List of Ayrshire place-names beginning with 'B'

Back Burn

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS537206
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 96m
Elements: SSE back + SSE burn

Description:

‘A burn flowing at the back’. It is not clear what it is seen to be at the back of. Given its proximity to Dumfries House, it was probably named from that perspective. As the OS Name Book states, it is a continuation of the Ward Burn OCU: ‘A stream running in a Nor West .. direction through the Farms of "Hill" and East Grimgrew, this name is applied from "Pluck" to its junction with Lugar W[ater], being the continuation of Ward Burn’ (OS1/3/52/22).

Back Lane

Auchinleck (AUK), New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS697179
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 371m
Elements: Sc back + Sc lane

Description:

This burn forms the middle reaches of the Guelt Water. While it is unclear what this is the ‘back’ of, it may be worth noting that it lies to the south of Foredibban Hill (East and West) which may imply part of this range of hills had been called ‘*Backdibban’, perhaps the hill now known as Black Hill. The use here in Kyle of the element lane ‘a slow moving, meandering stream’, which is generally said to be confined to Dumfries and Galloway, is notable (see also Auchtitench Lane).

Back Moss

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS606047
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 438m
Elements: SSE back + SSE moss

Description:

Described in the OS Name Books as ‘A small moss lying at the north side of Glenlee’ OS1/3/49/192. Its fairly remote location no doubt lies behind the name.

Back o' Hill

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS502197
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 145m
Elements: Sc back + Sc o' + Sc hill

Description:

'Back of or behind a hill'. It was presumably named from the perspective of Barwharrie, the hill in question being now called Back o' Hill Mount (which see). This is also the feature which gave rise to the name Hill recorded for this settlement on Armstrong's map (1775).

This type of name construction is quite common in both Scotland and England, such as Back o’ Moss, at least twice in Lanarkshire), Back o’ Brae Well, Glasgow and Back o’ Loch, Kirkintilloch DNB. 

It was described in the OS Name Book 1855-57 thus: ‘A farmsteading, all thatched, one storey & in good repair’.

Back o' Hill Mount

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Relief, Vegetation
Grid reference: NS503194
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 154m
Elements: en Back o' Hill + SSE mount

Description:

This is the hill which Back o’ Hill farmsteading is at the back of, as seen from the perspective of Barwharrie. Strictly speaking it refers to the very top of the elevation where the OS 6 inch 2^nd edn shows a subcircular plantation. See also Back o’ Hill.

Back Rogerton

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS557221
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 179m
Elements: Sc back + en Rogerton

Description:

For analysis, see under Fore Rogerton. The existence of this pair indicates the perspective of the namers of these settlements. The Appendix to The Correspondence (p.219), notes that this was variously ‘West, Back, or Black’ Rogerton, as well as the former existence of a Middle Rogerton.

RN

Back Row

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS592214
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 146m
Elements: SSE back + SSE row

Description:

One of the rows of workers’ housing associated with the Lugar Ironworks.

RN

Backburn Wood

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS538196
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 139m
Elements: en Backburn + SSE wood

Description:

A small wood through which the Back Burn flows on its way to join the Lugar Water near Dumfries House.

Balance Bank

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS527211
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 107m
Elements: Sc ballance + SSE bank

Description:

On OS 6” 1^st and 2^nd edn, this is a plantation of trees fringing Balance Holm on the west; at a guess, it takes its name from Balance Holm: see this for further discussion of the first element.

The Correspondence,Appendix (p.214), notes that ‘Ballanshill, otherwise known as Balance Bank, and Ballansholm, were already part of the lands of Mill of Auchinleck in 1727’.

Balance Holm

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS530208
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 92m
Elements: Sc ballance + SSE holm

Description:

The origin of this name seems obscure. Perhaps it is taken from Scots balance ‘flat dish’ (see https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/ballance) but there may be a simpler explanation. It also should be noted that Ballance (variants Ballans, Balance) is a surname, found mostly in the English midlands and Yorkshire (FaNBI, s.n.); note also the surname Ballan.

The Correspondence, Appendix (p.214), notes that ‘Ballanshill, otherwise known as Balance Bank, and Ballansholm, were already part of the lands of Mill of Auchinleck in 1727’.

Ballochmyle Pit No. 7

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS572244
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 184m
Elements: en Ballochmyle + SSE pit + SSE no. 7

Ballochmyle Row

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS573233
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 188m
Elements: en Ballochmyle + SSE row

Description:

Ballochmyle is in Mauchline Parish, not far away but not near enough to give a ready explanation for the name. The nearby Common Row, called (‘Stable Row’ here), was said in 1913 to belong to the trustees ‘of Sir Claud Alexander, of Ballochmyle’. Although the report does not comment on the ownership of Ballochmyle Row, it may be that it was the same, and that the name derives from that of the owner. This is also likely in the case of Walker Row (q.v.).  See: http://www.ayrshirehistory.org.uk/Bibliography/monos/amr1.htm under ‘Ballochmyle Rows’; ‘Stable Row’.

Bank Cottages

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS599124
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 217m
Elements: en Bank + SSE cottage

Description:

These cottages take their name from Bank (House). They form part of the small village of Bankglen.

Bank Furnaces

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS601117
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 221m
Elements: en Bank + SSE furnace

Description:

A row of cottages which took their name from the nearby New Cumnock Ironworks.

Bank House

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS601122
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 215m
Elements: Sc bank + SSE house

Description:

'A bank or slope associated with St Brigit'. The change from St Brydesbank etc. to Bank occurred in the 17th century (see bank, st. brydesbank – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY). There is no indication of why St Brigit formed part of this name, but it is likely that a chapel dedicated to that saint stood hereabouts.

There are numerous dedications to St Brigit in South-West Scotland, mostly in the form of Kilbride or Kirkbride. See https://saintsplaces.gla.ac.uk/saint.php?id=396

Bank Junction

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS606146
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 183m
Elements: en Bank + SSE junction

Description:

The junction where the mineral railway line from New Bank Collieries and Bank Furnaces meets the main Glasgow line.

Bank Wood

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS662131
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 194m
Elements: SSE bank + SSE wood

Description:

'A wood on a bank or slope'.

Bankend

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS586207
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 137m
Elements: SSE bank + SSE end

Bankend

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS562199
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 108m
Elements: SSE bank + SSE end

Description:

‘(Settlement at) the end of a bank or slope’, the bank in question being Harperbank. It is now the site of Harperbank Grove, a small housing estate on the western edge of Cumnock. It would seem to have given its name to Bankend Cottages, even although these are called simply Bankend on the OS 6 inch 1st edn map (1860), while the later Bankend is only shown but not named on that map.

It was also known as Bankend House, and was a sizeable farm, for which see Ploughing Up Our Past: Bankend (farminginthecumnockarea.blogspot.com) under Bankend.

Bankend Cottages

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS559199
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 120m
Elements: en Bankend + SSE cottage

Description:

This place is marked on Home’s 1772 plan of Dumfries House Estate simply as Smiths, presumably a smiddy, with the adjacent field called Smiths Park. It is likely to have taken its name from nearby Bankend, which lies at the end of Harperbank.

Bankglen

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS599124
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 217m
Elements: en Bank + SSE glen

Bankglen Inn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS600125
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 213m
Elements: en Bankglen + SSE inn

Barbeth

Ochiltree (OCH), Stair (STA)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS443195
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 108m
Elements: G bàrr + G beithe

Description:

‘Height or hill associated with one or more birch-trees’. Auchenbay OCH also contains beith(e) ‘birch-tree’ but has not retained the final consonant, which would originally have been sounded as th in SSE ‘bath’. It is difficult to know what to make of this difference of development, given that both names were coined in an area with Gaelic being replaced by Scots at around the same time.

There are two bàrr-names in the parish which refer to tree-species: Barbeth ‘birch’ and Bardarrach ‘oak’ (G darach).

The lands of Barbeth underwent a three-fold division, now represented by High (formerly South), Mid and North Barbeth. The NGR is of Mid Barbeth.

Barbeys Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS557076
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 470m
Elements: pn Barbie + SSE hill or G bàrr + G beithe + SSE hill

Description:

The first element would appear to be a personal name which can be compared with that found in Barbieston in the parishes of Auchinleck, Coylton and Dalrymple. This name is not in Black, Surnames (1946) but the surname Barbey appears as a diminutive of Barbe, originally a nickname for someone with a beard.

Note, however, Barbey Hill in the parish of Urr, Kirkcudbrightshire. It is possible that the name originally lacked the -s, in which case we might understand it as Gaelic bàrr ‘hill, top’ + Gaelic beithe ‘birch-tree’, with hill later added as an epexegetic or explanatory element after bàrr was no longer understood.

It is described in the OS Name Book as: 'A Slight eminence on the East Side of Rough Burn and on the West of Littlechang Burn' (OS1/3/49/152).

Barbieston

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS560219
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 175m
Elements: pn Barbie + Sc toun

Description:

Uncertain first element, though undoubtedly a personal, either that of an individual or a family. Barbe, Barby are both attested as family names, though confined to the south of England for the most part; ‘Barbe’, however is a surname which one can imagine being reinvented in different places, since it relates to beardedness. The unrelated Gaelic Berbeadh is attested as the name of an individual in Abernethy in the 11^th century. Given local naming patterns, a family name is more likely, since most local names in ‑toun seem to involve surnames.

An added consideration here, however, is that there is a Barbieston in Dalrymple parish, which looks to be of greater age (cf Barbieston Castle), and was the seat of Crawfords and then Campbells (see Paterson, History). So perhaps this is in fact a transferred name in any case?

Barbieston was part of Fore Rogerton in the late 18^th century, see The Correspondence, Appendix, p.219.

Bardarroch Farm

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS470184
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 138m
Elements: G bàrr + G darach + SSE farm

Description:

‘Oak-hill, hill or height associated with an oak or oaks’. It is one of two bàrr-names in the parish to refer to tree-species, the other being Barbeth (birch). There is considerable interesting incidental information about the residents of Bardarroch in the 17^th to 19^th century to be found on the Cumnock History Group’s Ploughing Up Our Past blog, to which we owe the Commissary Court record from 1671: https://farminginthecumnockarea.blogspot.com/search/label/Bardarroch.

Barglachan

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS572226
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 194m
Elements: G bàrr + G clachan

Description:

'Hill associated with a clachan or small village'? G clachan often refers to a small settlement around a kirk, a kirkton. The kirkton in question here could well be the settlement at the kirk of Auchinleck, which lies c.2.5km to the south-west of Barglachan. Alternatively it should be noted that clachan can sometimes refer to stepping stones. A plural form might better explain the appearance of the -g- in the name—it could represent the remains of what is known as ‘eclipsis’ which follows the plural definite article, and can be seen in place-names in Galloway (so the name might originally have been *barr na gclachan). For an example of clachan as ‘stepping stones’, see Clachandow in Dalry parish: https://kcb-placenames.glasgow.ac.uk/place-names/?p=record&id=1415#10/55.1074/-4.1109/resultsTabs-1

Barglachan Colliery

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS566223
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 182m
Elements: en Barglachan + SSE colliery

Barglachan Pit

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS567229
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 186m
Elements: en Barglachan + SSE pit

Barglachan Well

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS572223
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 173m
Elements: en Barglachan + SSE well

Barley Park

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS437087
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 174m
Elements: SSE barley + SSE park

Barlonachan

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS605211
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 173m
Elements: G bàrr + ?

Description:

This is a Gaelic name, the first element being the frequently occurring bàrr ‘a hill, a height’. The second element is obscure.

RN

Barlosh

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS479181
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 156m
Elements: G bàrr + G loisgte

Description:

There are a considerable number of names in bàrr ‘hill, height’ in Ochiltree, as throughout this part of Ayrshire. Many of these host farmsteadings, and it seems likely that these low hilltops were a preferred location for farms in the period of Gaelic settlement. It would be difficult to discern among the many possibilities motivating the second element, loisgte ‘burnt’.

RN

Barlosh Bridge

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS484176
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 156m
Elements: en Barlosh + SSE bridge

Description:

A bridge over the Taiglum Burn south-east of Barlosh.

Barmickhill

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS520186
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 188m
Elements: G bàrr + G muc + SSE hill

Description:

‘Hill or height associated with a pig or pigs?; ‘hill or height which resembles a pig’s back’?. Local knowledge of the shape of the hill will help.

Barmickhill Centre Belt

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS519186
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 188m
Elements: en Barmickhill + SSE centre + SSE belt

Description:

A long, narrow, rectangular strip of trees centred to the north-west of Barmickhill. The centre in its name refers to its location both in relation to the lands of Barmickhill and to the other plantations there. It is shown but not named on the OS 6 inch 1st edn map (published in 1860) as well as the current OS Explorer map.

