- right Greenock Water - location Ayr, Scotland Source Glenbuck Loch Country United Kingdom | - location Muirkirk, Scotland Length 65 km Mouth Firth of Clyde Bridges Ballochmyle Viaduct | |
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- left Lugar Water, Garpel Water Cities Ayr, Annbank, Catrine, Sorn, Muirkirk, Failford, Stair, East Ayrshire Similar River Doon, Auchincruive, Ballochmyle Viaduct, Sorn Castle, Culzean Castle | ||
The River Ayr (pronounced like air, Uisge Àir in Gaelic) is a river in Ayrshire, Scotland. At 65 km (40 mi) it is the longest river in the county.
Contents
- Map of River Ayr United Kingdom
- River ayr bursts it s banks
- EtymologyEdit
- GeographyEdit
- TributariesEdit
- River Ayr WayEdit
- References
Map of River Ayr, United Kingdom
The river was held as sacred by pre-Christian cultures. The remains of several prehistoric sacrificial horse burials have been found along its banks, mainly concentrated around the town of Ayr.
River ayr bursts it s banks
EtymologyEdit
The name Ayr comes from a pre-Celtic word meaning "watercourse". The town of Ayr was formerly known as Inver Ayr meaning "mouth of the Ayr", but this was later shortened to just Ayr.
GeographyEdit
The River Ayr has a watershed area of 574 km2 (222 sq mi).
The river originates at Glenbuck Loch in East Ayrshire, close to the border with Lanarkshire. It winds its way through East and South Ayrshire to its mouth at the town of Ayr, where it empties into the Firth of Clyde.
On its way, the river passes through the villages of Muirkirk, Sorn, Catrine, Failford, Stair and Annbank, as well as passing the location of (the now ruined) Ayr Castle. The largest settlements being Ayr, Cumnock, Catrine, Ochiltree, Muirkirk and Sorn.
Major land uses within the catchment area are agriculture, forestry, mining, leisure and recreation and urban development.
TributariesEdit
Principal tributaries include:
River Ayr WayEdit
Many practitioners of hillwalking and other related activities are probably aware that the river is pathed for upwards of 90% of its length. Due to disputes with estate owners and weather damage, the walk does temporarily abandon the river in a couple of locations. The path begins in the former village of Glenbuck, now a casualty of opencast mining and general industry decline. It follows the river from its source at Glenbuck Loch and ends at the coastal town of Ayr, where the river empties into the ocean at the Firth of Clyde. Typically the walk is done in 2 or 3 stages.