River Esk, Dumfries and Galloway
Encyclopedia
The River Esk is a river in Dumfries and Galloway
, Scotland
, that flows into the Solway Firth
. It also flows for a small way through the English county of Cumbria
before entering the Solway.
The river rises in the hills to the east of Moffat
and its two main tributaries, the Black Esk and the White Esk, merge at the southern end of Castle O'er Forest. It flows south east through Eskdale
past Langholm
before merging with Liddel Water
(which defines the border between Scotland
and England
. Before passing Longtown
the river enters England and merges with the River Lyne
and enters the Solway Firth near the mouth of the River Eden
.
It was formerly one of the boundaries of the Debatable Lands
as marked by the Scots' Dike
.
The Scotland Act 1998 (Border Rivers) Order 1999 provides that functions relating to the management of salmon, trout, eels and freshwater fish in respect of the whole of the River Esk remain
with UK ministers: the Border Esk and its tributaries are the only rivers in Scotland where an Environment Agency
rod licence is required for angling.
The White Esk arises as the Glendearg and Tomleuchar burns merge then flow south through Eskdalemuir Forest capturing the waters of the Garwald Water at Garwaldwaterfoot then continuing by the village of Eskdalemuir
into Castle O'er Forest. It is followed by the B709 road for much of its course. The headwaters of the Black Esk feed into the Black Esk Reservoir, from the foot of whose dam, the Black Esk flows south to Sandyford where its crossed by the B723 road. It then turns sharply east then southeast passing Castle O'er on its way to meet with the White Esk to form the River Esk.
The Meggat Water (not to be confused with Megget Water
) is a left bank tributary of the Esk which rises at the southern margin of Craik Forest
and flows south, being joined by the Stennies Water before its confluence with the Esk. The Ewes Water is a significant left bank tributary of the Esk which enters the latter at Langholm. Its headwaters , the Eweslees, Mosspaul and Carewoodrig Burns merge and flow southwards as the Ewes Water for several miles, being joined by numerous further burns, the most significant of which is the Meikledale Burn. The valley of the Ewes Water is followed by the A7
road from Carlisle to Edinburgh and by an electricity transmission line. Wauchope Water is a right bank tributary of the Esk which joins immediately downstream from the Ewes Water confluence. It arises as the Logan Water and Bigholms Burn meet 3 miles / 5 km southwest of Langholm. The Tarras Water is a left bank tributary of the Esk which joins it 2.5 miles /4 km south of Langholm.
The Liddel Water
is a major tributary which enters on the left bank between Canonbie and Longtown. It forms the boundary between Scotland and England for a while as does its tributary, the Kershope Burn
. The River Lyne
enters on the left bank at Lynefoot just above the normal tidal limit of the estuarial section of the Esk. The River Sark
and the Kirtle Water
enter the tidal estuary of the Esk to the east and west of Gretna
respectively. See main articles on each of these and some of their tributaries.
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
, 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...
, that flows into the Solway Firth
Solway Firth
The Solway Firth is a firth that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway. It stretches from St Bees Head, just south of Whitehaven in Cumbria, to the Mull of Galloway, on the western end of Dumfries and Galloway. The Isle of Man is also very...
. It also flows for a small way through the English county of Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
before entering the Solway.
The river rises in the hills to the east of Moffat
Moffat
Moffat is a former burgh and spa town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, lying on the River Annan, with a population of around 2,500. The most notable building in the town is the Moffat House Hotel, designed by John Adam...
and its two main tributaries, the Black Esk and the White Esk, merge at the southern end of Castle O'er Forest. It flows south east through Eskdale
Eskdale, Dumfries and Galloway
Eskdale is a glen in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The River Esk flows through Eskdale to its estuary at the Solway Firth....
past Langholm
Langholm
Langholm , also known colloquially as the "Muckle Toon", is a burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, on the River Esk and the A7 road.- History:...
before merging with Liddel Water
Liddel Water
Liddel Water is a river running through southern Scotland and northern England, for much of its course forming the border between the two countries, and was formerly one of the boundaries of the Debatable Lands....
(which defines the border between 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 England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Before passing Longtown
Longtown, Cumbria
Longtown is a small town in northern Cumbria, England, with a population of around 3,000. It is in the parish of Arthuret and on the River Esk, not far from the Anglo-Scottish border. Nearby was the Battle of Arfderydd....
the river enters England and merges with the River Lyne
River Lyne
The River Lyne is a river of Cumbria in England.The river is formed near the hamlet of Stapleton by the confluence of the Black Lyne and the White Lyne ....
and enters the Solway Firth near the mouth of the River Eden
River Eden, Cumbria
The River Eden is a river that flows through Cumbria, England on its way to the Solway Firth.-Course of river:The Eden rises in Black Fell Moss, Mallerstang, on the high ground between High Seat, Yorkshire Dales and Hugh Seat. Here it forms the boundary between the counties of Cumbria and North...
