List of Ayrshire place-names beginning with 'G'
Gall Moss
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS549119
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 237m
Elements: Sc gall + Sc moss
Description:
‘A moss or bog characterised by bog-myrtle’. There are two places of this name in the parish. This one was at the junction of the Beoch Lane and the River Nith beside Laneside. It has disappeared as a result of opencase coalmining.
Gall Moss
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS662135
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 177m
Elements: Sc gall + Sc moss
Description:
‘A moss or bog characterised by bog-myrtle’. There are two places of this name in the parish. This one is near Merkland farm in the very east of the parish. Both are on the banks of the Nith. It is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A piece of uncultivated land, so named in consequence of the growth in it of a small shrub called “gall”’ (OS1/3/49/82).
It is now a field used for silage and sheep-grazing, but can still be slighty boggy and liable to flooding (gall moss – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY, which also has a good photo of the field).
Galloway Forest Park
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS487037
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 263m
Galloway Forest Park
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS488008
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 302m
Gallowlee
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS503209
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 130m
Elements: Sc gallo(w) + Sc ley
Description:
‘Lea beside or associated with the gallows’? Lea (Sc ley) is defined in DOST as ‘land which has been left untilled for some time and allowed to return to grass, arable land under grass used as pasture.’ The earliest form suggests an alternative name ‘gallow hill’, although this might simply be a scribal or editorial error, since gallows are far more often associated with hills than leas. As noted in the OS Name Book (below), it lies in an elevated position near the main road from Ochiltree to Ayr. Gallows were often placed in such conspicuous sites as a grim warning to as many people as possible.
For a time the name was re-interpreted as the Biblical name Galilee.
It is described in the OS Name Book as follows: 'A portion of the highest part of the Village of Ochiltree on the old road to Ayr at the West end of Main St. the houses are all one Storey high partly Slated and partly thatched and only in tolerable repair the name is chiefly applied to the buildings though it includes a portion of the gardens the property of heirs of the late Alexander Ross Esqr'. There is an additional note: 'This name has derived from the word Gallows or Gallows Ree as Mr. Cuthbert maintains' (OS1/3/51/1/30). It is not clear what 'Ree' signifies, if the word has been transcribed correctly: it is difficult to make out in the original text.
Note that this name is in the OS Name Books and 25 inch 1st edn map, but is not included in the OS 6 inch 1st edn map. By the time of the 6 inch 2nd edition, it was represented only by ‘Gallowlee Convalescent Home’, and the nearby Gallowlee Well. The ‘Ploughing up the Past’ website allows us to see that Gallowlee House, the successor, one presumes, of the earlier farm, was occupied through the 19th century, and converted into the Convalescent home under the ownership of a Mrs Flora Campbell, sometime around 1880.
Gallowlee Convalescent Home
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS502209
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 133m
Elements: en Gallowlee + SSE Convalescent Home
Description:
See the entry for Gallowlee for the long history of that name, by the time of the OS 6 inch 2nd edition, preserved only in this new development. The ‘Ploughing up the Past’ website allows us to see that Gallowlee House, the successor, one presumes, of the earlier farm, was occupied through the 19th century, and converted into the Convalescent home under the ownership of a Mrs Flora Campbell, sometime around 1880.
Gallowlee Well
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS502209
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 133m
Elements: en Gallowlee + SSE well
Description:
This well is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A good Spring well adjacent to that part of the Village of Ochiltree Called Gallowlee it is the means of supplying the Chief part of the Village with water through a tile drain which is opened in each garden or as necessity requires and Occasionally flows through the Street &c it has no mineral properties’ (OS1/3/51/1/30).
Garallan Bridge
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS546177
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 208m
Elements: en Garrallan + SSE bridge
Description:
Crossing over the Rose Burn, the bridge takes its name from the settlement of Garrallan to its north.
Garclaugh
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS648143
Certainty: 2
Altitude: 220m
Elements: G gart + G clach
Description:
‘Enclosed settlement associated with a stone’, possibly a standing stone. Robert Guthrie, on his New Cumnock History website, has an exceptionally long and thoroughly researched entry on Garclaugh and its associated names under Garclaugh – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY. However, he has omitted the most likely candidate for the first element, namely G gart ‘an enclosed settlement’ or the like. Besides Garclaugh there were in the medieval parish of Cumnock alone four other such names: Garlaff OCU, Garallan OCU, Garleffan OCU and Garrieve # NCU (now Mansfield).
For the above-mentioned website, Robert Guthrie has done an exhaustive search of the lands of Garclaugh to try to identify the clach or stone of the second element. He points out that there is no record of a standing stone in the lands of Garclaugh. However, on the banks of the Garclaugh Burn there is ‘an impressive outcrop of rock’, a picture of which can be found in the website entry. This is the most likely candidate for the eponymous clach.
The approximate NGR is of Meikle Garclaugh.
Garclaugh Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS654136
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 178m
Elements: en Garclaugh + Sc burn
Garclaugh Pendicle
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS651145
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 233m
Elements: en Garclaugh + Sc pendicle
Garepool
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS652137
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 179m
Elements: Sc gar + Sc pool
Description:
‘Slime or filth pool’. It refers to a pool in the River Nith where the Garepool Burn joins it.
Garepool Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS651136
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 179m
Elements: en Garepool + Sc burn
Description:
Blaeu (Kyle)’s Poulshell b (1654) takes its name from the farm of Polshill through which it flows.
Gargowan
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS474223
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 121m
Elements: un uncertain + G gobha
Description:
Despite the earliest form, the first element is the same as is found in several other names locally in which gar looks like a generic element. But what is it? The element it most resembles, one which would give rise to names of settlements, is G gart ‘enclosed field; clearing; latterly farm-settlement’. However, if so, we would expect the t to have survived in at least some of the early forms, but it doesn’t, here or in other names in the area with a similar formation. In the medieval parish of Cumnock alone there are Garlaff OCU, Garallan OCU, Garleffan OCU, Garclaugh NCU, Garrieve # NCU (now Mansfield).
The second element is very likely G gobha ‘a smith’, gen. sing. gobhann or gobhainn, with the name as a whole likely meaning something like ‘the farm(?) of the smith’.
