A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...

STATIONS AND FORTRGBSRS.
from Forres to the ford of Croindale on tlie Spey, there has heeii long
known a road of very ancient construction, leading along the course of
the Iter for several miles through the hills, and poiiiting to Ontmdale,
where the Jlomans must have forded the Spoy. Various traces of very
ancient roads are still to he seen along tlie track of the Iter, hetween
the distant station of Tues.iis and Trimcrt, by (!orgarf and tlu'ough
Braeraar: tlie tradition of the peo])le in Strathdee and Braeraar, sup-
ports the idea that there are remains of Roman roads wiiicli traverse
tlie country between tlie Dun and th(- Deo. Certain it is, that there
are obvious traces of ancient road* wliicli cross the wild districts
between Strathdon and Strathdee, though it is impossible to ascertain
where or by whom such ancient roads were constructed, in such direc-
tions, throughout such a country.
After the Iters and tbe Roads, tlie Roman Statio7is to the north of
Antoninus' wall, come next to be noticed. The stations or forts
jilong the course of the wall have been already described. The
iirst we meet with is on the eastern base of Dunearn hill, about a mile
from Burntisland, which was very distinctly marked in the days of Sib-
bald, who mentions it, and speaks of the pnEtorium as a square of a
hundred yards diameter, called by the country people the Tournament,
wliere many Roman medals have been found. Tliis area was surrounded
by a rampart of stones, and lower down in tlie face of the hill another
wall encompassed the wliole. On the nortli there was anotlier fort on
the summit oi Bonie hill. There was also a Roman camp at Locli-Ore,
>^upposed to be that in which the ninth legion of Agricola was attacked
by the Horestii. Several Roman antiquities have been found in drains
cut under tliis camp. Near Ardargie on the May water, at the defile of
the Ochil hiUs was a small Roman post wliich served as a central com-
munication between the stations on the Forth and in Strathern, the great
Scene of the Roman operations. The Romans had also a station at
Hallyards, in the parish of Tulliebole.
Ardoch, on tlie east side of Knaigwater, the scene of many Roman
operations, from the great battle between Galgacus and Agricola, till the
final abdication of the Roman power, was a very important post.
As this station was the principal inlet into the interior of Caledonia,
the Romans were particularly anxious in fortifying so advantageous
n position. The remains of camps of various sizes are still to be
seen. The first and largest was erected by Agricola, in his campaign
of eighty-four. The ne.xt in size is on the west of Agricola's camp, and
includes within its intrenchments part of the former. The third and last
was constructed on the south side of the largest, and comprehends a pai't
of it. These two last mentioned camps must have been successively
formed after Agricola's recalL A strong fort surrounded by five or six
fosses and ramparts was erected on tlie south side of the last of these
camps, opposite to the bridge over Knaigwater : its area was about
500 feet long, and 450 broad, bein^ nearly of a square form.
The next station was the Hiema of Richard, about six miles noitti-
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