.
It was formerly one of the boundaries of the Debatable Lands
Debatable Lands
The Debatable Lands, also known as Debatable ground, batable ground or thriep lands, was land lying between Scotland and England, formerly in question to which it belonged, when they were distinct kingdoms...
as marked by the Scots' Dike
Scots' Dike
The Scots' Dike or dyke is a three and a half mile / 5.25 km long linear earthwork, constructed by the English and the Scots in the year 1552 to mark the division of the Debatable lands and thereby settle the exact boundary between the Kingdoms of Scotland and England.-Introduction:The...
.
The Scotland Act 1998 (Border Rivers) Order 1999 provides that functions relating to the management of salmon, trout, eels and freshwater fish in respect of the whole of the River Esk remain
with UK ministers: the Border Esk and its tributaries are the only rivers in Scotland where an Environment Agency
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
rod licence is required for angling.
Tributaries
The various tributaries of the Esk are described proceeding downstream.The White Esk arises as the Glendearg and Tomleuchar burns merge then flow south through Eskdalemuir Forest capturing the waters of the Garwald Water at Garwaldwaterfoot then continuing by the village of Eskdalemuir
Eskdalemuir
-External links:*...
into Castle O'er Forest. It is followed by the B709 road for much of its course. The headwaters of the Black Esk feed into the Black Esk Reservoir, from the foot of whose dam, the Black Esk flows south to Sandyford where its crossed by the B723 road. It then turns sharply east then southeast passing Castle O'er on its way to meet with the White Esk to form the River Esk.
The Meggat Water (not to be confused with Megget Water
Megget Water
Megget Water is a river in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, in the former Selkirkshire. The Water rises at Broad Hill, passes through Megget Reservoir and empties into St Mary's Loch...
) is a left bank tributary of the Esk which rises at the southern margin of Craik Forest
Craik Forest
Craik Forest is a forest near Hawick in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, and managed by the Forestry Commission.-See also:*Craik, Scottish Borders*Ettrick Forest*Wauchope Forest*List of forests in the United Kingdom...
and flows south, being joined by the Stennies Water before its confluence with the Esk. The Ewes Water is a significant left bank tributary of the Esk which enters the latter at Langholm. Its headwaters , the Eweslees, Mosspaul and Carewoodrig Burns merge and flow southwards as the Ewes Water for several miles, being joined by numerous further burns, the most significant of which is the Meikledale Burn. The valley of the Ewes Water is followed by the A7
A7
A7, A.7, A 7, A07 or A-7 may refer to:* A7 , bar in New York City* ATC code A07 Antidiarrheals, intestinal anti-inflammatory/anti-infective agents, a subgroup of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System...
road from Carlisle to Edinburgh and by an electricity transmission line. Wauchope Water is a right bank tributary of the Esk which joins immediately downstream from the Ewes Water confluence. It arises as the Logan Water and Bigholms Burn meet 3 miles / 5 km southwest of Langholm. The Tarras Water is a left bank tributary of the Esk which joins it 2.5 miles /4 km south of Langholm.
The Liddel Water
Liddel Water
Liddel Water is a river running through southern Scotland and northern England, for much of its course forming the border between the two countries, and was formerly one of the boundaries of the Debatable Lands....
is a major tributary which enters on the left bank between Canonbie and Longtown. It forms the boundary between Scotland and England for a while as does its tributary, the Kershope Burn
Kershope Burn
Kershope Burn is a minor river running in its entirety along the border between England and Scotland.The river rises, as Clark's Sike, in a marshy area in Kielder Forest Northumberland known as Hobb's Flow, before becoming Kershope Burn after running by Kershopehead, a farmstead in Cumbria.The...
. The River Lyne
River Lyne
The River Lyne is a river of Cumbria in England.The river is formed near the hamlet of Stapleton by the confluence of the Black Lyne and the White Lyne ....
enters on the left bank at Lynefoot just above the normal tidal limit of the estuarial section of the Esk. The River Sark
River Sark
Disambiguation: for other meanings, please see Sark The River Sark or Sark Water is a river best known for forming part of the western border between Scotland and England...
and the Kirtle Water
Kirtle Water
The Kirtle Water is a river in Dumfries and Galloway in southern Scotland. It rises on the southern slopes of Haggy Hill where its headwaters are impounded to form Winterhope Reservoir...
enter the tidal estuary of the Esk to the east and west of Gretna
Gretna
-Places:In Scotland:*Gretna, Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway*Gretna GreenIn Canada:*Gretna, ManitobaIn the United States:*Gretna, Florida*Gretna, Louisiana*Gretna, Nebraska*Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania*Mount Gretna Heights, Pennsylvania...
respectively. See main articles on each of these and some of their tributaries.