Garlaff
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS542174
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 238m
Elements: G gart +
Description:
The first element (unstressed) may represent G gart (‘farm, enclosure’) but if so we would expect the t to have survived in at least some of the early forms. In the medieval parish of Cumnock alone there were Garlaff OCU, Garallan OCU, Garleffan OCU, Garclaugh NCU and Garrieve # NCU (now Mansfield). It is less likely to be G garbh ‘rough’ because in at least some of these Gar-names the Gar-would bear the stress. However, all are stressed on the second syllable.
RN
Garlaff Old Toll House
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS545178
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 207m
Elements: en Garlaff + SSE old + SSE toll house
Description:
A toll house is where toll was collected for the use of the road. T.P. on the OS 1 st edn map stands for turnpike, a toll bar which could be swung open once the toll on the road had been paid. This one is described in the OS Name Book (1857) as follows: ‘A toll Bar on the Turnpike road near Garlaff from which it takes its name at present rented by George Baird’ (OS1/3/52/68).
Garlaff Pit (Coal)
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS541177
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 223m
Elements: en Garlaff + SSE pit
Garlaff Plantation
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS544170
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 247m
Elements: en Garlaff + SSE plantation
Garleffan East Plantation
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS628184
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 267m
Elements: en Garleffan + SSE east + SSE plantation
Garleffan Farm
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS624194
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 219m
Elements: G gart + G leth-pheighinn + SSE farm
Description:
‘An enclosed farm consisting of a half-pennyland’? A half-pennyland is a unit of land valued at a halfpenny (a 40th part of an ounce of silver). This is one of several names in Gar- locally. It may represent G gart (‘farm, enclosure’) but if so we would expect the t to have survived in at least some of the early forms. In the medieval parish of Cumnock alone there were Garlaff OCU, Garallan OCU, Garleffan OCU, Garclaugh NCU and Garrieve # NCU (now Mansfield). It is less likely to be G garbh ‘rough’ because in at least some of these Gar-names the Gar-would bear the stress. However, all are stressed on the second syllable.
Garleffan Farm on modern maps such as OS Explorer is Low Garleffan on earlier maps such as OS 6 inch 1st and 2nd editions. Earlier still (on Roy's map c.1750) it is Nether Garfeffan (for Garleffan), with the Scots equivalent of low. It is named in contrast to High Garleffan, which is about 80 metres higher.
Garleffan Plantation
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS617197
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 238m
Elements: en Garleffan + SSE plantation
Garnel Craig
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS634057
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 427m
Elements: Sc garnel + Sc craig
Description:
‘A crag or rock resembling a girnel i.e. a meal-bin, a large chest or barrel for holding meal’? Sc girnel, besides meaning a meal container, can also refer to a granary or grain-store. The form garnal in the sense of meal-bin is particularly an Ayrshire usage (SND). The OS Name Book describes it as: ‘A perpendicular rock on the north east side of Craig Braneoch hill’ (OS1/3/49/190).
Garrallan
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS548182
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 205m
Elements: G gart + G eilean
Description:
The first element (unstressed) may represent G gart (‘farm, enclosure’) but if so we would expect the t to have survived in at least some of the early forms. In the medieval parish of Cumnock alone there were Garlaff OCU, Garallan OCU, Garleffan OCU, Garclaugh NCU and Garrieve # NCU (now Mansfield). It is less likely to be G garbh ‘rough’ because in at least some of these Gar-names the Gar-would bear the stress. However, all are stressed on the second syllable.
The second element might just be G eilean 'an island', but also raised land in or by a river or bog. Garrallan lies on the Rose Burn which is especially bendy and which forms the western march of Garrallan. On Blaeu's map (1654) the Rose Burn is called Garellan R.
The pronunciation is from Dot Clark, who grew up at Garrallan in the 50s and 60s.
Garalland 1832 Garrallan/1832 [from an estate map - details to establish]
Garrallan Pit (Coal)
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS550187
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 181m
Elements: en Garrallan + SSE pit
Garrallan Row
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS552190
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 170m
Elements: en Garrallan + SSE row
Garrallan School
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS545180
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 207m
Elements: en Garrallan + SSE school
Garrallan Smithy
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS546180
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 202m
Elements: en Garrallan + SSE smithy
Garrieve
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS639146
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 216m
Elements: G gart + un ?
Description:
’Enclosed settlement’ + ? The first element is probably G gart ‘enclosed settlement’ etc., for more on which see Garclaugh NCU, Garallan OCU etc. The second element is very uncertain, though it may be connected with OG ríab ‘a streak, stripe, line’.
Between 1790 and 1792 the ‘lands and estate of Garrieve’ were acquired c.1790 by James Stirling, Lord Provost of Edinburgh. They were then renamed Mansfield after Stirling’s wife Alison Mansfield. See Mansfield – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY for full details.
Gass Water
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS628242
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 202m
Elements: en Gass + SSE water
Description:
The full analysis for this name is under the settlement name Gasswater, although it is likely that the name originated as a hydronym. This burn flows down from Polwhannan Hill, and effectively becomes the Bellow Water, which in turn becomes the Lugar when the Glenmuir Water joins it.
Gasswater
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS618234
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 210m
Elements: G gas or G gais + SSE water
Description:
There are two very plausible origins for this name. G gas ‘sprout, stalk, twig (and various extended meanings)’, earlier OG gas ‘sprig, shoot, twig’ is one possibility, suiting the current pronunciation of the name well, and its earliest spelling. Our earliest forms of the name refer to an estate (as Gas(s)), rather than the burn. However, G gais ‘torrent, stream’ (OG gaise) would make sense if the name had originally applied to the Gass Water. The form of the name on Blaeu’s map (Gaish)might also support this derivation. In Ireland, Gash in Co. Laois is derived from gais(e) ‘torrent’.
This simplex name is known elsewhere. In south-west Scotland there are at least three other instances of the name Gass: in Straiton parish in Ayrshire; in New Luce, and in Kirkcowan parishes in Wigtownshire. An explanation from gais ‘torrent, stream’ might be suitable for two of these (and particularly for the one in Straiton), but less clearly so for the location of Gass in New Luce. John MacQueen (2002, 69: source: John MacQueen (2009) Place-Names in the Rhinns of Galloway and Luce Valleys, Stranraer.) derived the Wigtownshire names from gas ‘sprout, stalk’, asserting that it had developed into a meaning of a stand of trees, but the evidence for that is not clear.
It should be said that if Gass is derived from G gas ‘sprout, stalk, twig’, it might still be in origin a hydronym, referring to a branching off of a river system, for instance. The situation of most of the names in Gass do not particularly support this idea, however.