Barmickhill Plantation

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS520183
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 190m
Elements: en Barmickhill + SSE plantation

Description:

A rectangular plantation south of Barmickhill, it is described in the OS Name Book as: 'A Plantation of fir and Forest trees situated near Barmickhill the property of the Marquis of Bute' (OS1/3/52/62).

Barmickhill Specs

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS519188
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 178m
Elements: en Barmickhill + SSE specs

Description:

This former plantation on the farm of Barmickhill was named on account of its shape, as explained in the OS Name Book for Old Cumnock parish: 'This name applies to a plantation situated near Barmickhill the property of the Marquis of Bute It is named so from its near resemblance to a pair of spectacles' (OS1/3/52/61).

The shape can still be seen clearly on aerial photos of the 1940s. From these photos it had ceased to be a plantation by this date and the name disappears from maps from the 1950s.

This is not the only plantation in East Ayrshire to contain the generic element specs. In Straiton parish (to the north of Straiton) there is a plantation shown but not named on OS Explorer at NS382059. It is named on the first and second editions of the OS 6 inch map as Specs Plantation and is also explained in the OS Name Book as having received its name on account of its shape (see OS1/3/60/1).

Barney Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS671140
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 289m
Elements: G beàrn + SSE hill

Description:

The first part of this name most likely contains G beàrn 'a gap, a notch; a pass', Old Gaelic bern, with an alternative form berna, which might explain the second syllable of Barney. Compare for instance Barnahill in Stewarton parish AYR.

See Barney Hill – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY for an excellent annotated photo showing what is likely to be the eponymous gap or pass on the east side of Corsencon. In the Scots-speaking period the element hill has been added to it, with *Barney an existing name.

The land with which it is coupled in the 1656 charter (RMS x no. 489), Snaids, would appear to be Sneds, a lost name on Blaeu near Auchinleck castle, found in connection with Hapland AUK in other sources (see under Hapland).

Barnsdale

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS510229
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 123m
Elements: en Barnsdale

Description:

Barnsdale is a house and attached lands on the Auchinleck estate. It was in existence by mid-18^th century at the latest, and features prominently in the letters between James Boswell, James Bruce and Andrew Gibb about the estate. The Correspondence, Appendix, p. 214 notes that the house at Barnsdale was probably ‘occupied by the overseers [of the estate], James Bruce and then Andrew Gibb’; the lands seem to have been let for grazing to various other local farmers over the course of the 1780s and 1790s. There are accounts suggesting it was rebuilt in the 1790s; and James Boswell’s son, Alexander Boswell, erected a printing press there; see his poem:

          On Erecting a Printing Press at Barnsdale Poultry Yard

          Sires of the typographic skill
          Who sav'd us from the sluggish quill
          And gave the faculty to mind,
          To body hitherto confin'd
          And more - its offspring never die
          But live, increase, and multiply.
          Great Fust and Guttenberg renown'd!
          If thy proud spirits hover round
          Frown not that in this lowly shade
          We profit by thy wond'rous aid.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12099660.barnsdales-life-of-boswell/

As for the name, it looks likely to be a transferred name, perhaps from the Barnsdale in West Yorkshire (famously the original haunt of Robin Hood), but there are other locations of the same name. Boswell does mention the poems about Robin Hood in his account of Johnson’s Tour of the Hebrides, so this was certainly in the air mid-18^th century, but the name clearly pre-dates James Boswell’s activities. It does not look like a name coined afresh in the location. On the original name Barnsdale (taken to be from OE personal name Beorn + dæl , ‘Beorn’s valley’), see Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and online at: https://epns.nottingham.ac.uk/browse/West+Riding+of+Yorkshire/South+Kirkby/53288204b47fc40c810056e1-Barnsdale

Barony Road

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS529219
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 135m
Elements: en Barony + SSE road

Description:

‘The Barony’ refers to the Boswell estates in Auchinleck. The straight road in question joins the complex of Auchinleck House to the village and church at Auchinleck town itself. It was built by Alexander Boswell, laird and baron of Auchinleck (1749-82), linking Auchinleck House with the parish kirk. He nicknamed the road the Via Sacra 'the sacred road' (Love 2015, 109). Alexander Boswell took the title Lord Auchinleck when he became a judge. It seems likely that it is the road referred to by James Boswell and others as ‘the kirk road’ in his correspondence, and hence we have entered some references to it from The Correspondence.

Barquharrie

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS502190
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 132m
Elements: G bàrr + G an + G carragh

Description:

‘Hill or height characterised by a rock, pillar, erect stone’? The second element carragh shows lenition of c to ch- which often appears in Scots orthography as wh- . Since bàrr is a masculine noun, it must be presumed that there was once a definite article to cause the lenition, which has since disappeared from the name since. The original Gaelic would have been Bàrr a’ Charraigh. In some forms of the name it has been assimilated to the common element Bal- , G baile, ‘farmstead’. There is no known sign of the eponymous rock or stone.

Barr Hill

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS572204
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 141m
Elements: G bàrr + SSE hill

Description:

Originally a Gaelic name containing simply ‘bàrr’ ‘hill, top’, with SSE hill added later when bàrr no longer expressed its hilly nature.

Barrhill

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS571202
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 129m
Elements: en Barr Hill

Description:

It takes its name from neighbouring Barr Hill. It is now part of the town of Cumnock. It is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A few dwelling houses situated [on] the Turnpike Road a short distance from Cumnock and convenient to Railway Station’ (OS1/3/52/12).

Barrhill is a remarkably common name in AYR.

Barrhill Pits (Coal & Ironstone)

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS573204
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 146m
Elements: en Barrhill + SSE pit

Barscalloch

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS666145
Certainty: 2
Altitude: 394m
Elements: G bàrr + G sgalloch

Description:

Barscalloch is a name of Gaelic origin, the first element being G bàrr ‘top, summit’. The second element is very probably G sgalloch ‘bald’. It has survived only in the burn-name Barscalloch Burn, which rises on the southern slopes of Windy Edge, the western shoulder of Corsincon Hill, suggesting that *Barscalloch was the older name for that high, exposed feature. For futher illustration see https://newcumnockhistory.com/place-names/place-names-b/barscalloch-burn/.

Barscalloch Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS664136
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 177m
Elements: en Barscalloch + SSE burn

Description:

A burn which rises on the on the southern slopes of Windy Edge, the western shoulder of Corsincon Hill, suggesting that *Barscalloch was the older name for that high, exposed feature. See under Barscalloch for more details.

It is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A burn rising on the east side of Hillend or White Knowe and flowing southwards into the river Nith’ (OS1/3/49/88).

Barshare

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS576194
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 156m
Elements: G bàrr + G sear

Description:

‘A hill that lies to the east’? if this interpretation is correct, then it would have been named for its position east of Cumnock, the central place of the parish.

This farm has given its name to the neighbouring housing estate of Barshare, which is why both names occur next to each other on OS Explorer 327.

Barshare

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS577197
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 140m
Elements: en Barshare [the farm]

Description:

Name of a suburb of Cumnock built in the second half of the 20^th century which takes its name from the neighbouring farm of Barshare.

Barshare Wood

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS576192
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 147m
Elements: en Barshare [the farm] + SSE wood

Barturk

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS495220
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 107m
Elements: G bàrr + G torc

Description:

‘Boar-hill; a hill or height associated with a boar or boars’. Gaelic Bàrr Tuirc. A farmstead dating back to the middle ages based on a bàrr or small hilltop, here perhaps more of a rise, but situated at the top of a steep bank along the Lugar Water, Barturk Scar (cf.). An analogous name, although in a Brittonic language (Pictish) and not Gaelic, is Burnturk in Kettle parish, Fife (Pictish *brun/bren turc ‘boar-hill’: https://fife-placenames.glasgow.ac.uk/placename/?id=1259 ).

Barturk Scar

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS496223
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 105m
Elements: en Barturk + Sc scaur

Description:

The scaur (‘a cliff or a steep hill from which the soil has been washed away’) of this name refers to the high, steep bank of the Lugar Water, which forms the eastern march or boundary of Barturk.

Bedminnie

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS537134
Certainty: 2
Altitude: 320m
Elements: G bad or un ? + G mòine

Description:

The first element of this name may be G bad ‘a place, spot, tuft, clump (of trees, thicket’, although place-names with this element are chiefly found in eastern Scotland (see Watson 1926, 424). As far as I am aware, there is no other example in Ayrshire, and there is none in Galloway. While it chiefly comes through into Scots names as Bad-, it does also sometimes appear as Bed-, as in Bedcow, Kirkintilloch parish DNB. The second element is likely to be G mòine ‘peat-moss’, especially given the connection with Bedminnie Moss.

The name is now found only in Bedminnie Hill and Bedminnie Moss.

Bedminnie Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS538132
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 317m
Elements: en Bedminnie + SSE hill

Bedminnie Moss

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS537135
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 316m
Elements: en Bedminnie + SSE moss

Beech Knowe

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS482178
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 147m
Elements: SSE beech + SSE knowe

Description:

This house appears only from around 1990.

Beech Wood

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS536198
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 126m
Elements: SSE beech + SSE wood

Beechland

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS467167
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 150m
Elements: SSE beech + SSE land or SSE bank

Description:

This dwelling is no longer extant, but was marked on maps until 1940, disappearing by 1950. The reason behind the change of name from Beechland to Beechbank is not clear; Love (2021, 73) suggests it happened around 1908, in tandem with various alterations in the local area. It was described in the OS Name Books (1855-57) as ‘A small cottage, with Carpenter's shop attached; thatched & in good repair, one storey high. The property of John Wilson.’

Bellow

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS648255
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 214m
Elements: G bealach

Description:

'A pass, a way'. This refers to the road from Auchinleck and Cumnock through a small pass to Muirkirk. Note that the road to Muirkirk is called Bello Pass on Roy (1752 x 1755) and Bello Path on Armstrong (1775). 

The representation of Gaelic -ach as -o in Scots renditions of place-names is well-evidenced, see Nicolaisen 1996 [W. F. H. Nicolaisen, ‘Gaelic -ach > Scots -o in Scottish Place Names’, Scottish Gaelic Studies 17 (1996), 278-91];  Ó Maolalaigh 1998 [Roibeard Ó Maolalaigh, ‘Place-names as a Resource for the Historical Linguist’, in S. Taylor (ed.), The Uses of Place-Names (St Andrews, 1998), 12-53].

The NGR is of the point on the parish boundary between Auchinleck and Muirkirk through which the road between the two passes.

Bellow Bridge

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS600216
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 168m
Elements: en Bellow + SSE bridge

Description:

The OS Name Book records this bridge as: 'A County Bridge on the Turnpike Road crossing the Bellow Water - near its junction - with Glenmore Water' (OS1/3/3/121).

RN

Bellow Mill

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS597215
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 154m
Elements: en Bellow + Sc miln

Description:

For more on this mill, see: https://farminginthecumnockarea.blogspot.com/search/label/Bello%20Mill

There is a picture of it in Love 2015, 112.

RN

Bellow Water

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS598215
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 163m
Elements: en Bellow + SSE water

Bellowholm Row

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS594214
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 154m
Elements: en Bellowholm + SSE row

Description:

Bellowholm is only represented now in this name, but presumably represents the flat riverside land (the ‘holm’) on which this row of workers’ cottages was built.

RN

Bells Burn

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS696198
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 297m
Elements: pn Bell + SSE burn

Description:

The presumption is that this is named for someone of the surname Bell, a fairly common name.

Bellsbank

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS481051
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 223m

Bellsbank

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS479045
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 211m

Bellsbank Plantation

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS489039
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 252m
Elements: en Bellsbank + SSE plantation

Description:

A coniferous plantation, which takes its name from the nearby housing estate of Bellsbank. Afforestation took place between 1971 and 1977 (Turner 2018, 9).

Belston

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS474171
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 164m
Elements: pn Bell + Sc toun or Sc stane

Description:

‘A farm associated with a person or persons with the surname Bell’. The first element is probably the family-name Bell. The second element is probably Sc toun, despite the Blaeu form, which contains Sc stane ‘a stone’. Place-names containing a personal name + Sc toun are very common in this and neighbouring parishes.

There is another Belston in Coylton parish NGR NS386205.

Belston Junction

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS483177
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 151m
Elements: en Belston + SSE junction

Belston Loch

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS475169
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 162m
Elements: en Belston + Sc loch

Description:

This loch first appears named after the nearby farm of Drumsmodden OCH, although Belston lies nearer the loch.

