Bearsden Roman Baths

Being a student of Celtic Studies, I inherently dislike the Romans. Out of many years and battles, the Celts only lost to the Romans ONCE and yet, after that defeat, the Celts were to be — almost — completely integrated (of sorts) with the Romans. BOO!
Nonetheless, as Eleanor points out this is a handy, informative and easily accessible historical site in Glasgow, which is completely free. So, it’s a great idea for an interesting day off or somewhere to take the kids to occupy them over the summer holidays.

Bearsden is probably not the first place you would expect to find Roman remains but it was home to one of 19 forts along The Antonine Wall. Up until the 1970’s the Roman Baths were hidden under Victorian mansions but when these were demolished in the early 70’s to make way for new apartment blocks (which are really ugly) the baths were uncovered. The baths remain the best preserved example of Roman bathhouses ever found in Scotland.
Today, the baths are looked after by Historic Scotland and are open to the public 365 days a year and are absolutely free. What I like best about the Roman Baths is the fact that you can just browse them at your leisure, reading the plaques and discovering more about the culture of bath houses in Roman times. There’s no barrier, no staff and no gift shop so it remains a very natural and organic feeling tourist attraction.

I’ve always found Ancient Rome quite fascinating, and can think of nothing more thrilling than donning a loincloth and helmet, before heading to pillage and slaughter a few pictish villages. As I was born a few thousand years too late to live the centurion dream, standing around here an longing for days gone yonder will have to do.
They’re as well preserved as you could expect for 2000 year old relics, and as Eleanor suggests, the lack of surrounding tourist bumph and the way in which they’re «just here» only adds to the atmosphere.
I imagine they were pretty grand in their day, and the best place in town to whip off your toga and give your undercarriage a good scrub. Given though that the Romans had a penchant for bisexual orgies where everyone was sick on each other, I wouldn’t be bending over to pick up the soap.

I have classified this under castles even though it is hardly one at all. The Roman Bath House in Bearsden was built during Roman times on the path of the Antonine Wall which ran through Bearsden on its way from East to West. The Romans originally built it to keep the Picts in (or out), before it all got to much for them and they retreated again to Hadrian’s Wall. At one point in history, though it was the most northerly point of the Roman Empire. The bath house is remarkably well preserved and you can see all the different rooms the used to have like a complicated series of saunas. They also had underfloor heating and toilets which you can still see evidence of. It is an interesting half hour if that’s the kind of thing you like, and there is a car park nearby.