According to The Correspondence, App. 1 (p. 221), the farm of Gass / Gasswater was part of the Barony of Glenmure, and ‘was acquired with Walltrees from Alexander Mitchell of Hallglenmuir in 1767… the working of lime and coal commenced in 1768’.
The name is not found on maps in between Blaeu and the OS 6 inch 1st edn (e.g. Roy or Armstrong), so it cannot be certain if the mining village of Gasswater, established in the 1850s, took its name from the earlier estate, or from the name of the burn, although ‘Gasswater Lime and Coal work’ (qv,) was being referred to as early as the 1780s. Unlike many of the other miners’ villages (such as Darnconner, Common etc.), the original farm of Gass(water) seems to have disappeared. There is no longer any settlement at Gasswater, the mining village having been demolished in the mid 20th century, and the whole area being affected by opencast.
RN
Gasswater Head
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS694215
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 414m
Elements: en Gasswater + SSE head
Gasswater Lime Works
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS629222
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 258m
Elements: en Gasswater + SSE lime works
Description:
According to The Correspondence, App. 1 (p. 221), ‘ the working of lime and coal commenced in 1768’.
RN
Gasswater Pit (Coal)
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS624232
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 231m
Elements: en Gasswater + SSE pit
Gasswater Pit (Coal)
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS620233
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 214m
Elements: en Gasswater + SSE pit
Gatefauldhead
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS481055
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 209m
Gatehead
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS628145
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 201m
Elements: Sc gate + Sc heid
Description:
‘Head or top of a road’. The road in question is the old route eastwards from Cumnock Castle by Corsincon to Sanquar and Dumfries. See GATEHEAD – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY for a full discussion.
Gatehousebrae Bridge
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS538200
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 113m
Elements: en Gatehousebrae + SSE bridge
Description:
The gate of Gatehouse is one of the gates to Dumfries House Estate. The bridge is on the main road (A70) from Ochiltree to Cumnock, crossing over Back Burn. The road here is on a brae or slope.
RN
Gateloch
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference:
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 0m
Elements: Sc gate + Sc cleugh
Description:
‘A small, narrow ravine associated with goats’.
Originally a relief feature, it gave its name to a burn, from which the settlement of Gatelochside took its name i.e. settlement at the side of *Gateloch Burn. The burn then became known by the name of the settlement. Apart from the settlement and the burn, it has given its name to Gatelock [sic] Craigs.
See Gateloch Craigs – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY for full details, including a photo of the eponymous cleugh.
Gatelochside
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS647131
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 213m
Elements: en Gateloch + SSE side
Description:
(Settlement) beside the Gateloch Burn.
Gatelochside Bridge
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS647131
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 211m
Elements: en Gatelochside + SSE bridge
Description:
A road bridge on the main road (A76) between New Cumnock and Kirkconnel DMF, crossing Gatelochside Burn. The former settlement of Gatelochside was located just west of the bridge.
Gatelochside Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS648134
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 183m
Elements: en Gatelochside + Sc burn
Description:
For more details, see under *Gateloch.
Gatelock Craigs
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS651116
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 418m
Elements: en *Gateloch + Sc craig
Description:
‘Crags beside *Gateloch’. See Gateloch Craigs – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY for full details.
Gateside
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS479061
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 184m
Elements: Sc gate + Sc side
Gateside
Ochiltree (OCH), Stair (STA)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS442198
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 99m
Elements: Sc gate + Sc side
Description:
‘Road-side’. This is a common name in Scotland for settlements beside important thoroughfares.
Gateside
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS556211
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 134m
Elements: Sc gate + Sc side
Description:
‘settlement beside a road or highway’ in this case the road between Auchinleck and Cumnock.
Gaw Glen
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS482022
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 263m
Gaw Glen Bridge
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS481024
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 225m
Elements: en Gaw Glen + SSE bridge
Description:
The OS Name Book for Dalmellington parish records this bridge as: 'A small Stone Bridge of one arch over Gaw Glen and on the Parish road from Mossdale to the Bridge of Ness and about half a mile south of Dalfarson' (OS1/3/21/107).
Gaw Glen Burn
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS477028
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 174m
Elements: en Gaw Glen + Sc burn
Giants Cave
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS638068
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 422m
Elements: SSE giant + SSE cave
Description:
‘A cave associated with a giant’. This refers to a deep fissure in the western side of Blackcraig Hill between its steep escarpments of Black Clints and Merry Clints. There are several local legends about the eponymous giant. They are dramatically told by Helen J. Steven in her book The Cumnocks Old and New (1899). These are usefully brought together on the New Cumnock History website, along with photographs giant’s cave – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.
It is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A large perpendicular rock on the west side of Black Craig- at the base of which there is a cave, the face or entrance to which is closed up with stones’ (OS1/3/49/186). Note that the OS Name Book online transcription has miscopied Giant’s Cave as Grant’s Cave (accessed July 2024).
Gibston
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS512219
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 120m
Elements: pn Gibb + Sc toun
Description:
‘settlement belonging to a family named Gibb’. Although Gib(b) can be a shortened form of the personal name Gilbert, it is more common as a surname . Gibb is a very common name in Auchinleck in the early modern period, see for instance The Correspondence, Index, pp. 263-4. Most of the names in toun in Auchinleck are modified by a family name (e.g. Keithston).
According to The Correspondence, App. 1 (p. 216), this was a rented land of the Barony of Auchinleck: ‘Gibston, a part of Loganston, had its house occupied in 1787 by Alexander Gibson, who also rented Loganston and Barnsdale with his brother James in Longlands. Gibston was let to Robert McCron in 1789 and 1796.’ This farm had disappeared by the time of the OS 6 inch 2nd edn; Ploughing up the Past notes that the 1871 census is the last sign of this farm (https://farminginthecumnockarea.blogspot.com/search/label/Gibston).
Its name is preserved in the nearby Gibston Braes along the bank of the Lugar (qv).
Gibston Braes
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief, Vegetation
Grid reference: NS509218
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 103m
Elements: en Gibston + SSE brae
Description:
This feature runs along the north bank of the Lugar, preserving the name of the now disappeared farm of Gibston AUK.
Gillies' Knowe
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS481062
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 202m
Glaisnock
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS575179
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 155m
Elements: G glas + G cnoc
Description:
'A green knowe or small hill'?