Benalt

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS674184
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 360m
Elements: G beinn + G allt

Description:

G beinn ‘hill’ + G allt ‘burn, stream’. The name represents Beinn Allt, in modern ScG Beinn nan Allt, ‘the hill of (the) streams’; this presumably because so many watercourses descend from this hill. Roy’s form is an outlier. The Kyle presumably relates to the nearby Kyle Castle, rather than the district name. We would take Benhill as simply a misreading or mishearing of the name.

Benbain

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS502082
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 312m

Benbain

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS504092
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 400m

Benbain Coal Mine (No. 1)

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS511091
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 322m
Elements: en Benbain + SSE mine

Description:

The first of five coal mines to use the Benbain name, Benbain No. 1 started in 1896 and was to stop work in 1901 (Smith 1967, 240).

Benbeoch

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS495083
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 454m

Description:

Armstrong's map of 1775 contains the following statement: 'Benbeugh, noted for being a Cover or strong hold for Foxes it is wall'd about & may properly be called a Fox Warren.' This feature continues to be shown on later maps; both the OS 6 inch 1st and 2nd edn maps show an enclosed Fox Park at the bottom of Benbeoch Craig.

Benbeoch Craig

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS496082
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 412m
Elements: en Benbeoch + Sc craig

Benbrack

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS527054
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 494m

Benbrack Burn

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS519058
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 345m
Elements: en Benbrack + Sc burn

Benbraniachan

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS482086
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 378m

Benquhat

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS464095
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 317m

Benquhat Hill

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS466101
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 432m

Benrigg

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS580156
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 231m

Benston Belt

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS575156
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 256m
Elements: en Benston + SSE belt

Description:

This strip of trees is shown on both the first and second editions of the OS 6 inch map, but is named on only the former. It is described in the OS Name Book as: 'A plantation chiefly fir trees extending south west from Glaisnock Belt to Glaisnock Moss' (OS1/3/52/130). It takes its name from Benston (Farm) NCU.

Benston Farm

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS587156
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 215m
Elements: pn Ben + Sc toun + SSE farm

Description:

'Ben's farm?' From the structure of this name it would seem that the first element is the personal name Ben, a hypocoristic form of Benjamin. It is a rare name hereabouts so a careful examination of local pre-1600s records might be able to identify a good contender for the eponym. Note also the surname Ben or Benn, though that is not a local one.

Blaeu (Pont)'s form O[ver] Benstoun suggests that there was a *Nether Benstoun indicating that the lands had already been divided by the 1590s, when Pont made his map.

There was another Benston in Dalrymple parish.

Benston Lime Works (Disused)

New Cumnock (NCU), Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS580159
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 211m
Elements: en Benston + SSE lime works

Benston Lodge

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS580163
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 207m
Elements: en Benston + SSE lodge

Benston Low Plantation

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS586152
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 220m
Elements: en Benston + SSE low + SSE plantation

Benston Mount

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief, Vegetation
Grid reference: NS586148
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 237m
Elements: en Benston + SSE mount

Description:

A circular plantation south of Benston Farm.

Benston Quarry

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS583153
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 222m
Elements: en Benston + SSE quarry

Description:

A limestone quarry providing the raw material for Benston Lime Works. It is shown as Quarry (disused) on the OS Explorer map.

Benston Road

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS580170
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 185m
Elements: en Benston + SSE road

Benston Smithy

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS581155
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 231m
Elements: en Benston + SSE smithy

Benston T.P.

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS581155
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 231m
Elements: en Benston + SSE toll house

Benston Wood

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS577154
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 258m
Elements: en Benston + SSE wood

Bent

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS493173
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 181m
Elements: Sc bent

Description:

‘A stretch of open ground (covered with bent)’ (DOST), bent (or bent-grass) being ‘a strong, coarse, or wiry variety of grass’ (DOST).

There several other farms of the same name, e.g. in Galston in Ayrshire; in Paisley parish, Renfrewshire; Kilmaronock parish, Dunbartonshire; as well as several in England. As a name it likely emerged from the conversion of fields (characterised by bent-grass) into separate farms.

Bent Burn Bridge

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS496174
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 171m
Elements: en Bent Burn* + SSE bridge

Description:

A bridge over the Burnton Burn to the east of Bent. That the name is Bent Burn Bridge rather than Burnton Burn Bridge suggests that the Burnton Burn, or at least a stretch of the burn close to Bent, was once known as Bent Burn.

Benty Cowan Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS579083
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 475m
Elements: Sc benty + Sc cowan or G beinn + G taigh + G gobha + Sc hill

Description:

Sc benty ‘covered in bent, a strong, coarse, or wiry variety of grass’ would certainly suit this upland hill, described by the OS Name Book as: ‘A hill on Straid farm bearing Rough pasture’, adding that there is a Trig. [Trigonometric] Station on it (OS1/3/49/154). However, the second element cowan is puzzling. There is a Older Scots word cowan(e) ‘one who builds dry stone walls or dykes. Also attributively. with work' (DOST) e.g. cowan wirk ‘the work of building dykes]’, but ‘a dyke-builder covered in bent grass’ is an unlikely name for a hill!

NCH proposes a Gaelic origin, namely  beinn taigh gobhann  ‘hill of (the) smith’s house’, with Sc hill added later as an explanatory or epexegetic element, but the name is more likely to be Scots. 

Beoch

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS524117
Certainty: 2
Altitude: 272m
Elements: G beitheach

Description:

'A place of birches; a birch-wood'. This assumes that in several of the earliest forms, th is for ch, and that the medial dental fricative th has already been lost by the time of the earliest record i.e. *Beach not *Beathach. For excellent detailed discussion of the lands of Beoch, see Beoch – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY

The approximate NGR is of Nether Beoch.

Beoch Cottages

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS522098
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 272m
Elements: en Beoch + SSE cottage

Beoch Lane

Dalmellington (DAL), New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS548116
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 223m
Elements: en Beoch + Sc lane

Beoch Mine (No.2 Pit)

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS519098
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 307m
Elements: en Beoch + SSE mine

Description:

This was the second of the mines which took the Beoch name. It is listed by Smith in his book The Dalmellington Iron Company: Its Engines and Men (1967) as Beoch No. 2A, and as starting in 1890 and stopping in 1912. The reason for the number 2A as opposed to the 2 on the OS 6 inch 2nd edn map (published in 1897) is that Beoch No. 1, which started in 1850 and ended production in 1891, was later to be reopened in 1924 until 1950 and is listed by Smith as Beoch No. 2 (Smith 1957, 240).

Beoch Tramway

Dalmellington (DAL), New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS506084
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 281m
Elements: en Beoch + SSE tramway

Berry Burn

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS628194
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 207m
Elements: en Berry (Hill) + SSE burn

Berry Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS645083
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 471m
Elements: SSE berry + SSE hill

Description:

‘A hill where berries can be found’. There are two hills with this name in the parish, the other being at NS650132, roughly 4.5km to the north.

Berry Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS650132
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 201m
Elements: SSE berry + SSE hill

Description:

‘A hill where berries can be found’. There are two hills with this name in the parish, the other being at NS645083, roughly 4.5km to the south.

Berry Hill

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS631184
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 266m
Elements: SSE berry + SSE hill

Description:

‘A hill characterised by berries’, probably in this case blaeberries given the relatively rough, upland terrain. It is assumed here that this gave its name to Berry Burn, which flows past the hill.

Berryhill

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS561227
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 189m
Elements: SSE berry + SSE hill

Description:

A hill known for bearing berries; this was the name of a farm from the late 18th century at least. The name is very common, with three other examples in Ayrshire. The Correspondence, Appendix 1 notes it being let in 1787, and that it was adjacent to the now disappeared Houston Hall, which is not represented on any of the usual maps.

OSNB says: “A dwellinghouse with offices garden and plantation adjoining the property of Sir James Boswell now occupied by James Girvan.”

Berrywood Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS640133
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 183m
Elements: SSE berry + SSE wood + SSE burn

Description:

'A burn flowing through or past a wood characterised by berries’, i.e. a wood where berries grew in abundance. The wood which gave rise to the name had disappeared by the time of the 1^st edn OS map (1860).

Big Coupla

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS626128
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 218m
Elements: SSE big + en Coupla

Description:

This hill is named in contrast to Little Coupla, which is 20m lower. Bob Guthrie, in his excellent entry on Big Coupla Coupla, Couplagate, Couplaligate – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY, which includes a modern photograph of Big and Little Coupla together, taken from the east, writes:

Rab Wilson, the acclaimed Scots poet was born and grew up at Polquhirter Cottage and still lives nearby. He recalls his family and the workers at Polquhirter always referred to The Coupla although the hill referred to as Little Coupla was known as Fraser’s Hill, which was great for sledging! New Cumnockian Rena Lees recalls that in the 1950’s a Liz Fraser had a shop, a wee wooden structure from which all sorts of things were sold, on the right hand side of the road, as it headed down the hill towards Polqhuirter – clearly the origin of the relatively recent name Fraser’s Hill.

Big Coupla is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A hill about 20 chains S.W. of Polquhirter cottages’ (OS1/3/49/123).

Big How

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS651141
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 195m
Elements: Sc big + Sc howe

Description:

‘Big hollow’. This is exactly how the OS Name Book describes this feature.: ‘A large Hollow, 7 chains E of Meikle Garclaugh farm house’ (OS1/3/49/78).

All three informants give the name with the definite article. The Big How, strongly suggesting that the element how was still understood as such in the locality.

For more details of this place, with photographs, see Big How – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY

Birch Cleuch

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS673196
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 270m
Elements: SSE birch + Sc cleugh

Description:

A steep-sided part of the Glenmuir Water; it no longer is endowed with the birch trees which gave it its name.

Birk Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS633103
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 358m
Elements: Sc birk + Sc burn

Description:

‘A burn characterised by birches’.

Birnieknowe

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS574222
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 175m
Elements: en Birnieknowe

Description:

This name was ‘transferred’ from the farm of Birnieknowe to the miners’ rows nearby, which seems sometimes to have been considered part of the extended mining vollage of Commondyke. The name is analysed under Birnieknowe Farm (q.v.). The village is no longer extant. Coal mining is noted on the site by 1787, and ‘collier’s houses’ were built by 1792-93 (The Correspondence, App. 1, 214), but it is not currently clear at what point the name of Birnieknowe became attached to these developments; the OS 6-inch 2^nd edition seems to use Birnieknowe as the name for what elsewhere is generally labelled Commondyke.

A Roman Catholic community, including chapel (1867) and school (1878), was established here.

RN

Birnieknowe Bridge

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS573222
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 174m
Elements: en Birnieknowe + SSE bridge

Description:

A bridge over the Auchinleck Burn at Birnieknowe.

Birnieknowe Farm

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS570222
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 177m
Elements: Sc birnie + Sc knowe + SSE farm

Description:

The meaning of the core name is 'A knowe or small hill characterised by burnt heather or poor pasture'. For most of its existence it was simply known as Birnieknowe—the addition of the word ‘Farm’ is very recent (so far first noted in 1967). There are a large number of 18^th century and 19^th century forms from the Old Parish Records (mostly as Birnieknow) and from census records noted on Ploughing up Our Past: https://cumnockhistorygroup.org/ploughing-up-our-past/ploughing-up-our-past-blog/

Of the farm, The Correspondence, Appendix 1 (p.214), notes that this was among the rented lands of the Auchinleck estate, further noting: ‘Birnieknowe included in Barglachan, was acquired with Orchard from John Cochrane c1740. The coal work, established in 1787, was let to David Lennox in 1782 and 1786, and to James & John Dinsmore in 1787. With colliers' houses built in 1792-93, it was let to James Dinsmore in 1796 after his brother resigned the tack.’

Birnieknowe Glen

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS569221
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 159m
Elements: en Birnieknowe + SSE glen

Description:

OSNB notes (OS1/3/3/58): “This name is applicable from th[e] Branch line of Railway to the poin[t] x on trace. Northern bank of [the] Glen is covered with brambles and very Steep.”

Birnieknowe Plantation

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS567227
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 188m
Elements: en Birnieknowe + SSE plantation

Description:

In 1855-57, the OSNB noted (OS1/3/3/51) that this plantation was “chiefly fir”.

Birny Brae

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS532126
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 286m
Elements: Sc birnie + Sc brae

Description:

‘A brae or slope characterised by scorched stems of heather’. For more details of this adjective, see Elements s.v. 

Birny Rig

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS645188
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 254m
Elements: Sc birny + Sc rig

Description:

‘A ridge characterised by burnt heather or poor pasture’.

