The Catrail, or Picts-Work-Ditch, by James Small. 118 



(from Stanhopelaw) to the southward I lost its track for two 

 (5 ?) miles, the ground being full of bogs ;" and my friend, Mr 

 Scott, Girnwood, who is familiar with the Catrail, corroborates 

 the above, there being no vestige of it in the place indicated. 



The Catrail enters Eoxburghshire at Hoscoat Burn, but after 

 a nearly two miles course again crosses a narrow point of Sel- 

 kirkshire at Hoscoat, and then enters the former county. From 

 Hoscoat Burn, along the lands of Girnwood the track is wider 

 than on any other part of its coiu'se. It is fully 28 feet wide, in- 

 cluding the ramparts or ridges on each side. This part of the 

 road has been long in use as a drove road, and from this cause 

 it has perhaps become broader than it was originally made. 

 The mound or ridge on one of the sides is much higher than the 

 one on the other side. Altogether it is a fine section of the old 

 ditch-way in question ; and except in two newly reclaimed fields 

 at Girnwood homestead, its course can be traced without a break 

 for a mile-and-a-half . It passes the gate at Girnwood farmhouse, 

 and enters Hoscoat wood a few hundred yards below Girnwood. 

 It is not traceable up Broadlee Burn ; but to the east of Broad- 

 lee Loch it is very distinct, broad and deep, for upwards of a 

 mile on Woodburn farm. From that point to Teviot water it 

 cannot now be traced ; but its course was south-south-east by 

 Teindside Burn ; and it again appears on the south side of the 

 Teviot, about a mile-and-a-half behind Northhouse farmhouse. 

 It there ascends the hill to Doecleuch, and is easily reached, as 

 it is on the edge of the road leading from Northhouse to Priest- 

 haugh. Mr Elliot and I were indebted to the hospitable tenant, 

 of Teindside, Mr Govenlock, for valuable information ; and he 

 saved us some miles of rough walking, by telling us where to 

 go. On Doecleuch, on Skelfhill farm, the Catrail measures from 

 the centre of each side-ridge, 18 feet in width, and it is 4 J feet 

 in depth. From Doecleuch it cannot now be traced to the 

 Whitehillbrae Hill, on the south side of Allan Water, where it 

 is next visible, the intervening land being partly under cultiva- 

 tion and the moorland soft. It ascends Whitehillbrae Hill, a 

 steep one, in an almost direct line, and is very distinct there, 

 and can be seen from a long distance. Crossing the ridge of the 

 hill it descends, and enters a flattish moor near a well-marked 

 camp called the Pyot's Nest, which is fully half-a-mile west from 

 the peak of Penchrise Pen. 



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