It may be significant that there are two nearby names containing green, namely Green Burn (flowing from Glaisnock Moss through or near the lands of Glaisnock), as well as Greenside (farm) between Over Glaisnock and Glaisnock. This burn has almost certainly also prompted the renaming of Newfield to Greenfield Farm (see under Greenfield Farm). What exactly is characteristically green about Glaisnock and the Green Burn has yet to be established. However, green in Greenside probably indicates good grazing on this gently-sloping, well-drained tract of land.
Ardsnock which first appears on Gordon's manuscript map and seems to have been an acceptable alternative for the name Glaisnock, remains to be fully explained, although the first element must be G àrd 'high'.
The Sc plural ending -is in 1625 (RMS viii no. 1475) means that the name includes the divisions Over and Nether, first mentioned in 1553.
Glaisnock Belt
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS574163
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 238m
Elements: en Glaisnock + SSE belt
Glaisnock Bridge
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS578180
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 158m
Elements: en Glaisnock + SSE bridge
Description:
A bridge on Benston Road to the east of Glaisnock. It crosses over Meadow Burn.
Glaisnock Cottage
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS579166
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 199m
Elements: en Glaisnock + SSE cottage
Description:
It is not clear why this place should be called lots on earlier OS maps, lot being a relatively rare element meaning ‘a piece of ground allocated or allotted to a particular tenant’ (SND). According to the OS Name Book (1857) the four cottages here were the property of the occupier of one of them, John Wilson (OS1/3/52/126), and it may be because it did not form part of the many big estates in the area that this word was used.
On the OS 6 inch 1st edn map the name Glaisnock Cottage is applied to a house in Cumnock itself.
Glaisnock Cottage
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS569200
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 119m
Elements: en Glaisnock Water + SSE cottage
Description:
A small cottage in Cumnock, it probably takes its name from the fact that it is beside the Glaisnock Water. The name Glaisnock Cottage now applies to what was formerly Glaisnock Lots.
Glaisnock Glen
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS569175
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 207m
Elements: en Glaisnock + SSE glen
Glaisnock Hill
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS572160
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 260m
Elements: en Glaisnock + Sc hill
Description:
This was the name of a settlement in 1654.
Glaisnock Moss
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS568157
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 282m
Elements: en Glaisnock + SSE moss
Glaisnock St.
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS569200
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 119m
Elements: en Glaisnock + SSE street
Description:
This is the name of the main street of Cumnock.
Glaisnock Water
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS566200
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 109m
Elements: en Glaisnock + SSE water
Glen
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS657148
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 285m
Elements: SSE glen
Description:
This farm lies in the valley between the two high hills of Corsencon Hill to the south-east and Craigdullyeart Hill to the north-west. It is unusual to find a place-name with the common Scots and SSE element glen on its own.
Glen Afton
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS632075
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 276m
Elements: Sc glen + en Afton Water
Description:
This glen takes its name from the Afton Water, which flows through it.
The NGR is of roughly the mid-point of the glen.
Glenafton Park
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS615100
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 255m
Elements: en Glenafton + SSE park
Description:
This is a caravan park in Glen Afton.
Glenconner
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS494193
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 155m
Elements: G gleann + G conair or pn Connar
Description:
The first element is G gleann ‘glen’, which presumably refers to the narrow, shallow valley through which flows the Burnock Water which here forms the western boundary of the lands of Glenconner. The second element is probably conair ‘a way, course, path’ (Dwelly), found also in Darnconner AUK AYR and Darnaconner AYR (see Watson 1926, 487). It would thus point to a relatively important route-way associated with the glen in some way.
However, given that there is no sign of the definite article, the second element may be the male personal name Conaire (Connar).
Glenconner Belt
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS492195
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 148m
Elements: en Glenconner + SSE belt
Description:
‘Belt’ here refers to a plantation of trees, evidently established after the OS 6 inch 1st edition. The plantation seems to have stood until the 1950s; by the 1980s it has disappeared from maps, and by the 1990s a new house, Hilltop OCH (q.v.) had been built in part of its footprint.
Glengyron
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS562190
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 172m
Elements: G gleann + ?
Description:
The glen or steep valley (G gleann) of the name must refer to what is now know as Horsecleugh Glen on the Horsecleugh Burn, just over 500 metres south-east of the farm-steading of Glengyron. The second element is obscure.
The farm of Glengyron is now united with Changue. Ploughing Up Our Past: Glengyron (farminginthecumnockarea.blogspot.com) (accessed 27 05 22).
Glengyron Row
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS557193
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 156m
Elements: en Glengyron + SSE row
Glenhastel
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS598060
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 438m
Elements: G gleann + an + an + G caisteal an
Description:
‘Glen of the castle’ (Gleann a’ Chaisteil). There has never been a castle as such in this upland area but G caisteal and Sc castle can be applied to relief features which look from afar like a castle or which could be easily imagined as the site of one. The element can also be used for a prehistoric fort. In the case of Glenhastel, the rocky outcrop now known as Glenhastel Craigs is most likely to be the castle-like feature referred to in the name. For more discussion see GLENHASTEL – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.
Glenhastel Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS594070
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 380m
Elements: en Glenhastel + Sc burn
Glenhastel Craigs
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS601057
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 456m
Elements: en Glenhastel + Sc craig
Description:
‘Crags at Glenhastel’. In fact this craggy feature may well be the ‘castle’ (G caisteal) referred to in the name Glenhastel, which see. The crags are described in the OS Name Book as: ‘Precipitous rocks, situated at the source of Glenhastel Burn’ (OS1/3/49/182).
Glenhead
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS538219
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 135m
Elements: SSE glen + SSE head
Description:
According to The Correspondence, App. 1 (p. 216), this was a rented land of the Barony of Auchinleck.
This farm is no longer extant. The name perhaps refers to the course of the Hapland Burn, which does more or less rise near this place. The name probably references the neighbouring and still extant farm of Glenside (q.v.). This settlement on the Barony Road served as a tollhouse in the 19th century, named as ‘Glenhead Bar’ in the OSNB.