It is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A ridge of arable and pasture land situated on the farm of Nether Guelt a short distance north of Blood Moss the property of Marquis of Bute’ (OS1/3/52/100).

Bitch Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS578049
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 351m
Elements: SSE bitch + SSE burn

Description:

'A burn associated with a bitch'? As can be seen from the OS Name Book forms, there is considerable variation in the name of this burn as recorded in 1850 (OS1/3/49/160). A later hand has added in red to the relevant OS Name Book page ‘Bilch ‘a lusty person’ and Bilch ‘limp, halt’, both definitions taken from Jamieson’s Scottish dictionary. Note, however, that there is a Bitch Burn in Penpont parish DMF, which is recorded in the OS Name Book with no alternative forms (OS1/10/42/7). All things considered, Bitch Burn is probably the correct name of this burn, a tributary of the Water of Deugh.

It may well be significant that near its source it runs under Craig of Bahoun, with its traditional connection with King Robert the Bruce and his bloodhound: Bruce is being pursued by the English using his own bloodhound and throws it off his scent by wading down a burn (see under Craig of Bahoun NCU for more details). The story is first found in Barbour’s Bruce Bk 6, lns 486 ff. 

Black Bog Castle (Site of)

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Antiquity
Grid reference: NS617138
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 191m
Elements: en Black Bog + SSE castle

Description:

This name refers to Cumnock Castle at New Cumnock. The complex evolution of this name is admirably covered under BLACK BOG CASTLE and MOAT – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY. An important text in our understanding of how the castle became known as such is from the Caledonian Mercury newspaper (30 08 1813), which reads under the headline ‘THE HARVEST IN SCOTLAND: AYR’ – Harvest is becoming general throughout this county. Wheat and barley have already been gathered in many places. On Wednesday se’ennight [Sc sennicht or sevenicht ‘a week’ i.e. ‘a week ago this Wednesday’], a fine field of oats was cut down on the Castle black bog, New Cumnock, a scene of cultivation which a few years ago was a morass’. This refers to what was later known as Castle Meadows, and which had returned to bog by the end of the century. See under Castle Meadows NCU for more details.

Black Burn

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS505070
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 245m

Black Burn

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS662175
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 269m
Elements: SSE black + SSE burn

Black Burn

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS479014
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 213m

Black Burn

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS513049
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 351m

Black Burn Knowes

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS482018
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 263m

Black Clints

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS639064
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 478m
Elements: Sc black + Sc clint

Description:

'Black or dark crags, cliffs, precipices’. For a photograph of this feature, see Clints; Black, Merry – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.

The northern continuation of this feature is called Merry Clints.

Black Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS545135
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 318m
Elements: SSE black + SSE hill

Description:

‘Black’ in place-names chiefly refers to a feature which appears darker than a neighbouring feature or features, often because of the colour of the rock, soil (especially peat) or vegetation (e.g. heather). In this case it contrasts with White Hill, immediately north-east of Black Hill on the other side of the Linn Burn, which presumably has lighter coloured vegetation or soil.

Black Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS620041
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 545m
Elements: SSE black + SSE hill

Description:

‘Black’ in place-names chiefly refers to a feature which appears darker than a neighbouring feature or features, often because of the colour of the rock, soil (especially peat) or vegetation (e.g. heather). In this case it is named contrastively to the immediately adjacent White Knowes.

Black Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS663109
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 524m
Elements: SSE black + SSE hill

Description:

‘Black’ in place-names chiefly refers to a feature which appears darker than a neighbouring feature or features, often because of the colour of the rock, soil (especially peat) or vegetation (e.g. heather). In contrast, White Hill, only 2.5km to the east over the parish and county boundary in Kirkconnel parish DMF, which presumably has lighter vegetation relative to Black Hill.

The dark colour of the soil here probably accounts for the fact that the burn which runs along the western edge of Black Hill is called Blackdams Burn.

Black Hill

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS690184
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 427m
Elements: SSE black + SSE hill

Description:

The proximity of this hill to the south of East and West Foredibban Hill is notable. Under East Foredibban Hill it is suggested that the underlying element there (*Dibban) comes from Gaelic *Dubh-B(h)einn ‘black hill’, applying to the whole range of hills, and this SSE name may thus be a reflection of that earlier name.

Black Law

Auchinleck (AUK), Kirkconnel (KCL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS733196
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 398m
Elements: SSE black + SSE law

Black Loch

New Cumnock (NCU), Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS590162
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 184m
Elements: Sc black + Sc loch

Description:

‘A loch with dark water’. The OS Name Book notes a peculiar feature of this loch, which lies on the boundary between Old and New Cumnock: ‘when flooded the water runs from it in two different directions’ (OS1/3/49/14). This peculiarity is also noted on the Armstrong AYR map (1775) map. Written beside the string of three lochs (unnamed by Armstrong, but now Black Loch, Creoch Loch and Loch o’ the Lowes) is the following: 'From the Northmost of the Lochs [i.e. Black Loch] a Current runs North to Cumnock & Ayr, and from the same Loch into Nith, & so to Dumfries, a very rare thing for two Streams to flow from the same piece of Water in contrary directions’.

Black Loch

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS612068
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 453m
Elements: SSE black + SSE loch

Description:

This name is first recorded as Craigenrig Hag, described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A marsh on the farm of Pencloe - Situate on the footpath leading from Pencloe to Glenlee. The name is not known to many’ (OS1/3/49/184). Sc hag is a soft marshy hollow piece of ground in a moor, e.g. where channels have been made by water or where peats have been cut. Craigenrig is a Scots coining, though the first element looks like G creagan ‘a small crag or rock’. Given that it combined with Sc rig ‘a ridge’, it is likely that we are dealing here with an unattested *craigen borrowed into Scots from Gaelic. This name is discussed at length at Craigenrig Hag – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY. There Guthrie suggests that the eponymous rig is nearby Meikle Hill NCU. Of its appearance as Black Loch c.40 years later he writes: ‘The hollow in the hag [had] now filled with water with the peaty bottom giving it a dark, black appearance’.The loch is tiny, much more a lochan than a loch, as he points out.

Black Moss

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS628109
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 331m
Elements: Sc black + Sc moss

Description:

‘Black or dark-coloured (peat) bog’.

Black Rigg

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS523046
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 498m
Elements: Sc black + Sc rig

Black Water

Dalmellington (DAL), New Cumnock (NCU), Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS515155
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 237m
Elements: SSE black + SSE water

Black Wood

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS644127
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 259m
Elements: Sc black + Sc wuid

Description:

‘A dark wood or a wood with a dark appearance’. This is the remnant of the wood that gave rise to the settlement-name Blackwood, which first appears in a record of 1603 as Blakwod. In fact Black Wood on the OS 6 inch 2nd edn map (1897) is a newly planted wood but clearly rooted in the earlier wood of that name. Bleau (Kyle) (1654, based on Pont’s map of the c.1590s) shows a long strip of woodland with the settlement called *Over Blackwood (now called Burnton) within its northern limit. That a nearby burn is called Elder Burn might suggest that the elder was a particular feature of the wood, at least near this burn.

Blackbush Cottage

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS506210
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 99m
Elements: SSE black + SSE bush + SSE cottage

Description:

A cottage situated within Ochiltree town itself, from Main Street lying just behind the modern Ochiltree Hub; and facing onto the A70.

Blackcraig

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS634081
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 281m
Elements: en Blackcraig

Description:

The settlement and lands of Blackcraig take their name from nearby Blackcraig Hill, which see for more details.

Blackcraig Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS647064
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 693m
Elements: Sc black + Sc craig + Sc hill

Description:

‘Black crag or rock’, with Sc hill added later to indicate that it was hill-land or upland grazing belonging to the settlement of Blackcraig. Athough the Blind Harry references to the Black Crag and the Black Rok have often been seen as referring to Cumnock Castle, Bob Guthrie argues convincingly that they refer to Blackcraig (Hill) and the surrounding area. See BLACK BOG CASTLE and MOAT – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY

While Blackcraig Hill lies south-east of the farm of Blackcraig, Armstrong AYR map (1775) shows a series of hills called Blackcraigs to the north-east of the farm. It would seem therefore that the original Blackcraig (Hill), the highest hill in the parish, had, for a time at least, given its name to the wider hill-land around it.

Blackcroft

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS609216
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 192m
Elements: SSE black + SSE croft

Description:

Perhaps called from being difficult land to farm. The farm was no longer there by the time of the 2^nd edition OS 1” map.

The Correspondence, App. 1 (p. 220) notes this farm as being in the Barony of Glenmure: ‘Blackcroft … was let to William Wallace of Wallacetown in 1787, John Black in Carbellow in 1790, and to James Wallace younger of Wallacetown for grazing in 1793 and 1797’, further noting ‘Wallacetown Smithy was located here.’

Blackcroft Bridge

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS608214
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 193m
Elements: en Blackcroft + SSE bridge

Description:

This bridge takes its name from the settlement of Blackcroft, which was to its north-east. It crosses the Duncanzemere Burn.

Blackdams Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS659107
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 502m
Elements: SSE black + SSE dam + SSE burn

Description:

It runs down the western side of Black Hill, indicating dark soil, probably a covering of peat, which would account for the dark water. There is no trace of a dam either on this burn or its continuation, the Garepol Burn. Might there have been a series of small dams associated with the nearby Antimony Mine?

It is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A Small burn rising South of Burnt Moss and running E. takes the name of Garepool Burn north of the Antimony Mine’ (OS1/3/49/197).

Blackfarding

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS559125
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 226m
Elements: Sc black + Sc farding

Description:

‘Black or dark farthing land’, a farthing land being a unit of assessment, a quarter of a pennyland.

Blackfauld

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS587185
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 186m
Elements: Sc black + Sc fauld

Description:

‘A black or dark-coloured fold or enclosure for livestock’. It is not clear what was black or dark-coloured about it.

In 1857 the OS Name Book has: ‘This place was formerly a farm Steading it is now connected to Loganhill dwellings at present occupied by Marion Kerr & others, Marquis of Bute Proprietor’ (OS1/3/52/77).

Blackfauld Plantation

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS584181
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 193m
Elements: en Blackfauld + SSE plantation

Blackfauldhead

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS511226
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 136m
Elements: en Blackfauld + SSE head

Description:

The Correspondence, App. 1 (p.214) notes: “Blackfauld, also known as Blackfaulhead and Falhead, was contiguous to Knowe. It was occupied by  estate labourers up until 1776.” (citing James Bruce's Auchinleck Journal)

There is an implied existing name in this, Blackfauld, and the evidence from The Correspondence Appendix suggests that this steading itself was also known simply as ‘Blackfauld’ in the past. Blackfauld consists of the adjective black with the generic fauld ‘an enclosure for cattle or other livestock’; but also ‘an enclosed piece of ground for cultivation; a small field’.  https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fald_n_1

Blackloch Burn

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS584168
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 189m
Elements: en Black Loch + SSE burn

Description:

This flows northwards out of Black Loch OCU/NCU into the Mill Dam which supplied the water for Borland Mill. This is why it was described simply as Mill Lade on the OS 6 inch 1st edn map. The NGR is of the point where it enters the Mill Dam.

RN

Blackloch Burn Bridge

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS587164
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 185m
Elements: en Blackloch Burn + SSE bridge

Description:

A bridge which crosses the Blackloch Burn.

Blacklorg Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS649032
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 478m
Elements: en Blacklorg + SSE burn

Description:

A small burn that rises on the southern slope of Blacklorg Hill, hence the name. It is a tributary of the Montraw Burn, itself a tributary of the Afton Water.

Blacklorg Hill

New Cumnock (NCU), Sanquhar (SAN)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS653042
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 671m
Elements: SSE black + en Lorg Hill

Description:

This forms a contrasting pair with Greenlorg Hill, a short distance to the north-west, both low hills on a high, moorland plateau consisting of Littledodd Hill and Meikledodd Hill as well as Lorg Hill, from which Blacklorg Hill takes its name. Lorg Hill lies immediately south-east of Meikledodd Hill over the county boundary in Dalry parish KCB. Blaeu’s The lorg hill applies to Lorg Hill, as it is clearly shown outwith the AYR boundary. Lorg Hill itself takes its name from the settlement of Lorg, Dalry parish, between the Lorg Burn and the headwaters of the Water of Ken (NS668008). For a full analysis of Lorg, see Place-Names of the Galloway Glens (glasgow.ac.uk).

Blackston

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS566213
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 161m
Elements: pn Blak or pn Black + Sc toun

Description:

The presence of a possessive marker -s makes it fairly certain that this is a family name associated with this farm. The surname Black is very common; there is nothing obviously in the record to identify the landowning family it was named for.

