The Roman fort at Bochastle, just outside Callander, is situated on the south bank of Garbh Uisge (River Leny) and was established in AD 85 during the governorship of Sallustius Lucullus.
Two years after Governor Gnaeus Julius Agricola’s victory over the Caledonians at the Battle of Mons Graupius in AD 83, Agricola’s successor, Sallustius Lucullus, began building a line of forts to contain and monitor the northern tribes.
The fort at Bochastle was one of a number of Glen Forts or so-called Glen-Blocker Forts that were built to contain the highlands. These forts were used as operational bases from where offensive action could be launched and where supplies could be stockpiled. Bochastle fort was placed where Garbh Uisge and Eas Gobhain converge to form the River Teith, allowing the Romans to supply the fort by boat.
The fort was built upon an earlier temporary marching camp that was constructed when Agricola was campaigning in the area around AD 81. Bochastle fort does not appear to have been in use for long, perhaps only one winter, and it was certainly abandoned by AD 90.
Information
Site: Private
Type: Roman Camp (1st century AD); Roman Fort (1st century AD)
Listed: Scheduled Monument
Grid reference: NN 614 078
Council area: Stirling
Canmore page: http://canmore.org.uk/site/24351
