Explore Roman Scotland on film — forts, frontiers, landscapes, archaeology and the people who occupied and resisted Rome’s northernmost campaigns.
This collection brings together short introductions, site visits, lectures, documentaries and archaeological discussions. Whether you have five minutes or an hour, start exploring below.
Start here
🏛️ Roman Sites & Forts
Visit some of Scotland’s most important Roman sites and discover what survives today. Explore forts, fortresses, marching camps and other military sites, including Ardoch, Inchtuthil, Trimontium, Cramond and sites along the Antonine Wall.
Take a Tour of Scotland’s Most Epic Roman Fort — Ardoch
🧱 The Antonine Wall
Explore Rome’s northern frontier through films about its forts, fortlets, distance slabs and surviving earthworks. Follow the Wall across central Scotland and discover places including Rough Castle, Bar Hill and Bearsden.
Rediscovering the Antonine Wall in Central Scotland
Bar Hill and Rough Castle — site visits with drone footage.
⚔️ The Roman Army
Who were the soldiers who came to Scotland? Discover legionaries, auxiliary soldiers, cavalry, scouts and their equipment, and find out what everyday military life may have been like on Rome’s northern frontier.
A Roman Legionary’s Armour and Equipment
Roman Auxiliary Cavalry — an introductory film.
What Was Watchtower Duty Like on the Roman Frontier? — a reconstruction of frontier service; reconstructed scenes are interpretations.
🔎 Archaeology & Discoveries
See how archaeologists are uncovering Roman Scotland. Watch talks and films about excavations, aerial archaeology, Roman roads, artefacts, inscriptions and new discoveries.
On the March: Roman Camps in Scotland — Dr Rebecca Jones
🗺️ Frontiers & Roman Roads
Follow the routes taken by the Roman army through Scotland. Explore the Gask Ridge, Roman roads, marching camps, Hadrian’s Wall and the Antonine Wall, and see how forts and communications fitted into the wider military landscape.
Work by the Roman Roads Research Association
Roman Ports, Forts & Camps — a talk on first-century Scotland.
🎓 Talks & Documentaries
Want to go deeper? Watch lectures, interviews and documentaries featuring archaeologists, historians and researchers working on Roman Scotland.
Trimontium: A Key Node in the Roman Occupation of Scotland — Dr John Reid.
An Egyptian Luxury in Roman Scotland — a National Museums Scotland event.
The Purpose and Operation of Hadrian’s Wall under Hadrian — 2019 Rhind Lecture 3.
Romans in Scotland — Historic Scotland — an overview of forts, walls and camps.
Short on time?
Start with a site visit
For a first look, try the Ardoch film above, then explore Bar Hill and Rough Castle. Prefer equipment and everyday military life? Start with the cavalry introduction.
For schools and families
Learning about the Romans? Explore accessible films for younger visitors, families, teachers and pupils studying the Romans, including the Roman army, forts, everyday life, invasions and the people who lived in Scotland when the Romans arrived.
BBC Bitesize: Romans — Second Level — learning resources for Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence.
Did the Romans Conquer Scotland? — BBC Bitesize.
The Final Roman Invasion of Scotland — BBC Bitesize’s guide to Severus’s campaign.
Explore by subject
Browse the video archive · Marching camps · Roman roads · Frontier watchtowers · Distance slabs
More than 60 videos to explore
Romans in Scotland brings together films from museums, universities, archaeologists, heritage organisations, broadcasters and other useful sources. Rather than searching across the internet, use this collection as a starting point for exploring Roman Scotland on film.