Glenhead Villa
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS505214
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 108m
Elements: SSE glen + SSE head + SSE villa
Description:
A house name, it is not clear where it is derived from, being neither near a glen nor at the head of anything. Presumably it was a transferred name—there are settlements named Glenhead in both Auchinleck (q.v.) and in Coylton. This was the first of two neighbouring houses built around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries on what looks to have been old glebe lands; the road (Mauchline Road) would also see the building of the new cemetery. (The other was Hawthorn Villa, not yet on the OS 6 inch 2nd edn, and so not surveyed here).
Glenlee
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS605046
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 429m
Elements: G gleann + G liath
Description:
‘Grey glen’, assuming the second element is G liath ‘grey’, which is not certain.
RN
Glenmuck
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS514021
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 301m
Glenmuck Bridge
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS511021
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 274m
Elements: en Glenmuck + SSE bridge
Description:
This road bridge (on the A713) crosses the Muck Water near to Glenmuck. It is recorded in the OS Name Book for Dalmellington parish as follows: 'A substantial Stone Bridge of one arch over the Muick Water on the Turnpike road from Ayr to Dumfries and about 3¼ miles from Dalmellington it was taken away by the last great flood and lately rebuilt' (OS1/3/21/112).
Glenmuck Craig
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS504033
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 411m
Elements: en Glenmuck + Sc craig
Glenmuir
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief, Settlement
Grid reference: NS616203
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 195m
Elements: G gleann + G mòr
Description:
Modern Gaelic name-form would be Gleann Mòr.
A Gaelic name meaning 'big glen', the glen in question is the valley through which the Glenmuir Water flows. The frequent forms in -mure, later -muir show the early re-interpretation of the second element as Sc muir 'rough grazing, muir'.
On OS 6 inch 1st edn (and later edns) Glenmuir referred to: ‘A considerable portion of Muir land extending from near Glenmuir Limeworks to the Gass Water Sir J Burnet Proprietor’ (OS1/3/3/112). However, when the name first appears in the record in the 16th century, it refers to an extensive medieval estate, later a barony. The approximate mid-point of the muir of Glenmuir is NS638222. The NGR given here is of Laigh Glenmuir which is the where the old house of Glenmuir stood.
Glenmuir Bridge
Auchinleck (AUK), Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS612202
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 202m
Elements: en Glenmuir + SSE bridge
Description:
This bridge on the Glenmuir Water Road crosses over Glenmuir Water and also the parish boundary between Auchinleck and Old Cumnock parishes. It is one of two bridges of the same name; the other crosses Glenmuir Burn.
RRN
Glenmuir Bridge
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS621203
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 205m
Elements: en Glenmuir + SSE bridge
Description:
This bridge on the road to Dornal from Laigh Glenmuir crosses over Glenmuir Burn. It is one of two bridges of the same name; the other crosses Glenmuir Water.
RN
Glenmuir Burn
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS618202
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 198m
Elements: en Glenmuir + Sc burn
Description:
Note the form of the name on Blaeu, presumably deriving from a (now lost?) farm-name Watston, perhaps the original name of one of the farms now named High and Laigh Glenmuir.
Glenmuir Cottage
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS626208
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 230m
Elements: en Glenmuir + SSE cottage
Glenmuir Hill
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS691203
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 405m
Elements: en Glenmuir + SSE hill
Glenmuir Lime Works
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS631208
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 255m
Elements: en Glenmuir + SSE lime works
Description:
RN
Glenmuir Water
Auchinleck (AUK), Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS598215
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 163m
Elements: en Glenmuir + Sc water
Description:
This river, where it meets the Bellow Water above the modern village of Lugar, forms the Lugar Water.
Glenmuir Water Road
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS602201
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 227m
Elements: en Glenmuir Water Road + SSE road
Glenmuirshaw
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS704205
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 354m
Elements: en Glenmuirshaw
Description:
This takes its name from the farm of Glenmuirshaw, which lies at the southern edge of this large tract of land. According to the description given in the OS Name Book, it takes in various other features such as Glenmuir Hill.
'OS Name Book describes it as: 'A large tract of Moorland Country Known by the name Supplied extending from Wardlaw Hill on the North to the Back Lane on the South and from Stony Hill on the East to the Junctions of Wyndy Burn and Glenmore Water on the West. Marquis of Bute Proprietor' (OS1/3/3/173).
Glenmuirshaw
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS695199
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 292m
Elements: en Glenmuir + Sc shaw
Description:
'A small wood or copse on the lands of Glenmuir'. Originally simply Shaw, it formed part of the lands and barony of Glenmuir, which is how it came to be known as Glenmuirshaw. It has given its name to the large tract of land called Glenmuirshaw.
'A Farm House with offices &c attached occupied by George Smith the property of the Marquis of Bute popularly known as supplied' (OS1/3/3/169).
Glenshalloch Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS607086
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 304m
Elements: G gleann + G salach or G seileach + SSE burn
Description:
‘(Burn of the) dirty, foul or muddy glen’ ? or '(burn of the) willow-glen i.e. a glen characterised by willow'? The second element of the core name may be G salach ‘dirty, foul’. If this is the case, then one would expect *Glensalloch or the like, without the palatalisation of s (see Dalshalloch, rightly Dalsalloch AUK). However, the well-known Corryshalloch Gorge near Ullapool ROS contains this element, appearing on the earliest OS maps as Coire Salach (no meaning given in the OS Name Books under this name). Alternatively the second element may be G seileach 'a willow'.
There are other places called Glenshalloch in south-west Scotland. Maxwell (Place-Names of Galloway, analyses Glenshalloch (Minnigaff parish KCB) as gleann + sealg ‘glen of the hunt’. However, the -lg is very unlikely to have developed into -loch.
Nearer to New Cumnock, in Sanquhar parish DMF, is Glensalloch Burn, which joins the Cog Burn at NS817147, is analysed in the OS Name Book as containing seilach 'willow': '"It is the Willow Glen burn," Seilleach, the willow Glenseilich, would be the correct Gaelic orthography. Salloch is however supposed to be Scoto-Irish - It forms a compound of several Names in this County as Cairnsalloch in Kirkmahoe - "the Cairn of the willows"'. It should be noted that three of the informants give the name as Glenshalloch (OS1/10/44/45). The glen itself appears as Glenshillow on Crawford's map of Dumfriesshire (1804).
The OS Name Book describes it as: ‘A rapid stream rising at the head of a Glen West of Struthers Brae, and running in a northerly direction joins Carcow Burn, near McCool's Craig’ (OA1/3/49/171).
