Rough Castle
If you can only visit one location on the Antonine Wall, Rough Castle fort is clearly the best choice.
Visiting Rough Castle
Facilities at or near this site
Parking
Toilets
Local cafe
History
Although the fort is the second smallest on the wall, Rough Castle is easily the best-preserved and offers the most spectacular and memorable views of the surviving Roman remains. This is the best site to gain an impression of how the frontier and its integral forts worked.
© Rediscovering the Antonine Wall Project
What can I see today?
At Rough Castle, you can see an excellent example of the Antonine Wall ditch, the tallest-surviving portion of rampart, defensive lilia pits to the north of the wall, and easily identifiable fort and annexe defenses, including multiple ditches and gateways.
Reconstruction of Rough Castle Fort
What was found there?
Alongside well-preserved earthworks, a number of artefacts have been discovered at Rough Castle. This includes: a building inscription by the Sixth Cohort of Nervians (an auxiliary unit); a wide range of pottery; leather fragments; window glass, a glass bangle; and an altar.
Principia building inscription, Rough Castle
Altar, Rough Castle
Leather shoe, Rough Castle
Where can I learn more?
Find out more about the discovery and investigation of Rough Castle fort.
Discover how the Antonine Wall was constructed over 2,000 years ago.
