Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 November 2011
The Roman Fort of Bothwellhaugh is situated on the north-western boundary of the burgh of Motherwell, at the confluence of the River Clyde and the South Calder Water, immediately overlooking the point where the latter river was crossed by the Roman road (FIG. I). It lies approximately 15 miles (24 km) north-west of the Roman fort at Castledykes and 20 miles (32 km) south-east of Old Kilpatrick at the west end of the Antonine Wall. The site is one of great natural strength, the ground falling away very steeply on all sides except the east, and even here access would have been impeded in Roman times by a small tributary of the River Clyde, which, flowing south in a fairly narrow valley, cut across the most direct line of approach. Unfortunately the natural features on this side of the fort have been largely obscured in recent times by the levelling of adjacent coal-tips.
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