| River Ayr | |
|---|---|
 The River Ayr Looking towards Alder Glen, from the River Ayr Way. | |
 | |
| Native name | Uisge Àir (Scottish Gaelic) |
| Location | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Counties | Ayrshire |
| Settlements | Ayr,Catrine,Muirkirk |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Glenbuck Loch |
| • location | Muirkirk,Scotland |
| Mouth | Ayr Harbour, Firth of Clyde |
• location | Ayr,Scotland |
| Length | 65 km (40 mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Lugar Water |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Lugar Water,Garpel Water |
| • right | Greenock Water |
TheRiver Ayr (pronounced likeair,Uisge Àir inGaelic) is a river inAyrshire,Scotland. At 65 km (40 mi) it is the longest river in the county.
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 ofAyr.
The nameAyr may come from a pre-Celtic word meaning "watercourse".[1]Ayr could also be ofBrittonic derivation, perhaps from the element*ar, an ancientriver-name element implying horizontal movement.[2] The town of Ayr was formerly known asInver Ayr meaning "mouth of the Ayr" (seeInver), but this was later shortened to justAyr.[1]
The River Ayr has acatchment area of 574 km2 (222 sq mi).
The river originates at Glenbuck Loch inEast Ayrshire, close to the border withLanarkshire. It winds its way through East andSouth Ayrshire to itsmouth at the town ofAyr, where it empties into theFirth of Clyde.
On its way, the river passes through the villages ofMuirkirk,Sorn,Catrine,Failford,Stair andAnnbank, as well as passing the location of (the now ruined)Ayr Castle. The largest settlements beingAyr,Cumnock,Catrine,Ochiltree,Muirkirk and Sorn.
Major land uses within the catchment area areagriculture,forestry,mining, leisure and recreation and urban development.
Principal tributaries include:
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 ofGlenbuck, 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 ofAyr, where the river empties into the ocean at theFirth of Clyde. Typically the walk is done in 2 or 3 stages.
55°28′05″N4°38′19″W / 55.46803°N 4.63863°W /55.46803; -4.63863