Glenside
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS538215
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 126m
Elements: SSE glen + SSE side
Description:
The glen in question may be the den of the Hapland Burn, which flows down to the Lugar; though perhaps it refers to the wide valley of the Lugar. This is now the site of the Jameel House of Traditional Arts and Building Skills.
According to The Correspondence, App. 1 (p. 216), this was a rented land of the Barony of Auchinleck.: ‘Glenside or Glensyde was let to Robert Smith, who also rented an Inclosure for hay, in 1784 and 1789 and to Archibald Steele in 1789 and 1791.’
Ploughing up the Past notes an important document among the Boswell Papers, from 1774, referring to a dispute between the farm owner of Glensyde and the Earl of Dumfries, regarding the latter’s plans to construct the roadway now known as The Avenue. See https://farminginthecumnockarea.blogspot.com/search/label/Glenside.
RN
Glenview
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS493066
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 202m
Glenwharrie Rig
Kirkconnel (KCL), New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS706161
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 427m
Elements: en Glenwharrie + Sc rig
Description:
Glenwarrie is a farm in Kirkconnel parish at NS716149. The ridge in question, which lies to the north-west of the farm-steading, forms the boundary between New Cumnock AYR and Kirkconnel DMF. The second element of the name Glenwharrie may be G coire ‘a corrie’.
RN
Gowkthorn Well
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS674144
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 353m
Elements: Sc gowk + Sc thorn + Sc well
Description:
‘A well beside a thorn-tree or trees frequented by cuckoos’.
Grain Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS625152
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 223m
Elements: Sc grain + Sc burn
Description:
‘A burn forming a branch or offshoot of a larger watercourse; a branch or fork of a burn’. Robert Guthrie on the New Cumnock History website would see the fork referred to in the name being where two small burns meet to form the Grain Burn at NS627155. He also points out that the OS Name Book describes the burn as: ‘a small stream on the West side of Roughside [farm] and running in a westerly direction into Polquheys Burn’ (OS1/3/49/56). However, on the OS map itself the burn into which it flows is called the Muirfoot Burn (Grain Burn – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY).
Grains Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS627055
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 356m
Elements: Sc grain + Sc burn
Description:
‘A burn forming branches or offshoots of a larger watercourse; branches or forks of a burn’. Robert Guthrie on the New Cumnock History website writes: ‘The Grains Burn is joined by a smaller unnamed burn near its source before it joins the Sandy Syke further downstream – both meetings could be described as forks in the burn which perhaps leads to the plural form grains’. This is well illustrated on an annotated OS map (Grains Burn – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY). This is the most likely explanation of this name.
Gray Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS635081
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 301m
Elements: SSE grey + SSE burn
Description:
It is not clear what is grey about this burn, but it most likely refers to the colour of the rocks over which it flows. As with many names containing colour adjectives, there is a contrastive aspect at play here, since it rises on the north side of Blackcraig Hill and joins the Langlee Burn near Blackcraig (OS1/3/49/177).
Gray Hill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS572149
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 285m
Elements: SSE grey + SSE hill
Description:
It is not clear what is grey about this hill but there is clearly contrastive colour-naming at play here since it is right beside Green Hill and only a short distance south-west of White Knowe. It is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A small ridgelike knowe east of Green Hill’ (OS1/3/49/16).
Green Braehead
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS570199
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 123m
Elements: SSE green + SSE brae + SSE head
Description:
Despite the word division, this place is best analysed as 'head or top of the green brae', the brae or slope being the one which runs up from the Glaisnock Water to Glaisnock Street in Cumnock. It is not clear what is green about it, but it is probably connected to the fact that it is part of what is now Greenholm Street which runs down to Green Holm where later the Greeholm Mills were built.
The OS Name Book (1857) states: ‘This name applies to a couple of cottages and Smithy a little north of Gas works’ (OS1/3/52/39).
Green Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS634035
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 414m
Elements: SSE green + SSE burn
Description:
Without a site visit it is not possible to say what is green about this burn. It is described in the OS Name Book simply as: ‘A Small burn rising on the east side of Lamb Hill and running in an easterly direction unites with Afton Water’ (OS1/3/49/193).
RN
Green Burn
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS567174
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 207m
Elements: SSE green + SSE burn
Description:
Local knowledge may well explain what is green about this burn. It is perhaps no coincidence that it flows from Glaisnock Moss into the Glaisnock Water and through or near the lands of Glaisnock, since the name Glaisnock probably contains G glas ‘green’ (see under Glaisnock).
The Green Burn seems to have prompted the name-change of the neighbouring Newfield to Greenfield Farm (see under Greenfield Farm).
The OS Name Book has: ‘This burn issues from Glaisnock Moss flows Northerly to the point when Muirdyke Burn ends and Glaisnock Water begins’ (OS1/3/52/123).
Green Hill
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS442090
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 296m
Elements: SSE green + SSE hill
Green Hill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS602138
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 184m
Elements: SSE green + SSE hill
Description:
Green usually refers to an area of relatively good grazing. Green Hill is part of a ‘coloured landscape’, lying as it does beside Yellow Moss. There is another Green Hill in the parish, at NS568148.
Green Hill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS568148
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 292m
Elements: SSE green + SSE hill
Description:
Green usually refers to an area of relatively good grazing. Green Hill is part of a ‘coloured landscape’ with contrastive colour-terms, lying as it does beside Gray Hill and a short distance south-west of White Knowe. There is another Green Hill in the parish, beside Meikle Creoch, at NS602138.
Green Hill
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS497134
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 326m
Elements: Sc green + Sc hill
Description:
'A green, grass-covered hill', it gives its name to the nearby settlement of Greenhill OCH. It is now covered in forestry. It was described thus in the OS Name Books: ‘A small round hill rather prominent on which is a trig (trigonometrical) station. The east and south sides are rather steep and rocky and gives its name to a house adjacent the property of the Marquis of Bute - it affords tolerable good sheep pasture.’ Related to this, perhaps, the ‘Ploughing up the Past’ website notes that the house at Greenhill was occupied by shepherds through the second half of the 19th century.
Green Hill
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS545164
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 315m
Elements: SSE green + SSE hill
Description:
While ‘green’ in hill-names often indicates a place of good grazing, it had become arable by the mid 19th century since it is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘An arable eminence situated on the farm of Meikle Auchingilsie’ (OS1/3/52/121).
As with much if not all of Meikle Auchingilsie it has been destroyed by opencast mining.
