Leader Water

Leader Water is a small tributary of the River Tweed in Lauderdale in the Scottish Borders.^[1] It flows southwards from the Lammermuir Hills through the towns of Lauder and Earlston, joining the River Tweed at Leaderfoot.^[2]^[3]

Course

The feeder burns of the Leader Water are the Headshaw Burn, the Hillhouse Burn and the Kelphope Burn.^[4] They combine at the Carfraemill Hotel and the village of Oxton. The river is now sandwiched between the A68 and the A697, and it has absorbed the Cleekhimin Burn, Harry Burn, Washing Burn and Earnscleugh Burn.

The Leader Water now passes to the east of the town of Lauder, by Thirlestane Castle.^[5] The A679 bridges the river which continues past Lauder Barns, West Mains and St Leonards where the Leader receives his final feeder burn, the Boondreigh Burn. It now sticks closely by the A68, near the Whitslaid Tower, the Blainslies, Galadean, Birkhill, Chapel-on-Leader, and Leadervale.

After passing through the outskirts of Earlston, the course of the river is almost done, as it skirts some woodland, and after passing Drygrange, it joins the Tweed at Leaderfoot Viaduct.^[5]

Nearby are Scott's View, Bemersyde House, Bemersyde Moss, Carolside, Dryburgh Abbey, the William Wallace Statue and the Roman forts at Newstead (Trimontium).

River Tweed tributaries

Whiteadder Water, Blackadder Water
River Till, Eden Water, River Teviot, Leader Water, Leithen Water, Quair Water, Eddleston Water, Manor Water, Lyne Water, Holms Water

Gallery

Leader Water at Oxton Mains
Leader Water at New Mills, Scottish Borders
Leader Water at New Mills

References

^ Jeffrey, A. (1855). The History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts, from the Most Remote Period to the Present Time. The History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts. T.C. Jack. p. 12. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
^ Marshall, J. (1835). An Analysis and Compendium of all the returns made to Parliament: since the commencement of the 19. century: relating to the increase of population in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the church establishment of England and Wales, and the amount and appropriation of the parochial assessments, tithes ... Sherwood. p. 212. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
^ Munro, D.M.; Gittings, B.M.; Royal Scottish Geographical Society (2006). Scotland: An Encyclopedia of Places & Landscapes. Collins. p. 298. ISBN 978-0-00-472466-9. Retrieved 6 November 2024. Rising in the southern foothills of the Lammermuir Hills in Scottish Borders, the Leader Water flows south through Lauderdale and the settlements of Lauder, Birkhill and Earlston before joining the ...
^ Hutchinson, W. (1924). Hutchinson's Britain Beautiful. Hutchinson's Britain Beautiful. Hutchinson & Company. p. 217. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
^ ^a ^b Hill, O. (1953). Scottish Castles of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. Country Life. p. 82. Retrieved 6 November 2024. Thirlestane Castle. The lands of Thirlestane in Lauderdale have been in possession of the Maitlands since Sir Richard ... The castle stands on the right bank of the Leader Water which joins the Tweed at Leaderfoot, after lending its name to Lauderdale.

External links

55°36′23″N 2°40′20″W / 55.60643°N 2.67225°W / 55.60643; -2.67225

[Jeffrey-1] Jeffrey, A. (1855). The History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts, from the Most Remote Period to the Present Time. The History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts. T.C. Jack. p. 12. Retrieved 6 November 2024.

[Marshall-2] Marshall, J. (1835). An Analysis and Compendium of all the returns made to Parliament: since the commencement of the 19. century: relating to the increase of population in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the church establishment of England and Wales, and the amount and appropriation of the parochial assessments, tithes ... Sherwood. p. 212. Retrieved 6 November 2024.

[Munro-3] Munro, D.M.; Gittings, B.M.; Royal Scottish Geographical Society (2006). Scotland: An Encyclopedia of Places & Landscapes. Collins. p. 298. ISBN 978-0-00-472466-9. Retrieved 6 November 2024. Rising in the southern foothills of the Lammermuir Hills in Scottish Borders, the Leader Water flows south through Lauderdale and the settlements of Lauder, Birkhill and Earlston before joining the ...

[Hutchinson-4] Hutchinson, W. (1924). Hutchinson's Britain Beautiful. Hutchinson's Britain Beautiful. Hutchinson & Company. p. 217. Retrieved 6 November 2024.

[Hill-5] Hill, O. (1953). Scottish Castles of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. Country Life. p. 82. Retrieved 6 November 2024. Thirlestane Castle. The lands of Thirlestane in Lauderdale have been in possession of the Maitlands since Sir Richard ... The castle stands on the right bank of the Leader Water which joins the Tweed at Leaderfoot, after lending its name to Lauderdale.

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