Leithen Water facts for kids

Leithen Water is a cool and clear river in Scotland. It's like a smaller stream that flows into a bigger river. Leithen Water is a tributary of the famous River Tweed. It starts high up in the Moorfoot Hills and then joins the River Tweed near a town called Innerleithen.

What's in a Name?

The town of Innerleithen gets its name from the river! The word "Innerleithen" comes from an old Scottish Gaelic word, inbhir. This word means where two rivers meet, also known as a confluence. So, Innerleithen is the place where the Leithen Water meets the River Tweed. The name "Leithen" itself is a very old Celtic word. It means "grey" in colour.

Fun on the Water

Leithen Water is usually about 6 to 7 metres wide. It's not very deep, so you can't really swim in it. But it's a super popular spot for local kids! They love to wade in the cool water on a warm day. Sometimes, they even try to 'guddle' fish. This means trying to catch fish with your bare hands!

In the summer, kids often build small dams across the river. This makes the water a bit deeper, creating fun pools to play in. Two popular spots for building these mini-dams are near the Cauld (which is a special fish ladder close to the Innerleithen Golf Course) and at Leithen Bridge.

The Old Leithen Bridge

The Leithen Bridge is a really old stone bridge. It was built way back in 1799! Money was collected to build it, so people living on one side of the river could easily get to church on the other side. It's a cool piece of history that's still used today.

River's Moods

Most of the time, Leithen Water is very clear and feels quite cool. It's refreshing! However, after a lot of heavy rain, the river can change. It might become a bit murky or cloudy for a while. But soon enough, it goes back to being clear again.

A Famous Connection

Did you know that Leithen Water even inspired a character in books? A famous writer named John Buchan created a character called Sir Edward Leithen. This character appears in several of Buchan's adventure novels. It's pretty neat that a river can be so inspiring!