Avon Water
Encyclopedia
Avon Water, also known locally as the River Avon, is a 24-mile-long river
in Scotland
, and a tributary
of the River Clyde
.
The Avon Water rises in the hills on the boundary between East Ayrshire
and South Lanarkshire
, close to the head of the Irvine Water. The river flows in a north easterly direction, following the A71 road
past Drumclog, and running to the south of Strathaven
, where the river enters a more pronounced valley. The Avon flows between the village of Glassford, and Stonehouse
to the south, before merging with the smaller Cander Water just south of Larkhall
. The river then skirts the west side of Larkhall in a deepening gorge, crossed by the disused Larkhall railway viaduct.
Beyond this the gorge is part of Chatelherault Country Park
, to the south of Hamilton
. There are several public footpaths along this section of the gorge, although the area was once the preserve of the Duke of Hamilton
, forming the hunting and pleasure grounds of the Dukes' former home, Hamilton Palace
. Many features of this period remain in the park, including the Duke's Bridge which crosses the gorge. Older structures along the gorge include the ruins of Cadzow Castle
, started in the 13th century, and the Cadzow Oaks, a group of Oak
trees, some of which are over 600 years old.
The river bends to the east at the end of the gorge, flowing beneath three bridges: one carrying the Argyle railway line
, one carrying the A72 road
, and the Old Avon Bridge, now a footbridge. The Avon Water flows north beneath the M74 motorway
, merging into the Clyde between Hamilton and Motherwell, beside Junction 6 of the M74.
A quote from 'Wiki Christchurch NZ': "The river that flows through the centre of the city [Christchurch] (its banks now largely forming an urban park) was named Avon at the request of the pioneering Deans brothers to commemorate the Scottish Avon, which rises in the Ayrshire hills near what was their grandfathers' farm and flows into the Clyde".
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
.
The Avon Water rises in the hills on the boundary between East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
and South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
, close to the head of the Irvine Water. The river flows in a north easterly direction, following the A71 road
A71 road
The A71 is a major road in Scotland linking Edinburgh with Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. It adjoins the Livingston Bypass A899.It runs south west from Edinburgh for approximately 70 miles, through Saughton, Wilkieston and south of Livingston, Whitburn and Wishaw, then by way of the Garrion Bridge,...
past Drumclog, and running to the south of Strathaven
Strathaven
Strathaven is a historic market town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The town was granted a Royal Charter in 1450, making the Town of Strathaven a burgh of barony. The town's principal industry was primarily weaving in the 19th and early 20th centuries, however this declined when faced by...
, where the river enters a more pronounced valley. The Avon flows between the village of Glassford, and Stonehouse
Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire
Stonehouse is a rural village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is located on Avon Water in an area of natural beauty and historical interest, near to the Clyde Valley. It is also situated on the A71 trunk road between Edinburgh and Kilmarnock, close to the towns of Hamilton, Larkhall and...
to the south, before merging with the smaller Cander Water just south of Larkhall
Larkhall
Larkhall is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland and is around southeast of Glasgow. It is twinned with Seclin in northern France.Larkhall sits on high ground between the River Clyde to the East and the Avon Water to the West...
. The river then skirts the west side of Larkhall in a deepening gorge, crossed by the disused Larkhall railway viaduct.
Beyond this the gorge is part of Chatelherault Country Park
Chatelherault Country Park
Chatelherault Country Park is a country park in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Its name is derived from the French town of Châtellerault, the title Duc de Châtellerault being held by the Duke of Hamilton....
, to the south of Hamilton
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
. There are several public footpaths along this section of the gorge, although the area was once the preserve of the Duke of Hamilton
Duke of Hamilton
Duke of Hamilton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1643. It is the senior dukedom in that Peerage , and as such its holder is the Premier Peer of Scotland, as well as being head of both the House of Hamilton and the House of Douglas...
, forming the hunting and pleasure grounds of the Dukes' former home, Hamilton Palace
Hamilton Palace
Hamilton Palace was a large country house located north-east of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The former seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, it was built in 1695 and subsequently much enlarged. The house was demolished in 1921 due to ground subsidence despite inadequate evidence for that...
. Many features of this period remain in the park, including the Duke's Bridge which crosses the gorge. Older structures along the gorge include the ruins of Cadzow Castle
Cadzow Castle
Cadzow Castle, now in ruins, was constructed between 1500 and 1550 on the site of an earlier royal castle, one mile south-east of the centre of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The town of Hamilton was formerly known as Cadzow or Cadyou , until renamed in 1455 in honour of James Hamilton, 1st...
, started in the 13th century, and the Cadzow Oaks, a group of Oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
trees, some of which are over 600 years old.
The river bends to the east at the end of the gorge, flowing beneath three bridges: one carrying the Argyle railway line
Argyle Line
The Argyle Line is a suburban railway located in West Central Scotland. It connects the Lanarkshire towns of Lanark, Larkhall and Motherwell to West Dunbartonshire via central Glasgow using sub-surface running...
, one carrying the A72 road
A72 road
The A72 is a major route in Scotland connecting Hamilton in South Lanarkshire, with Galashiels in the Scottish Borders.It travels for over 60 miles in a South-Easterly direction, along the Clyde and Tweed valleys, passing the towns of Larkhall, Lanark, Biggar and Peebles.-Hamilton to...
, and the Old Avon Bridge, now a footbridge. The Avon Water flows north beneath the M74 motorway
M74 motorway
The A74 and M74 motorways form a major motorway in Scotland. Following an extension opened on 28 June 2011, it connects the M8 motorway west of Glasgow to the English border at Gretna, creating an alternative route for traffic moving from the south to the west of the city...
, merging into the Clyde between Hamilton and Motherwell, beside Junction 6 of the M74.
A quote from 'Wiki Christchurch NZ': "The river that flows through the centre of the city [Christchurch] (its banks now largely forming an urban park) was named Avon at the request of the pioneering Deans brothers to commemorate the Scottish Avon, which rises in the Ayrshire hills near what was their grandfathers' farm and flows into the Clyde".