East Pond and the Antonine Wall

The East Pond of the Kinneil Estate is not large, but is pretty and home to some of the regions wildlife. At this time of year it is not at all colourful, but even in spring nature can be wonderful to look at.

The greens of summer replaced with browns and greys and occasional orange of the trees and bushes.

I don’t hear the local ducks quacking but I can hear the gulls squawking over head and the as I look up on my way to the Antonine Wall I see crows and sparrows swirling and swooping above the trees. I follow the path around the pond and see the area I am heading for.

Not much remains of the Antonine Wall but it is now considered to be Scotland's principal Roman monument. The wall was built around 142 AD at the triumphant end of a military campaign in southern Scotland by the Roman army under the orders of Antoninus Pius, hence ‘Antonine’.

According to the history books it was probably built to strengthen his position as the new emperor of the Roman Empire. Like Hadrian’s Wall, it would have been built to divide the British isle in two. After the death of Antoninus the Roman army withdrew from central Scotland after an occupation of only a little over 20 years, at which time the wall was abandoned, in 162AD, when the Roman legions pulled back to relative safety of Hadrian's Wall, and over time reached an accommodation with the tribes of the area. After a number of attacks in 197 AD, the Emperor Septimius Severus arrived in Scotland in 208 AD to secure the frontier, and repaired parts of the wall. Although this re-occupation only lasted a few years, the wall is sometimes referred to by later Roman historians as the Severan Wall.

The Antonine Wall was a 39 mile (61 kilometers) long barrier built across the narrowest part of central Scotland. It was built of a turf and earthen rampart standing 11feet (3.5 m) in height on a stone foundation on a wooden palisade. About 20 feet (6 meters) to the north of this a substantial V-shaped ditch was dug. This was about 40 feet (12 meters) wide and roughly 14 feet (4.2 meters) deep.

I have no idea how the soldier of the Roman Empire felt being so far from home in such a cold and hostile environment, but looking around from my position at the fortlet I can at least see some of what they saw. The woods may be different, the landscape has changed, but looking out to the River Forth there is still a connection.

Building and people may come and go but a natural feature like the River Forth just runs its way through time and history.

On the road again - Just can't wait to get on the road again.

It has been some time since I have been on a good walk, or indeed a bad walk. Why does work have to get in the way of enjoyment? So, I thought I would break myself back into the walking habit by using one of the local countryside walks that the area offers. It also gave me a chance to learn a bit about the Antonine Wall. The Antonine Wall is the biggest remnant of the Roman Empires occupation of Scotland. Yes, the Roman Empire did indeed make it to Scotland.

This wall was the most northerly boundary of the Roman Empire in Britain. The wall spanned from the River Forth to the River Clyde, a total distance of 37 miles, and was built around about 142AD. There is no need to go far in the Falkirk area to see remaining sections of this historic monument.

In order to celebrate the Millennium, the local council began improving access to the nearly 2000-year-old Roman defences.

The Antonine Wall once stood approximately 10 feet high, the Roman engineers constructing it of turf and earth, this rests on a base of stone.

This particular walk is not a long one; the walk itself covers a distance of 1 mile (approximately 1,500m). The beauty of a walk, any walk is that it does not have to be a hike in order to enjoy the scenery. Also this walk actually starts about 3 miles or so before the history. I live about 3 miles away from its start. So, my 1 mile round trip actually works out as a 7 mile round trip. It's not much but it's a start.

My journey begins at the not very ancient and certainly not Roman car park. I begin my walk and head in a northerly direction towards Kinneil House. This is one of the homes of the Hamilton family, members of the Scottish aristocracy. The house started life as a large 15th century fortified tower.

In the mid-16th century a 'palace' was built to provide more elegant quarters for the family. The building contains several wall paintings on religious subjects which are amongst the finest surviving examples in Scotland.

The path continues towards Kinneil Church, or at least what remains of this historic monument. The path is mostly grass and and is pretty level.

To the right of the path there is a lightly wooded area, sparse now due to the winter months and weather. This path leads towards the East Pond. When reaching the East Pond I turn left and head back onto the grassy path.

Moving around the pond the route leads me past a Roman Fortlet (a small fort) to the left of the path, the Fortlet is marked out by wooden posts. This was also approximately 10 feet high, was originally constructed of turf and earth, and like the wall, rests on a stone base.

Dependant on weather and especially at this time of year the path can be wet and occasionally rough on the feet, but that’s part of the joy of walking, battling the elements, and taking on the landscape even if it is only a mile round trip.

The path continues towards the West Pond, here I encountered a family of swans. All I have to say about swans is, DON'T GET TOO CLOSE! If they feel threatened they start to get noisy and will approach you. Even a small dog decided his barking was not enough to save him. The walk turns left, uphill along the waterside path before turning left down onto a forest track.

Carrying on the path leads past a moderately wooded area finally returning on the gentle uphill slope on the forest track back to the car park.

Here the historical journey ends and my 3 mile walk home begins.