The Correspondence, App. 1 (p.221), notes that this farm was in the Regality of Templand (q.v.), and further that: “Blackston also known as Raw or Keithston, was acquired with Common Brunston from John Cochrane of Waterside in 1748. It was let to John Murdoch (d1782) and to James Murdoch, who also rented Barnsdale, in 1782 and 1797.” Dane Love has further noted that it was “latterly called Longpark” (Love 2015, 309). He also notes the spelling Blackstone, and the current name on OS Master Map would appear to be Blackstone Farm.

RN

Blackstone Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS570061
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 492m
Elements: SSE black + SSE stone + SSE hill

Description:

Presumably a hill distinguished by darker stone than the surrounding landscape or by a conspicuous black or dark piece of stone.

Blackwood

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS644134
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 189m
Elements: en Black Wood

Description:

This settlement takes its name from a large stretch of woodland to the south. For a discussion of this woodland, see the discussion under Black Wood NCU. Note that neighbouring Burnton was formerly *Over Blackwood.

Blackwood Hill

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS544193
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 173m
Elements: Sc black + Sc wuid + Sc hill

Description:

‘A hill characterised by a dark wood’. It first appears as a settlement-name, but may have been cleared as part of the landscaping of the Dumfries House Estate in the latter half of the 18th century.

Blackwoodhill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS646125
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 277m
Elements: en Blackwood + SSE hill

Description:

‘Hill-land or upland grazing attached to the farm of Blackwood’.

Bland's Mount

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS542193
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 162m
Elements: pn Bland + SSE mount

Description:

One of several circular mounts on Dumfries House Estate. The name is explained in Simpson & Brown's report: 'Bland or Blann Mount was probably named after General Humphrey Bland (1686-1763), commander of the King's Own Dragoons at the battle [of Dettingen], where his horse was shot from under him. General Bland had been one of the sponsors of the ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the new house in 1754, and his wife was described as sister-in-law to the Earl of Stair' (2008, 79).

This is one of a series of artificial circular mounts or mounds which were planted with trees to provide focal points in the landscape on the Dumfries House Estate. These were in existence before the completion of Dumfries House in 1759 (Green 2019, 116).

It is described in the OS Name Book as: 'A circular Plantation of Forest trees, near to Stairhill property of the Marquis of Bute' (OS1/3/52/27).

Blarene

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS591102
Certainty: 2
Altitude: 282m
Elements: G blàr + G eun

Description:

‘Level land, plain, muir characterised by an above-average presence of birds’? G blàr in place-names has a variety of meanings, including ‘’field, plain, open level land’, also ‘muir’. Guthrie‘s suggestion that the second element is G eun ‘a bird’, Old Gaelic én, is a good one. The settlement of Blarene no longer exists but the name has survived in Blarene Burn, Blarene Hill and Blarene Level. See Blarene – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY for full details, including annotated photographs of the area.

For a local nineteenth-century explanation of the name, see under Blarene Hill.

Blarene Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS587116
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 205m
Elements: en Blarene + Sc burn

Description:

This burn takes its name from the now lost settlement of Blarene. It is the burn which gave its name to Burnside and Burnfoot, which developed into the former coal-mining villages of Burnfoot and Burnside. For an annotated photograph of the whole course of the burn, see Blarene – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.

Blarene Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS586098
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 357m
Elements: en Blarene + Sc hill

Description:

‘Hill or upland grazing associated with the (now lost) settlement of Blarene’.

The OS Name Book entry for this place (c.1850), which describes it as: ‘A hill on Straid farm’, gives the following local explanation from Mr James Sloan of nearby Ashmark, one of the informants for the name: he ‘is of opinion that the names have been derived from the wind blowing round it’ (OS1/3/49/143), presumably based on Scots blaw roon. For this suggestion and for an annotated photograph of the hill, see Blarene – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.

Blarene Level (Coal)

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS586109
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 233m
Elements: en Blarene + SSE level

Description:

This was the name of a small coalmine on the lands of Blarene which later became part of Lanemark Colliery (Afton, no. 1) (OS 6 inch 2nd edn). A level is defined in A Glossary of Scotch Mining Terms (Barrowman 1886) as: 'A drift or roadway along the strike of the strata i.e., at right angles to the line of dip and rise' a drift in this context being a mine.

For a detailed history of this pit see Blarene – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.

Blood Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS591067
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 382m
Elements: en Blood (Moss) NCU + SSE burn

Description:

Previous analysis: ‘A burn associated with Blood Moss’. The OS Name Book writes: ‘A Small stream rising south of Blood Moss, and flows into Carcow Burn near Carcow’ (OS1/3/38/25). There is another Blood Burn flowing from a Blood Moss in OCU.

Blood Burn

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS641191
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 224m
Elements: en Blood (Moss) OCU + SSE burn

Description:

‘A burn associated with Blood Moss'. The OS Name Book writes: ‘This stream has its source from the Blood Moss and flows in a general northerly direction to Glenmore Water’ (OS1/3/52/100). There is another Blood Burn flowing from a Blood Moss in NCU.

Blood Moss

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS593068
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 387m
Elements: SSE blood + SSE moss

Description:

‘A moss of reddish hue; a moss associated with bloodshed’? It is probably the former. The Blood Burn flows beside this moss. There is another Blood Moss in NCU, but without an associated Blood Burn. There is also a Blood Moss with its Blood Burn in OCU. As with these other mosses, the OS Name Book gives no clue as to the origin of its name, writing only:  ‘A moss Situated on the east Side of Carcow Burn, at Carcow’ (OS1/3/49/181).

An explanation may be found, however, in the OS Name Book entry for Blood Moss, Kirkconnel parish AYR, which has: ‘A deep vein of moss in a summit hollow of Glenalla Fell. It is conspicuously red from contrast with the green pasture of the hill, and this circumstance is doubtless the origin of the name. It is very small in extent’ (OS1/3/38/25).

Blood Moss

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS554095
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 371m
Elements: SSE blood + SSE moss

Description:

‘A moss of reddish hue; a moss associated with bloodshed’? It is probably the former. There is another Blood Moss in NCU, as well as one in OCU. As with these other mosses, the OS Name Book gives no clue as to the origin of its name, writing only: ‘A moss on the South Side of Peat Hill - the cause of it being called this is not known.’ (OS1/3/49/141).

An explanation may be found, however, in the OS Name Book entry for Blood Moss, Kirkconnel parish AYR, which has: ‘A deep vein of moss in a summit hollow of Glenalla Fell. It is conspicuously red from contrast with the green pasture of the hill, and this circumstance is doubtless the origin of the name. It is very small in extent’ (OS1/3/38/25).
 

Blood Moss

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS643183
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 258m
Elements: SSE blood + SSE moss

Description:

‘A moss of reddish hue; a moss associated with bloodshed’? It is probably the former. The Blood Burn flows out of this moss. There are two mosses called Blood Moss in NCU, one of which is associated with a Blood Burn.

The OS Name Book records no tradition attached to Blood Moss OCU, writing only: ‘A peat moss situated on the farm of Nether Guelt the property of Marquis of Bute’ (OS1/3/52/100).

Note however Blood Moss, Kirkconnel parish, about which the OS Name Book writes: ‘A deep vein of moss in a summit hollow of Glenalla Fell. It is conspicuously red from contrast with the green pasture of the hill, and this circumstance is doubtless the origin of the name. It is very small in extent’ (OS1/3/38/25).

Bloweary

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS621156
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 261m
Elements: Sc blaw + Sc weary

Description:

Literally ‘blow weary’, this belongs to a class of humorous place-names which contain a verb, in this case tae blaw ‘to blow’. It is difficult to offer an exact translation of this name, although each element is entirely transparent to the Anglophone speaker. However, the connotations are clear: it is a dreich and windy place.

This small cottage, now gone, lay on the lands of Polquheys, hence its alternative name Polquheys Cottage. See Bloweary – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY for more details and photographs.

Blubber Well

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS653142
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 203m
Elements: Sc blubber + Sc wall

Description:

‘A well which makes a bubbling sound’, referring to a vigorous spring. On the amazing New Cumnock History website, besides descriptions and photos of this well, there is even a video clip which shows it running vigorously and making its bubbling sound. See Blubber Well – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY

The OS Name Book describes it simply as: ‘A spring 16 chains S. S. E. of Garclaugh Pendicle’ (OS1/3/49/78).

Blueboots Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS523138
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 283m
Elements: en Blueboots + SSE burn

Description:

The explanation for this name is given in the OS Name Book as follows: ‘A stream flowing in a NW direction into Ochiltree Parish. The name is derived from its making a persons Boots blue - after walking thro a moss there’ (OS1/3/49/23). The said moss is Blueboots Moss NCU. This burn is called Blueboots Burn only in its upper course as it flows through New Cumnock parish. It is called Blueboots Lane in its lower course in Ochiltree parish.

Blueboots Lane

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS515155
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 237m
Elements: en Blueboots + Sc lane

Description:

‘Lane’ is the frequently occurring south-west Scotland word for a burn. That it is seen here as the exact equivalent to Sc burn is indicated by the fact that in its upper reaches it is known as Blueboots Burn. The explanation of the name is found in the OS Name Book under Blueboots Burn NCU, namely: ‘A stream flowing in a NW direction into Ochiltree Parish The name is derived from its making a persons Boots blue - after walking thro a moss there’ (OS1/3/49/23).

Blueboots Lane is described thus in the OS Name Book: ‘A Small Stream which takes its rise from surface water & flows in a northerly direction to its junction with the Black Water, which junction is the head of the Burnock - not rapid - flowing through a Comparatively level Country - gravelly bed’ (OS1/3/51/1/63). A note is added at the foot of the page: ‘Blueboots Lane adopted [to] agree with New Cumnock Parish Blueboots Lane.’ This is puzzling, as the New Cumnock part of the burn is recorded by OS Name Book as Blueboots Burn (q.v.), and remains thus on all relevant OS map series.

On the Blaeu (Kyle) map it looks as if Burnokhead b[urn] is the former name of Blueboots Lane.

Blueboots Moss

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS530134
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 305m
Elements: SSE blue SSE boot + SSE moss

Description:

'A moss or boggy stretch of land which makes your boots blue.' The explanation for this name is given in the OS Name Book under Blueboots Burn NCU as follows: ‘A stream flowing in a NW direction into Ochiltree Parish The name is derived from its making a persons Boots blue - after walking thro a moss there’ (OS1/3/49/23). The moss itself is described simply as: 'A Small moss on Blue Boots Burn' (OS1/3/49/23).

Boghead

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS634246
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 233m
Elements: Sc bog + Sc heid

Description:

'(Settlement at the) head or end of a bog'.

The settlement lies at the edge of Airds Moss.

RN

Boghead Bridge

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS637248
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 225m
Elements: en Boghead + SSE bridge

Description:

This bridge crosses the Boghead Burn beside Boghead.

Boghead Burn

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS635250
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 203m
Elements: en Boghead + Sc burn

Description:

RN

Boghead Lane

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS622244
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 192m
Elements: en Boghead + Sc lane

Description:

It is noteworthy that lane is used for a burn in south-west Scotland. https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/lane_n This usage is generally described as limited to Galloway and Carrick, but there are a few examples in these Kyle parishes.

RN

Boghead Reeve

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Field
Grid reference: NS643251
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 237m
Elements: en Boghead + Sc reeve

Description:

Sc reeve is ‘a pen or enclosure for confining animals’ (https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/reeve_n1_v1)

The OS NameBook in 1855-57 (OS1/3/3/15) described this as: “A Sheepfold so called on the farm of Boghead it is popularly Known in the locality.” This feature is now probably gone under opencast.

Boghead Wood

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS635242
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 239m
Elements: en Boghead + SSE wood

Bogton

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference:
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 0m
Elements: Sc bog + Sc toun

Description:

The eponymous bog is Boigs of Dur (for Dun), i.e. the bogs along the River Doon, which are shown as narrow lochs on Blaeu (Kyle) map (1654).

Bogton Loch

Dalmellington (DAL), Straiton (STT)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS468054
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 160m
Elements: en Bogton + SSE loch

Bogton Plantation

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS476045
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 176m
Elements: en Bogton + SSE plantation

Bogton Quarry (Freestone)

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS475052
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 176m
Elements: en Bogton + SSE quarry

Boig

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS602125
Certainty: 2
Altitude: 199m
Elements: G bog + G corrach or Sc bog + G currach or G bog + G corrach*

Description:

As is clear from the early forms, this name has become quite drastically shortened over time. There are various possible interpretation of the original *Bogcorrach. (1) 'An uneven bog'? (G bog corrach); (2) 'A bog called Currach', with Sc bog and Currach, a name deriving from G currach 'a bog'?; (3) 'A bog characterised by herons'??. 

