The Catwalk Show path on map
Start location: West Linton ( NT 149 520 )
End location: Lyne Water, past Roman Road ( NT 141 526 )
Geographical area: Lothian and Borders
Path type: Leisure Path, Rural Path
Path distance: 1.75km
Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians
Route Description
This lovely walk, which passes through Catwalk (Den) Wood, lies along the steep sided gorge of the Lyne Water, which itself can be glimpsed through the trees. This wood’s southern entrance lies on the A702 and is indicated by a ScotWays (Tweed Trails) sign. The Catwalk path is described by the Woodland Trust Scotland as “unsurfaced, moderately steep in places and somewhat uneven with two flights of steps near the southern end”. Passing out of the Trust woodland, the path continues along the gorge to reach the Old Biggar Road.
As part of the North Tweeddale Routes network, the Catwalk is promoted by South of Scotland Countryside Trails. For a circular walk, it could be combined with The Loan.
Owing to the Catwalk’s steepness, it is not recommended for unsupervised children, and it is only suitable for use on foot.
OS Landranger 65 (Falkirk & West Lothian) or 72 (Upper Clyde Valley)
Heritage Information
The Catwalk is so named because, as it is very narrow and lies on the side of a gorge, it is said that only people as nimble as cats are able to walk it! It has been a well-loved local recreational walk for generations. Reportedly, Catwalk (Den) Wood was described by Lothian Regional Council in 1976 as the best example of a wooded cliff in the Pentland Hills; the wood has been owned by the Woodland Trust since 1988.
The route may also have been used to access the Old Biggar Road (here overlying an old Roman road) which runs parallel with the A702.