Green Knowe
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS642255
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 210m
Elements: SSE green + SSE knowe
Description:
The OSNB says of this feature: “A green Knowe in Airds Moss about a ¼ of a mile South of Camerons Grave – it is a remarkable looking feature but whether it was connected as a portion of the Battle or Skirmish ground in which Cameron & followers perished cannot now be ascertained.”, referring here to the battle of Airds Moss, 22 July 1680, and the memorial to Richard Cameron nearby.
Green Knowe
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS520111
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 303m
Elements: SSE green + SSE knowe
Description:
One of three places called Green Knowe in the parish of New Cumnock, this one lies on the lands of Upper Beoch in the south-west corner of the parish. Green usually refers to an area of relatively good grazing. It may also be named contrastively with neighbouring Burnt Knowe.
Green Knowe
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS626056
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 357m
Elements: SSE green + SSE knowe
Description:
‘A green knowe or small hill’. Green usually implies relatively good grazing. Its colour is specifically mentioned in its description in the OS Name Book: ‘A small green knowe about 3 chains N. W. of the junction of Sandy burn with Grains burn’ (OS1/3/49/191). Note that Sandy burn is Sandy Syke on all OS maps.
It is one of three hills called Green Knowe in the parish of New Cumnock.
Green Knowe
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS531137
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 319m
Elements: SSE green + SSE knowe
Description:
‘A green knowe or small hill’. Green usually implies relatively good grazing. It may also have been named contrastively to the adjacent Blueboots Moss and Blueboots Burn
It is one of three hills called Green Knowe in the parish of New Cumnock.
Green Mill
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS562201
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 107m
Elements: SSE green or SSE green + SSE mill
Description:
This can be interpreted as ‘a mill on a green’ or as a mill with something distinctively green about it. It is described in the OS Name Book (1857) as: ‘A dwelling house with Corn & Saw Mill attached worked by water power the property of the Marquis of Bute now occupied by William McGavin’ (OS1/3/52/30). Full details of this mill are to be found on Places – Mills – Cumnock History Group (accessed July 2022).
It gave its name to the local primary school built there in 1954. It then became the site of Cumnock Academy, which itself has now been demolished.
Greenburn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS564133
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 240m
Elements: SSE green + SSE burn
Description:
‘A green burn’. The burn from which this settlement took its name is not named on any OS map but must be the that which flowed from Fardenreoch past the farm-steading of Greenburn to enter the Nith at NS567131. There is no chance now to see what might have been green about it since the whole area has been destroyed by opencast mining.
Greenfield Farm
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS567164
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 257m
Elements: SSE green + SSE field + SSE farm
Description:
This is a relatively new re-naming of an earlier Newfield, described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A farmhouse at present occupied by James Gibson the property of R Bannatine Esquire’ (OS1/3/52/123). It does not appear on earlier maps such as Johnson’s 1828 map of AYR.
The name-change may have been prompted by the fact that the Green Burn forms the farm’s western boundary.
Greenfoot
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS500230
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 102m
Elements: SSE green + SSE foot
Description:
Near Auchinleck Old House; the name presumably derives from its situation in relation to ‘The Lawn’, and suggests that feature was previously referred to as ‘the Green’.
Greengate Rig
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS488104
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 363m
Elements: Sc green + Sc gate + Sc rig
Description:
A hill at the southernmost corner of Ochiltree parish; the Water of Coyle (q.v.) rises on its slopes. Maps show a footpath over the hills here towards Dalmellington. It is likely that this is the ‘green gate’ (i.e., ‘road, path’) referred to in the hill name.
Greenhead
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS618130
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 200m
Elements: SSE green + SSE head
Description:
‘Head or end of a green or grassy piece of land’. Robert Guthrie suggests that the green was a bleaching green for the inhabitants of Afton Bridgend, later subsumed into the town of New Cumnock. For full details see Greenhead – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.
Greenhill
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS439086
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 193m
Elements: en Green Hill
Description:
This row in the village of Waterside was built to house those working in the local Dalmellington Iron Works and and nearby mines. It takes its name from Green Hill, the hill to its north. It is shown but not named on the OS 6 inch 1st edn map, although according to the OS Name Book its inhabitants had bestowed the name Green Hill Terrace on it within the previous fourteen months (OS1/3/21/25, dated c. 1857). This was one of several names in Waterside that the Iron Company had objected to being included on the OS map; the others being Long Row, Back Row and Diamond Row (ibid.).
Greenhill was also known as 'The Furnace Row' (see Waterside CAA, 1.89).
Greenhill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS563122
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 265m
Elements: SSE green + SSE hill
Description:
This small settlement, now destroyed by opencast mining, lay on a slight elevation near Auchingee. This was presumably the hill from which the settlement took its name. Green in place-names usually refers to good grazing. It may have been named in contrast to Black Hill to the north-west and Whitehill to the south-east. It is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘A small dairy house on Whitehill farm - occupied by Mr Lennox, Whitehill’ (OS1/3/49/34).
Greenhill
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS494136
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 330m
Elements: en Green Hill OCH
Description:
A small settlement taking its name from Green Hill OCH a short distance to the south-east.
Greenhill Wood
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS500141
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 289m
Elements: en Green Hill OCH + SSE wood
Description:
A small plantation of trees appears on maps from around 1950 on the slopes of Green Hill; forestry now covers the whole hillside.
RN
Greenholm Mills
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS570200
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 113m
Elements: en Greenholm + SSE mill
Description:
RN
Greenlorg Hill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS650049
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 606m
Elements: SSE green + en Lorg Hill
Description:
This forms a contrasting pair with Blacklorg Hill, a short distance to the south-east, both low hills on a high, moorland plateau consisting of Littledodd Hill and Meikledodd Hill as well as Lorg 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. For a full analysis of Lorg, see Place-Names of the Galloway Glens (glasgow.ac.uk).
Greenockmains Lodge
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS545224
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 158m
Elements: en Greenockmains + SSE lodge
Description:
Greenockmains, in Muirkirk parish, is at some considerable remove from this spot, on the Mauchline road leading out of Auchinleck village. It may be that this was a dwelling-place for a time for the owners of Greenockmains, nearer to the town.
