Stone; Cairn
17km Kindrochat Chambered Cairn
18km Dunning Standing Stone
(NB: All distances are as-the-crow-flies. Lochs, mountains and beautiful winding roads will make it further. Sometimes much further.)