(1) Robert Guthrie in his discussion of this place-name on the New Cumnock History website, following a suggestion by Michael Ansell, proposes that it is G bog (m.) 'a bog, marsh'+ G corrach (adj.) ‘uneven, shakey’ (Boig, North Boig, South Boig, High Boig – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY). While this term can be applied to a range of terrains such as mountains and roads (DIL), it could also be appropriate for a bog.

(2) The name started life as G currach (m.) ‘a bog, fen’ (Dwelly), OG cuirrech also currach (m.) or its rarer alternative form corrach (Dwelly). Later Sc bog ‘a bog, marsh’ was prefixed to the name as an epexegetic or explanatory element after its Gaelic meaning was no longer understood. In this way both terms refer to the same feature but in different languages. Athough not typical word-order in a Scots place-name, with the generic placed first, it is not unusual e.g. Croft Outerly (Leslie FIF).

(3) It may contain an otherwise unrecorded Gaelic adj. corrach from G corra 'a heron' (OG corr), so 'a bog characterised by or frequented by herons'. This is suggested as a possibility for Polcorroch Burn (Carsphairn and Kells parishes KCB) Place-Names of the Galloway Glens (glasgow.ac.uk).

Since the time of the OS (1850s) this name appears only with the affixes High, South and North, for more details of which see under the respective names.

Boigside

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS589127
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 206m
Elements: en Boig + SSE side

Description:

So called beside it lies beside the lands of Boig. It lies nearer Lanemark than any of the Boigs (High Boig, North Boig, South Boig). It gave its name to the nearby Lanemark Collieries (Boigside, No. 2).

It first appears on the OS 6 inch 2nd edition map (1896). There is nothing shown here on the 1st edition (1860).

Bolt Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS630084
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 255m
Elements: en Bolt Craig + SSE burn

Description:

This burn takes its name from Bolt Craig, known locally as 'The Bout'. For a full discussion, see Bolt Craig.

Bolt Burn Bridge

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS629084
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 255m
Elements: en Bolt Burn + SSE bridge

Description:

This bridge takes its name from the Bolt Burn which it crosses.

Bolt Craig

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS630076
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 367m
Elements: Sc bolt + Sc craig

Description:

Known locally as ‘The Bout’. Robert Guthrie plausibly suggests that the name derives from bolt or bout ‘a short, heavy arrow’ (DOST). He further suggests that the eponymous bout is diagonal crag on the side of Bolt Craig. See Bolt Craig, Bolt Burn, Boltcraig Hill – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY. for an exhaustive discussion of this and the other Bolt-names, with maps and pictures.

Whatever the original ‘bolt’, it has generated a series of associated names apart from Bolt Craig, including Bolt Burn and Boltcraig Hill. There is also one now lost name *Boltfoot (Jean Campbell in) Boutfoute 1642 [Cited Bolt Craig, Bolt Burn, Boltcraig Hill – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.] and Bootfoot 1654 Blaeu (Kyle) [A settlement.].

Bolt Wood

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS631075
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 316m
Elements: en Bolt Craig + SSE wood

Boltcraig Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS628076
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 445m
Elements: en Bolt Craig + SSE hill

Description:

This hill is named after Bolt Craig on its northern flank.

Bonny Holm

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Field
Grid reference: NS628193
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 208m
Elements: Sc bonny + Sc holm

Description:

‘A good stretch of low land by a river’, in this case the Glenmore Water.

Bonnyton

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS454159
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 145m
Elements: Sc bondingtoun

Description:

‘A settlement comprising land held directly from the feudal superior by a group of bonds/bondmen or husbandmen’, i.e. small-holders, part of whose rent would have been paid in providing services (DOST). For more details, see Elements Glossary. Formerly known as Wester Polquhairn, the change in name, first recorded in the early 17^th century, suggests the change in tenurial structure it reflects happened around that time. It should be noted that Wester Polquhairn still appears as such on Bleau.

Bonnyton Bridge

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS455159
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 146m
Elements: en Bonnyton + SSE bridge

Description:

A bridge to the east of Bonnyton, from which it takes its name, crossing over the Drumbowie Burn.

Bonnyton Cottage

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS451161
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 141m
Elements: en Bonnyton + SSE cottage

Bonnyton Toll

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS451158
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 150m
Elements: en Bonnyton + SSE toll

Description:

The name indicates the place where the road from Bonnyton joins the main north-south road coming from Drongan.

Borland

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS587174
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 191m
Elements: Sc bordland

Description:

Literally 'table land' also known as 'mensal land', that is land which directly supplies the table of the feudal superior.

There was a castle here, for which see Borland Castle (Site of).

Borland Bridge

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS587174
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 191m
Elements: en Borland + SSE bridge

Description:

A bridge crossing the Borland Burn to the south of Borland.

Borland Burn

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS582176
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 170m
Elements: en Borland + SSE burn

Borland Castle (Site of)

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Antiquity
Grid reference: NS586174
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 188m
Elements: en Borland + SSE castle

Description:

There is very little trace of or knowledge about this feature. OS Name Book (1855) states: 'The occupier of Borland Mains pointed out the site of ruins which he calls Borland House and not Castle. He states that he removed the only portions of walls that were standing, some years ago, and believes that it was merely a dwelling house. A stone, now in Borland Smithy, dated 1677 and with the initials H M and M H, came from the ruins' (OS1/3/52/83). The stone is now hidden by a modern door (1981). All the above from Canmore ID43509 Borland Castle | Canmore

Borland Mains

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS597185
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 237m
Elements: en Borland + Sc mains

Borland Mill

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS583170
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 180m
Elements: en Borland + Sc miln

Borland Road

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS586170
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 201m
Elements: en Borland + SSE road

Borland Smithy Wood

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS590169
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 203m
Elements: en Borland Smithy + SSE wood

Description:

This small wood lay south of what was once Borland Smithy and is now known as East Borland. See under East Borland for more details.

Bottom Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS670075
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 409m
Elements: Sc bottom + Sc burn

Description:

‘A burn that flows through a relatively wide, flat valley’. Sc bottom in a topographical sense appears to be similar to OE botm defined as ‘often a wide, flat stretch of valley floor enclosed by steep slopes’; in a more general sense ‘a damp valley floor’ (VEPN under botm).

Bow Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS554107
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 256m
Elements: SSE bow + SSE burn

Description:

This may refer to a burn spanned by an arched or bow bridge. If so, the eponymous bridge would be the one carrying the road from New Cumnock to Dalmellington between Knockburnie and Craighouse.

OS Name Book: ‘A small stream running in a northerly direction to the Source of Lane Burn - at Burnhead’ (OS1/3/49/138).

Bowes

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS566181
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 195m
Elements: Sc bowhouse

Description:

‘Cattle house’. These often developed into farms in their own right, the name indicating specialisation in cattle-rearing and particularly in dairy production, given that bow in Older Scots means ‘a stock or herd of cattle, especially of cows’ (DOST). 

‘The  land  south  of  Bowes  steading was  open casted  in  the  1970s , and  subsequently restored. It  is  amalgamated  with Horsecleugh, and  a  small part  of  Netherton …’ (Ploughing Up Our Past: Bowes (farminginthecumnockarea.blogspot.com) accessed May 2022.

There was a small division of the lands of Bowes called Little Bowes.

RN

Bows Cottage

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS636143
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 211m
Elements: Sc bowhouse + SSE cottage

Description:

Sc bowhouse is a frequently occurring place-name in Scotland meaning a cattle-house or cow house, containing Sc bow ‘cattle’.

Bowton

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS518179
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 188m
Elements: Sc bow + Sc toun

Description:

‘A farm specialising in cattle-rearing, especially dairy production (Older Scots bow  ‘a stock or herd of cattle, especially of cows’ (DOST)).

Pronounced locally booten /ˈbutən/. See Ploughing Up Our Past – Blog – Cumnock History Group (accessed 05 22).

Bowton Plantation

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS520179
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 195m
Elements: en Bowton + SSE plantation

Boylston

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS595200
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 200m
Elements: pn Boyle + Sc toun

Description:

‘A farm associated with a family called Boyle’. The identity of this family has yet to be established.

Boylston Loch

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS595195
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 204m
Elements: en Boylston + SSE loch

Description:

A loch taking its name from the nearby farm of Boylston.

Braehead

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS598217
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 188m
Elements: SSE brae + SSE head

Description:

‘Braehead’ might be better considered a name-type, very frequent across Scotland, and is essentially a Scots name assimilated into SSE. There are two in AUK. This one lies east of Lugar.

Braehead

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS556207
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 114m
Elements: SSE brae + SSE head

Description:

‘Braehead’ might be better considered a name-type, very frequent across Scotland,and is essentially a Scots name assimilated into SSE. There are two in AUK. This one was also potentially known as ‘Braehead of Knockroon’, see The Correspondence, App. 1 (p.215): “Braehead of Knockroon. a part of Knockroon acquired from John Boswell in 1790, was let to John Scott in 1784 and to James Wallace in 1798.”

Braehead

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS575131
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 217m
Elements: Sc brae + Sc heid

Description:

‘Top of head of a brae or slope’. The slope rising from the River Nith is well seen in Bob Guthrie’s photographs in his extensive entry on this farm, BRAEHEAD – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY. This has details of a conventicle (a proscribed Presbyterian or Covenanters’ church service) held there in Spring 1684.

Braehead Pit (Ironstone)

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS599221
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 185m
Elements: en Braehead + SSE pit

Braehead Pit (No. 6)

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS593222
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 187m
Elements: en Braehead + SSE pit

Braehead Plantation

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS594216
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 158m
Elements: en Braehead + SSE plantation

Braid Wood

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS504229
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 122m
Elements: Sc braid + Sc wuid

Description:

Sc braid + Sc wuid assimilated to SSE spelling.

On the estate of Auchinleck House. Described in the OSNB (OS1/3/34) thus: “This wood is principally fores[t] trees surrounding the Lawn an[d] extending from Auchinleck Ho[use] to Greenfoot.”

Braid Wood

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS504232
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 114m
Elements: Sc braid + Sc wuid

Description:

This is an extension of Braid Wood on the same policies (qv). 

Brans Knowe

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS659119
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 362m
Elements: pn Bran + Sc knowe

Description:

‘A knowe or hillock associated with Bran’. Bran is the name of the dog of Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool), the mythical warrior hero celebrated in prose and verse (the so-called Finn-cycle) in both Irish and Scotland (see https://fionnfolklore.org/#/). Fionn, along with his warrior band the Fianna, has left a swathe of place-names in both countries. These place-names act as anchors for the stories, localising them in the landscape, conversely landscape forms can attract Fionn-stories (see Meek 1998).

The fact that Brans Knowe is a short distance west of Dog Hill can hardly be co-incidence. 6 km (3.7 miles) south-west of Brans Knowe on the Carcow Burn is McCool’s Craig (NS608087). Taken together these names indicate that stories from the Finn-cycle were current in this part of Kyle.

OS Name Book: ‘A small Knowe 25 chains [550 yards] East North East of Dog Hill’ (OS1/3/49/114). A chain is 66 feet, so it lies 550 yards from Dog Hill.

Brickhouse Plantation

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS575189
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 151m
Elements: en Brickhouse + SSE plantation

Description:

This takes its name from the small houses of Low Brickhouse and High Brickhouse at either end of the wood. It is now part of the Netherthird area in Cumnock.

Bridge of Ness

Dalmellington (DAL), Straiton (STT)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS477014
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 213m
Elements: SSE bridge + SSE of + en Ness (Glen)

Bridgend

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS562199
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 108m
Elements: SSE bridge + SSE end

Description:

A common name for a settlement beside a bridge. The bridge in question is marked on the OS 6 inch 2nd edn map as Bridgend Bridge and takes the Ayr Cumnock road over a very small burn or syke, now mainly culverted, on the east side of what is now the East Ayrshire Community Hospital in Cumnock. Bridgend itself is described in 1858 as follows: ‘This name applies to the farm steading and row of Cottages north side of Turnpike Road between Cumnock & Ayr near Greenmill’ (OS1/3/52/30).

Bridgend

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS417106
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 160m
Elements: SSE bridge + SSE end

Bridgend

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS566202
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 112m
Elements: SSE bridge + SSE end

Description:

This name denotes an area on the west side of the bridge over the Lugar from the town of Cumnock on the OS 6 inch 1^st edn; by the second edition, the town had grown up around it, and this area had been incorporated into Old Cumnock parish. There is another Bridgend nearby, just to the south, but in Old Cumnock parish (and not near an actual bridge).