RN
Greenside
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS464144
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 224m
Elements: Sc green + Sc side
Description:
The name here probably is in the sense of ‘green, fertile land beside a burn’, in this case as a surprisingly unnamed substantial tributary of the Water of Coyle. The farm was apparently merged with others to form Ravenscroft after 1881 and is no longer extant. See https://farminginthecumnockarea.blogspot.com/search/label/Greenside%20Ochiltree.
Greenside
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS572173
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 204m
Elements: SSE green + SSE side
Description:
'Green' in this name is probably the noun 'a green; a grassy piece of land', so the name refers to a settlement beside a green. It is described in the OS Name Book (1857) as: a 'Farm steading' being 'the property of Richard Bannatine Esqr. and occupied by James Bannatine' (OS1/3/52/78).
There is another settlement called Greenside in Ochiltree parish (OCH). This is recorded already in the 17th century, so contains the Scots equivalents of these elements.
Greymare Stone
Auchinleck (AUK), Muirkirk (MUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS662232
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 399m
Elements: Sc grey + Sc mere-stane
Description:
On the face of it, this looks like some sort of reference to this stone comparing it to a horse (‘grey mare’). However its position, right on the boundary of Auchinleck parish and Muirkirk, suggests that the name has been re-analysed, having originally referred to a mere-stane ‘boundary stone’ (see DoST https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/meyr_stane).
Grimgrew
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS533199
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 130m
Description:
This name is obscure. If we leave aside the earliest form, from Blaeu, most of the attestations are of a name very like it is today. This could well be Scots grim 'severe, dark' modifying the element grue, defined in the Scottish National Dictionary as 'Half-liquid snow or ice formed in early spring floating on the surface of a river and commonly thought to have risen from the river bed...; a thin coating of newly-formed ice on water'. Indeed, the compound word grund-gru ('ground grue') is attested (see https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/grue_n2_v2 ). All in all, it seems likely to refer to ground which was poor for farming, at least at the time of its original settlement.
The attestation in Blaeu does, however, suggest that perhaps an earlier and different name underlies this place-name, and has perhaps been reinterpreted by Scots speakers. If so, however, what that earlier name would have been is difficult to say.
It is worth noting that the 1773 form GRUMGUTE is simply a misprint, although one which has led the Ploughing Up Our Past website to tentatively suggest that it means in Old Scots 'ground good'. See Ploughing Up Our Past: Grimgrew (farminginthecumnockarea.blogspot.com). But as can be seen that form was just a mistake.
RN
Grimgrew Cottages
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS533199
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 130m
Elements: en Grimgrew + SSE cottage
Description:
These are on the site of Grimgrew as shown on earlier maps. It first appears as Grimgrew Cottages on OS Explorer 327 (2001).
Grimgrew Plantation
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS532200
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 127m
Elements: en Grimgrew + SSE plantation
Description:
There are two plantations of this name on early OS maps. This one is a belt of trees which runs along the main Ayr-Cumnock road (A70). It is shown but not named on modern maps such as the OS Explorer.
Grimgrew Plantation
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS533194
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 165m
Elements: en Grimgrew + SSE plantation
Description:
There are two plantations of this name on early OS maps. This is the only one whose name has survived on modern maps such as the OS Explorer.
Guelt
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS636192
Certainty: 2
Altitude: 222m
Elements: Br welt
Description:
This may be Northern Brittonic *wel(t), modern Welsh gwellt ' 'grass, pasture’, a collective noun (BLITON under wel(t)). This follows Watson, who writes: 'Guelt, in Cumnock, is W[elsh] gwellt, O[ld].W[elsh]. guelt, grass, pasture’ (Watson 1926, 191). BLITON also makes the point that the final -t in names like this suggests relatively late formation.
The NGR is supplied by Nether Guelt, which appears as Guelt on OS 6 inch 2nd edn.
It is pronounced 'Gelt' /gεlt/ with gu as in 'guide'.
Guelt Centre Woods
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS636178
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 304m
Elements: en Guelt + SSE centre + SSE wood
Guelt Cottage
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS640189
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 231m
Elements: en Guelt + SSE cottage
Guelt Cottage Wood
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS642190
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 240m
Elements: en Guelt + SSE cottage + SSE wood
Guelt Lime Works (Disused)
New Cumnock (NCU), Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS664156
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 358m
Elements: en Guelt + SSE lime works
Description:
The presence of lime here is indicated by the name Lime Craigs shown around this area on Armstrong AYR map (1775).
Guelt Low Wood
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS646190
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 241m
Elements: en Guelt + SSE low + SSE wood
Guelt Pits (Coal)
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS645170
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 308m
Elements: en Guelt + SSE pit
Guelt Water
Auchinleck (AUK), New Cumnock (NCU), Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS646191
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 226m
Elements: en Guelt + SSE water
Description:
This river takes its name from the lands of Guelt in OCU, on its south and west side. It is a tributary of the Glenmuir Water, which it joins at Dalblair AUK.
Guelt West Wood
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS629178
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 291m
Elements: en Guelt + SSE west + SSE wood
Guelt Young Wood
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS639174
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 325m
Elements: en Guelt + SSE young + SSE wood
Guild Burn
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS669196
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 269m
Elements: Sc guil + Sc burn
Description:
DoST (https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/guld ) lists guild as a variant on guld, 'corn marigold', and notes many legal passages in which landowners and tenants are bidden to keep their lands free from it, e.g. ‘Tha sal do thar diligens … to wyn the land fra guld with wedying’ (citing Rental Book of the Cistercian Abbey of Cupar-Angus, with a breviary of the register Rogers, C. (ed.); GC, Edinburgh, 1879-80) A.1, 171. The OSNB entry on Guild Burn notes Jamieson’s reference to it as a ‘name given to the barberry’, but this seems unlikely.
Guildhall
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS627235
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 215m
Elements: Sc guil + Sc hall
Description:
Whilst this could be an ironic reference to Guildhall in England, it seems more likely to be one of the many Scottish place-names employing the generic hall ironically, with an unlikely and unpromising specific, in this case Sc guil, var. guild ‘the corn marigold’. ‘Guild Hall’ is thus probably a steading infested with this invasive weed.
Gullet Sike
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS525110
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 256m
Elements: Sc gullet + Sc syke
Description:
‘A syke or small sluggish stream flowing through a gully or narrow ravine’. The gully is probably that between Reeve Knowe and Green Knowe.
Sc gullet can also mean a narrow channel for catching fish, but that is unlikely here given that the watercourse it characterises is a syke or small, sluggish stream’.