The River Doon (Scottish Gaelic: Abhainn Dhùin, pronounced [avɪɲˈɣuːɲ]) is a river in Ayrshire, Scotland. Its course is generally north-westerly, passing near to the town of Dalmellington, and through the villages of Patna,[1] Dalrymple, and Alloway, birthplace of Robert Burns. The source of the Doon is Loch Doon, high in the Galloway Hills.
In the 1930s Loch Doon was dammed to provide water to the Galloway Hydro Electric Scheme, today operated by Scottish Power.
The Doon is mentioned in Burns' classic narrative poem "Tam o' Shanter", along with the Brig o' Doon, which spans 72 feet (22 metres) across the river, just outside Alloway. The river is also the major setting for his lesser-known poem "The Banks O' Doon".
Course
The River Doon begins at Loch Doon, flowing in a northwesterly direction from the loch. The loch is dammed at the source of the river by the Loch Doon Dam. The river flows north from the loch through Ness Glen, a densely forested gorge.[2]
The Doon ends its nearly 40-mile course at the Firth of Clyde, just south of Ayr.[3]
References
External links
- River Doon at the Ayrshire Rivers Trust
55°26′22″N 4°39′00″W / 55.43944°N 4.65000°W