Bridgend Br.

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS563199
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 107m
Elements: en Bridgend + SSE bridge

Description:

See under Bridgend OCU for more details.

Bridgend Mill (Corn)

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS553213
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 124m
Elements: en Bridgend + SSE mill

Description:

The Bridgend in this name is not the same as listed elsewhere (the other AUK Bridgend (NS566202) lies across the Lugar from Cumnock). The mill lay on the northern side of the bridge over the Auchinleck Burn. Although an existing name is posited here, it is possible that this was in fact simply a description of the situation of the mill. However, Bridgend has been repurposed as a name in the locality, e.g. ‘Bridgend Garage’.

Broad Dub

Dalmellington (DAL), Straiton (STT)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS477026
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 193m

Broad Wood

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS548196
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 159m
Elements: SSE broad + SSE wood

Broadhag Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS515129
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 286m
Elements: en Broadhag + SSE burn

Description:

‘A burn running from or through a broad hag’, a hag being ‘a soft marshy hollow piece of ground in a moor, e.g. where channels have been made by water or where peats have been cut’ (SND). The hag or hags were presumably on what is now called Martyrs Moss.

OS Name Book: ‘A burn running northwards and uniting with Otter Syke near where it joins Black Water’ (OS1/3/49/22). The Black Water itself is one of the headwaters of the Burnock.

Brockloch

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS595104
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 277m
Elements: G broclach

Description:

‘Badger set’ or ‘place associated with badgers’. Dwelly gives G broclach f. ‘a badger den [sic]; a warren’. It is found as a place-name in various parts of Scotland, e.g. Brockley KNR (Brochlache 1371 RMS no. 424; Brochlache 1371 RMS i no. 441 (see PNKNR, 388-9 for more details); also Brockloch (Maybole) AYR (Breckloch c.1636 x 1652 Gordon MS map 60). See Brockloch – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.

Broken Moss

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS632104
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 361m
Elements: SSE broken + SSE moss

Description:

‘A moss with a broken-up surface’. It is not clear whether it is broken up naturally or by human activity such as peat-cutting. It is used as a common noun in the following description of Blaeberry Holes (Eskdalemuir) DMF: ‘This consists of broken moss ground on the ridge betwixt Bear Craig and Blaeberry Hill’ (OS1/10/19/34).

Broken Moss NCU is described simply as: ‘A Small Moss Hagg on Dalhanna farm, at the Source of Redrey [sic] Burn’ (OS1/3/49/129).

Brookfield

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS579168
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 186m
Elements: en Brookfield

Description:

This looks very like a ready-made house-name introduced relatively recently. Its older name was Refuge Cottage(s). The OS Name Book gives no clue as to why it should be so called. However it might have something to do with its being a school. It is described there as: ‘A dwellinghouse and School the property of and occupied by John Connell who is Schoolmaster’. The School itself is described as: ‘A School for the instruction of Youth of both Sexes not Supported by any institution, John Connell Schoolmaster’ (OS1/3/52/126).

Broom

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS631244
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 211m
Elements: SSE broom

Description:

It is unusual to have this word on its own as a place-name, though it is frequently found as a specific (see e.g. Broomfield, Broomhouse). Denotes a place where the broom plant was very abundant. See broom PNF 5 El. Gloss s.v.  In DOST under brome etc. is (2) ‘With pl. A bush, growth or expanse of broom.’ Examples given are i.a. 1315 Facs. Nat. MSS. II. 12._Cum terra que vocatur la Brome prope lacum [de Lythcu]; 1498 Acta Conc. II. 226. The accione … be Jonet Straithauchin … for the distruccione of a browme in hir skaith’. CSD2 ‘a stretch or an expanse of broom; frequently in place-names.’

Broom Braes

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief, Vegetation
Grid reference: NS576209
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 152m
Elements: SSE broom + SSE brae

Broom Knowe

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS641133
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 186m
Elements: Sc broom + Sc knowe

Description:

‘A knoll or hillock covered in broom.’

Broombrae

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS569202
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 120m
Elements: Sc broom + Sc brae

Description:

‘A brae or slope characterised by broom’ or ‘a brae associated with Broomhill’. It lay on the lands of the old-established settlement of Broomhill, which see. The OS Name Book writes: ‘This name applies to the parish Schoolmasters residence adjoining parish School’ (OS1/3/52/8). The brae itself is on Barrhill Road in Cumnock.

RN

Broomfield

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS562202
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 111m
Elements: SSE broom + SSE field

Description:

According to various  information given on Ploughing up Our Past, this is now Cumnock Rugby Club. They note it as being in Auchinleck in censuses up to 1901, after which in Cumnock parish. This boundary change is visible on OS 6 inch 2nd edn, where it is (just) in Cumnock.

PuOP also suggests that this is the Broomholm mentioned in the Horse Tax and elsewhere, but this is more likely to have been an alternative name for Broomhouse (q.v.), or lands adjacent to it.

Broomhill

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS569203
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 132m
Elements: Sc broom + Sc hill

Description:

'A hill abounding in or characterised by broom.'  It is closely associated with the name Broombrae OCU. The 1581 charter, which mentions ‘the lord or laird of Broomhill’, indicates that it was a relatively important estate by that date. It is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A Superior dwellinghouse with gardens adjoining the property of and occupied my Mr Mathew McKerrow’ (OS1/3/52/8).

Broomhouse

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS501222
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 106m
Elements: SSE broom + SSE house

Description:

This house was part of the Auchinleck estate in the 18^th century. It is marked on the OS 6-inch 1^st edn, but seems to have disappeared by the time of the second. Its presence is preserved in the bank overlooking the Lugar south of Auchinleck Mains, Broomhouse Braes (q.v.)

The Correspondence, App. 1 (p.215) notes the lands of Broomholm, which seem likely to relate in some way to Broomhouse, or at least to the holm that lies to the south-west of it. Of Broomholm they note “a part of which was planted with fruit trees in 1766-68, was divided into four lots and rented for ploughing in 1786 and 1787” to neighbouring farmers. Activities on Broomholm populate the letters in The Correspondence as well, e.g. from letter from James Bruce to James Boswell, 11 July 1768 ‘The Broomholm Orchard is coming on’ (The Correspondence, p. 16).

Broomhouse Braes

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS500224
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 94m
Elements: en Broomhouse + SSE brae

Description:

A bank of trees overlooking the Lugar, south of Auchinleck Mains.

Brown Hill

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS511045
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 425m
Elements: SSE brown + SSE hill

Bryan's Heights

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS498026
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 347m
Elements: pn Bryan + SSE height

Bubbly Burn

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS513076
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 267m

Bubbly Cairn (rems of)

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Antiquity
Grid reference: NS490035
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 258m

Buchan's Bridge

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS472062
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 163m
Elements: pn Buchan + SSE bridge

Description:

According to the OS Name Book of c.1857, Buchan's Bridge was also known as Moss Bridge. The bridge is described, and its names explained, therein as: 'A graceful, substantial, Freestone Bridge, of one Arch, over the Cummock Burn, on the Turnpike Road from Ayr to Dalmellington, and about half a mile from the latter place, both names are equally applied, Buchan the man who built it, and it being at the east end of a tract of moss extending westwards it is as usual to here [sic] Moss Bridge as the other - a County Bridge' (OS1/3/21/55). The moss in question is Sillyhole Moss.

Buchanny Cairn (Site of)

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Antiquity
Grid reference: NS613109
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 229m
Elements: pn Buchannan + Sc cairn

Description:

‘A cairn or prehistoric burial mound (tumulus) associated with an individual or family called Buchannan’?? The earliest form Buckwhanny throws doubt on this explanation, but it is the most plausible of the several discussed in detail by Robert Guthrie on the New Cumnock History website at Buchanny Cairn (Site of) – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY. What we do know, however, is that it gave its name to a settlement, mentioned in the Old Parish Records in the early 18^th century (see the early forms).

Guthrie also notes the proximity of the farm of Laight, from G leachd ‘a grave’, and the plausible possibility that the cairn of Buchanny Cairn is the eponymous leachd.

The OS Name Book has this relatively detailed entry: ‘On this spot stood "Buchanny Cairn." It consisted of a large heap of Stones, which were removed some years ago, to build dikes and houses in the neighbourhood. In the Centre was found a Stone Coffin and some fine mould of a blackish appearance.

Mr. Miller of Laight (who pointed out the Cairn's Site) - States that there could have been very little short of 3000 Cartloads of Stones in it.
The field is still called 'Cairn Park. And the name [Buchanny Cairn] appears on an old Estate Map, dated 1772’ (OS1/3/49/126).

Buck Cleuch

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS663199
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 251m
Elements: SSE buck + Sc cleugh

Description:

‘A ravine frequented by bucks’, i.e. roebucks?

RN

Bught Knowe

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS523122
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 295m
Elements: Sc bucht + Sc knowe

Description:

‘A knoll or hillock associated with one or more buchts’, a bucht or bught being a sheepfold, especially a small inner fold for milking ewes. The bucht is probably the circular enclosure marked on OS 6 inch 1st edn map as ‘Sheepfold’ and this is implied by the entry for Bught Knowe in the OS Name Book (1857): ‘A small Knowe north of Nether Beoch, near a Sheepfold’ (OS1/3/49/37). The Sheepfold is shown and described as such on the OS 6 inch 1st edn This sheepfold is called ‘Sheep Ree’ on OS 25 inch (1896). For the word ree, see under Redree Hill NCU.

Bull's Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS667139
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 230m
Elements: SSE bull + SSE burn

Description:

‘A burn associated with a bull’, probably referring to a burn flowing through a field on the farm of Corsoncone where the bull was kept.

Bullet Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS528116
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 257m
Elements: SSE bullet + SSE burn

Bullion Scar

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS661176
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 264m
Elements: Sc scaur

Description:

The second element is a variation of Sc scaur, one of whose meanings is ‘a steep hill from which the soil has been washed away’ (SND), very apt for a feature described by the OS Name Book as ‘a land slip situated on the south bank of the Guelt Water notable for pebble-stones being found on it during the time of spates. (floods)’ (OS1/3/52/113).

The first element may be Sc bullions, a term found chiefly in connection with features, usually wells, dedicated to St Martin, his summer feast-day (the day of his translation) on 4 July being known as St Martin Bullion’s Day. See Scott 2000 for a full discussion (Scott, Margaret, 2000, ‘Bullion in Scottish Place-Names’, Nomina 23, 37-48). St Bullion’s Day has the following piece of weather lore attached to it: ‘Bullion's Day, gif ye be fair, For forty days 'twill rain nae mair’ (cited SND under Bullion’s Day). It is difficult, however, to see how this might apply to a scar or scaur.

Added in a different hand after the above-mentioned OS Name Book entry is: ‘Bullion A term for the pudenda in Orkney. – Jamieson’ (OS1/3/52/113). (Jamieson = An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, by John Jamieson, first published Edinburgh 1808). This word seems to be confined to the Northern Isles, so is not relevant here.

Burnfoot

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS422098
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 159m

Burnfoot

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS589113
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 213m
Elements: SSE burn + SSE foot

Description:

A settlement near where the Blarene Burn joins the Daleagles Burn. It gave its name to Burnfoot Row, a small mining village now demolished.

Burnfoot

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS618101
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 222m
Elements: SSE burn + SSE foot

Description:

‘(Settlement) at the foot of a burn’, i.e. where a burn flows into a larger water-course or the sea. As is made explicit in the earliest forms of the name, the burn in question is the Carcow Burn (at its confluence with the Nith). For more details and photographs, see BURNFOOT (of Carcow Burn) – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY. According to NCH entry the official address is now ‘The Kennels’. Guthrie writes: ‘In 1922 Richard Bolton and his wife Agnes McCormick settled at Burnfoot Cottage. While Richard fulfilled the duties of gamekeeper and ground officer of the Knockshinnoch estate, Agnes held tenancy of the shootings on the estate. Richard’s passion was gun-dogs and he became a respected judge while his dogs won many prizes and this prompted the family renaming the cottage and its lands as ‘The Kennels”, although it was also known as Bolton’s Farm’. A motivation for this change of name may have been to distinguish it from the other Burnfoot in the parish at NS589113.

