Cawdor

Cawdor Roman Fort lies near the village of Easter Galcantray in the Highlands, about 24 kilometres east of Inverness. The site sits on the south bank of the River Nairn, where cropmarks first revealed its shape in 1984. Excavations between 1985 and 1990 uncovered a ditch, post holes, a corner tower and a few pottery fragments. The pottery dated to the medieval period, yet some features resembled Roman military works. Experts noted a rectilinear ditch with a V-shaped profile and timber buildings similar to barrack blocks. The dating suggests the site was slighted late in the first century AD, possibly during Agricola’s campaigns. The fort’s possible Roman connection draws interest because of its location and layout. Agricola defeated the Caledonians at Mons Graupius in AD 83 and may have marched his army north. The site’s form includes a timber gate and corner tower, features often found in Roman forts. Scholars remain divided: some argue the evidence fits a Roman military post, while others place it firmly in the medieval period. Radiocarbon tests hint at a first-century date, but the lack of Roman artefacts complicates the picture. Visitors find a quiet field beside the River Nairn where the fort’s outline can still be traced. The landscape shows the river’s influence on the site’s truncated edges. A few low mounds mark where the ditch and tower once stood. The area around Easter Galcantray offers peaceful walks along the riverbank. The fort’s story remains uncertain, inviting visitors to ponder its past.