The River Nith (; ) is a river in south-west Scotland. The Nith rises in the Carsphairn hills of East Ayrshire, between Prickeny Hill and Enoch Hill, east of Dalmellington. For the majority of its course it flows in a south-easterly direction through Dumfries and Galloway and then into the Solway Firth at Airds Point.

Protected areas

The estuary of the River Nith is an internationally important winter feeding site for waders, geese and other wildfowl, and is for this reason protected at an international level as part of the Upper Solway Flats and Marshes Ramsar site and Special Protection Area. The SPA supports virtually the entire Svalbard population of barnacle geese during winter.

The area also forms part of the Solway Firth Special Area of Conservation, which is protected due to the presence of several priority habitats, and as well as populations of sea lamprey and river lamprey. At a national level, the area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is within the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve.

The Nith Estuary National Scenic Area recognises the scenic value of the area. It is one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development by restricting certain forms of development. The Nith Estuary NSA covers 14,337 ha in total, consisting of 14,310 ha of land and intertidal sand and mudflats, as well as a further 28 ha that is below low water. Management of the NSA is the responsibility of Dumfries and Galloway Council, who have produced a management strategy for the area.

Tributaries

Upstream to downstream:

  • Connel Burn
  • Afton Water
  • Kello Water
  • Crawick Water
  • Euchan Water
  • Mennock Water
  • Carron Water
  • Cample Water
  • Scar Water
  • Shinnel Water
  • Cluden Water
  • Cargen Pow
  • New Abbey Pow

Settlements

right|thumb|160px|The Nith near Carron Bridge.

right|180px|thumb|The Nith at [[Ellisland Farm, Dumfries|Ellisland Farm.]]

  • Carronbridge
  • New Cumnock
  • Kirkconnel
  • Sanquhar
  • Mennock
  • Thornhill
  • Dumfries
  • Glencaple

Harbours

  • Glencaple Quay
  • Kingholm Quay
  • Laghall Quay

See also

  • Dalgarnock Village, Church and Parish

References

  • Nith Estuary National Scenic Area , South West Scotland Hill Walking Routes