Burnfoot

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS521207
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 92m
Elements: Sc burn + Sc fit

Description:

‘(Settlement at) the foot or mouth of a burn’. It is (or was) a small settlement near where the Coachford Burn flows into the Lugar Water. It was already ‘unoccupied’ according to the OS Name Books in 1855-57 (OS1/3/51/1/26). Its lands were given over to the tile works which bore its name, and by the time of the OS six inch 2^nd edition the farm of Burnfoot had disappeared, though some dwellings persisted on its lands. See the Cumnock History Group’s Ploughing up our Past for some traditions, and also photographs: https://farminginthecumnockarea.blogspot.com/search/label/Burnfoot.

Burnfoot Bridge

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS589114
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 210m
Elements: en Burnfoot + SSE bridge

Description:

The bridge, over the Blarene Burn, takes its name from the nearby settlement of Burnfoot (NS589113).

Burnfoot Bridge

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS618101
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 222m
Elements: en Burnfoot + SSE bridge

Description:

This bridge over the Carcow Burn takes its name from the settlement of Burnfoot beside which it is situated.

Burnfoot Row

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS585111
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 214m
Elements: en Burnfoot + SSE row

Description:

A row of cottages taking its name from the small settlement of Burnfoot (on the Blarene Burn). It housed miners who worked at the adjacent Lanemark Colliery (Afton, no. 1). Neither the row nor the colliery is shown on the OS 6 inch 1st edn map (1860).

Burnfoot Tile Works

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS515207
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 103m
Elements: en Burnfoot + SSE tile works

Description:

Dane Love (2021, 229-30) outlines the history of the tile works and its owners in some detail. The tile works, also known as the Ochiltree Tile Works, were established in 1835 by the 2^nd Marquess of Bute, as Burnfoot was on Dumfries House Estate. After a considerable history, they were demolished in 1984 (Love, 2021, 230).

In the OS Name Books for 1855-57, they are described as ‘A number of drying Sheds built [of] wood and thatched two Kilns and [grounds] and rolling engine one cottage house also one Storey thatched all of which [are] in good repair and in working [order] the Clay is well adapted for tils [tiles] Situated about half a mile [South] of the Village of Ochiltree and [on] the left of the Turnpike road to Cumnock the property of the Most Noble the [Marquis] of Bute.’ (OS1/3/51/1/26).

RN

Burnfoothill

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS431107
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 274m
Elements: en Burnfoot + SSE hill

Burnhead

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS457090
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 276m
Elements: Sc burn + Sc head

Burnhead Burn

Coylton (COY), Dalmellington (DAL), Dalrymple (DRL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS454088
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 235m
Elements: en Burnhead + SSE burn

Burnhouse

Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS516220
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 120m
Elements: SSE burn + SSE house

Description:

This cottage, part of the Auchinleck estate, sits on a seemingly un-named small burn which flows into the Lugar. The Correspondence, App. 1 (p.215), notes this as among the rented lands of Auchinleck: “Burnhouse, a part of Townhead, was let to John Wyllie, an estate labourer, in 1771 and 1786, and then to James Bryan in 1793 after its house was rebuilt.”

Burnock Bridge

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS508210
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 92m
Elements: en Burnock + SSE bridge

Description:

This bridge at the south-east end of Ochiltree takes its name from the Burnock Water over which it crosses.

It is described in the OS Name Book as: 'A well built stone bridge of one arch over the Burnock Water on the Turnpike road from Ayr to Cumnock about 20 feet above the bed of the stream the parepets [sic] are of Chiseld red sand stone - built by and kept in repair by the County it is of a modern erection - a little lower down the [stream] from where the old one stood no [sic] disused' (OS1/3/51/1/32).

Burnock Bridge

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS509173
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 179m
Elements: en Burnock + SSE bridge

Description:

This bridge on the modern B7046 road crosses over the Burnock Water, from which it takes its name, to the west of Darntaggart Plantation.

Burnock Holm

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Field
Grid reference: NS507209
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 91m
Elements: en Burnock + SSE holm

Description:

This name refers to the low riverside land lying between Ochiltree town (and the A70) and the Burnock Water.

Burnock Holm House

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS508210
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 92m
Elements: en Burnock Holm + SSE house

Burnock Mill

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS504177
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 169m
Elements: en Burnock + Sc miln

Description:

Note that in Blaeu 1654, this mill on the Burnock Water was Neumil[n], i.e. ‘the new mill’. Sufficient forms in miln exist to clarify that this place was originally named in Scots. The OS Name Books 1855-57 described it as ‘A corn mill, propelled by water Wheel & horse power, - has dwellinghouse & offices attached. Mill & dwellinghouse slated, rest thatched, one storey & in good repair. Property of the Marquis of Bute.’ (OS1/3/51/1/46).

RN

Burnock Street

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS508211
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 94m
Elements: en Burnock + SSE street

Burnock Viaduct

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS504187
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 156m
Elements: en Burnock + SSE viaduct

Description:

A former rail bridge over the Burnock Water, the viaduct is still extant, despite the disappearance of the branch line it carried in the 1960s. Excellent photos of the viaduct can be found here: http://www.forgottenrelics.org/bridges/burnock-water-viaduct/.

Burnock Water

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS511211
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 89m
Elements: G braon + G -oc + SSE water

Description:

Burnock, which has given rise to at least nine names in the vicinity, including Burnockstone (earlier Byrnokstoun 1441 x 1450 RMS ii no. 302), is most likely to have originally been a hydronym i.e. the name of a water-course. 

It may contain the element which has developed into G braon ‘rain, drizzle, ooze, drop (of liquid)’, Old Gaelic bráen ‘rain, moisture’, with the place-name forming suffix -ōc, later –óg, modern Scottish Gaelic –ag, meaning something like ‘the oozing or dripping one’. Braonach, the adjective from braon, is probably to be found locally in Knockburnie NCU and Craig (formerly Craigbraneoch) NCU, and further afield in Birnam PER and Birnie MOR (Watson 1926, 189).

This river has given its name to a type of curling stone, Sc burnock, ‘still in common use among curlers and almost black in colour when polished’ (SND). ‘The manufacture of curling stones took place in Ochiltree for many years. In the late nineteenth century James Peden was a curling stone manufacturer in the village. He presented a pair of stones to Ochiltree Curling Club for competition in 1888. Often the stone used for making curling stones at Ochiltree was quarried from the headwaters of the Burnock Water, the “Burnock Stone” curling stone gaining an international reputation. The manufacture of curling stones appears to have ended around the time Peden had presented the curling stones, the business being described as defunct in 1890’ (Love 2021, 226).

Burnock Wood

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS501202
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 108m
Elements: en Burnock + SSE wood

Description:

Only noted by name on the OS 6 inch 2^nd edn, this describes a range of woodland on the west side of the Burnock Water below Findlayston.

Burnockhead

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS517147
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 271m
Elements: en Burnock + Sc heid

Description:

‘(Settlement at or near) the head or source of the Burnock Water’.

RN

Burnockhead Wood

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS515146
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 282m
Elements: en Burnockhead + SSE wood

Description:

A strip of woodland created below Burnockhead farm, sometime in the first half of the 20^th century.

Burnockhill

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS501178
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 178m
Elements: en Burnock + Sc hill

Description:

This farm, originally on the Ochiltree Estate, is often found conjoined with others, such as Burnton and Burnockstone. It is described in the OS Name Books for 1855-57 as ‘A farmsteading dwellinghouse & offices thatched, one storey & in good repair’.

Burnockstone

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS501186
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 159m
Elements: en Burnock + Sc toun

Description:

'A farm beside the Burnock Water.'

This seems likely to be the earliest, or one of the earliest, of the farms named from the Burnock Water (alongside Burnockhill, Burnockhead, etc.).

Burnockstone Cottages

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS498186
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 164m
Elements: en Burnockstone + SSE cottage

Burnside

Ochiltree (OCH), Stair (STA)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS454162
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 139m
Elements: SSE burn + SSE side

Description:

‘(Settlement) at the side of a burn’. The burn in question is the Drumbowie Burn.

Burnside

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS569187
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 139m
Elements: SSE burn + SSE side

Description:

A settlement beside the Horsecleugh Burn, a tributary of the Glaisnock Water. It has now been destroyed by the Cumnock by-pass. There is another Burnside OCU shown on early OS maps: this is at NS566172, and is now High Burnside.

Burnside

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS588112
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 221m
Elements: en Burnside Cottage

Description:

‘(Settlement) on a burn’. This is the name of a former mining village (see Lost worlds: a morning in and around New Cumnock – Place-Names of the Coalfield Communities (glasgow.ac.uk).  It took its name from Burnside Cottage a short distance to the south, which appears already on the OS 6 inch 1^st edn map of 1860, long before the village was built. The burn in question is the Blarene Burn.

Burnside Bridge

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS451161
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 141m
Elements: en Burnside + SSE bridge

Description:

A bridge on the B730 road crossing over Drumbowie Burn to the west of the settlement of Burnside, from which it takes its name.

Burnside Cottage

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS589109
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 234m
Elements: SSE burn + SSE side + SSE cottage

Description:

‘(Settlement) at the side of a burn’, the burn in question being the Blarene Burn. It has given its name to the nearby mining village of Burnside. The cottage, shown on earlier OS maps, has now gone.

Burnside T.P.

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS481064
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 173m

Burnston

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS548126
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 211m
Elements: pn Brown + Sc toun

Description:

‘Farm associated with a person or family called Brown’. For more details see BURNSTON – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.

Burnston Bog

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS548123
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 227m
Elements: en Burnston + SSE bog

Description:

This refers to a bog on the farm of Burnston.

Burnston Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS550122
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 221m
Elements: en Burnston + SSE burn

Description:

The fate of this burn encapsulates the fate of so many features, both natural and built, in this area of intense open-cast mining: ‘Although, following the completion of the opencast work it had been planned to reinstate the Burnston Burn, it cannot be reinstated, “as its course has now been entirely consumed by the final working void”’. This is taken from East Ayrshire Council, Planning Committee , Revised Restoration Plan at House of Water Opencast Coal Mine, New Cumnock, 12 Jun 2020. Cited BURNSTON – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.

Burnt Hill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS639113
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 396m
Elements: SSE burnt + SSE hill

Burnt Knowe

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS513109
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 313m
Elements: SSE burnt + SSE knowe

Burnt Moss

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS649102
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 559m
Elements: SSE burnt + SSE moss

Burnton

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS476069
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 188m
Elements: Sc burn + Sc toun

Burnton

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS638131
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 205m
Elements: Sc burn + Sc toun

Description:

‘Farm on a burn’. The burn on which it stands is now called Burnton Burn. Note that it first appears as an alternative name for Over Blackwood (for which see Blackwood NCU).

Burnton

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS494178
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 164m
Elements: Sc burn + Sc toun

Description:

‘A toun or farm on a burn’, the burn in question being the Burnton Burn, itself named after the settlement, so a rather circular naming pattern. On the other hand, Roy’s form ‘Laigh Burnockston’ may imply that Burnton is a contraction of a fuller (and less circular) name. The Burnton Burn flows into the Burnock Water.

Burnton Bridge

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS638132
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 194m
Elements: en Burnton + SSE bridge

Description:

This bridge crosses the Burnton Burn at the north of Burnton.

Burnton Bridge

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS494179
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 161m
Elements: en Burnton + SSE bridge

Description:

This bridge crosses over the Burnton Burn to the east of Burnton in Ochiltree parish.

Burnton Burn

Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS475064
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 168m
Elements: en Burnton + SSE burn

Burnton Burn

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS641135
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 180m
Elements: en Burnton + Sc burn

Description:

Before the name Burnton became established for the settlement of Over Blackwood, the burn was called *Blackwood Burn (see 1654 form).

There is an error on OS Explorer (Revised for selected changes 2006), which has Urnton Burn for Burnton Burn (centre of the name NS638129).

Burnton Burn

Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS498193
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 128m
Elements: en Burnton + SSE burn

Description:

This burn flows into the Burnock Water. It seems likely that its rather circular name was taken from the settlement of Burnton, which lies at the upper reaches of the burn. Burnton is given as Laigh Burnockston on Roy’s map, and it may be that that it was originally called this, rather than Burnton.

Burnton Wood

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS641131
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 210m
Elements: en Burnton + SSE wood

Burntonhill

New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS641123
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 268m
Elements: en Burnton + SSE hill

Burnwelltrees

Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS570190
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 129m
Elements: Sc burn + Sc wall + Sc tree

Description:

'Trees at a well beside a burn’? Sc wall ‘a well’ gives the forms with a. The burn in question is the Horsecleugh Burn. No well is shown on the early maps, and there is no chance now to investigate this further as the farm lies under the Caponacre Industrial Estate on the southern edge of Cumnock. For more details of this farm, see Ploughing Up Our Past – Blog – Cumnock History Group (accessed 07 2022).