List of Ayrshire place-names beginning with 'P'
Pakilly Burn
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS479031
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 169m
Palmerston
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS507200
Certainty: 2
Altitude: 135m
Elements: pn Palmer + Sc toun
Description:
‘Farm associated with an individual or family called Palmer’. In 1399 one ‘John Palmer’ (Johannem palmar’) was amongst a group of local notables who swore on oath that the patronage of the parish kirk of Ochiltree lay with Melrose Abbey (Melrose Lib. no. 517). It is possible that he is connected, if not directly with this place, then at least with the local family referred to in this place-name.
By the first edn OS map (1860) the lands of Palmerston had been divided into North and South. It is assumed that the original farm-steading was at North Palmerston, which is designated simply Palmerston on Johnson's map (1828), hence the NGR.
On the Roy map a short distance south-east of Palmerston is a settlement called Bare Belly, indicating a poor, unproductive place, a good example of a humorous, derogatory place-name so common in the 18th century.
Palmerston Mount
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS506197
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 148m
Elements: en Palmerston + SSE mount
Description:
A circular stand of trees on the lands of Palmerston, at the south-west end of Palmerston Plantation (q.v.), it still partially survives, with a dwelling house having been built into part of it.
Palmerston Plantation
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS509199
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 137m
Elements: en Palmerston + SSE plantation
Description:
A long rectangular stand of trees on the lands of Palmerston. it was already mostly gone by the 1950s and is no longer extant.
Palmsike Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS508122
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 297m
Elements: ? + Sc syke + SSE burn
Description:
The second element is Sc syke ‘a small sluggish stream, often running through boggy ground’ etc. The first element of this name is obscure. As Robert Guthrie points out: ‘There is nothing in the shape of the sike (or burn) to suggest the palm of the hand’ PALMSIKE BURN – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY.
Sc or SSE burn has been added possibly because syke was no longer understood or was no longer felt to express the nature of this feature.
The OS Name Book is no help in analysing this name, writing simply: ‘A Small Stream which flows into Black Water’ (OS1/3/49/43).
Pappet Hill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief, Vegetation
Grid reference: NS544146
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 360m
Elements: ? + Sc hill
Description:
The first element may originally have been the Scots past participle of the verb to prap (i.e. prappit), defined as ‘to mark (a boundary or the like) by means of a (series of) prap(s)’ or ‘to designate by landmarks’ (SND). Sc prap is ‘an object or objects, especially a heap of stones or peats, propped against one another, set up as a marker for a variety of purposes, specifically (1) as a land-mark or boundary-mark’ (SND). Pappet Hill lies close to the boundary between Old and New Cumnock, as the OS Name Book points out: ‘An eminence adjoining the parish Boundary between Old Cumnock and this parish [New Cumnock] - the top of which is planted’ (OS1/3/49/29).
Park
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS617122
Certainty: 2
Altitude: 215m
Elements: Sc park
Description:
'A piece of land enclosed for hunting'. Already by around 1600 it had become an agricultural area and was divided into two parts, *Over Park and *Nether Park'. These later became High Park and Laigh (Sc 'low') Park respectively and are now High Park and West Park Farm.
Park Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS671132
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 180m
Elements: Sc park + Sc burn
Description:
‘A burn running through or past a park’, a park being the standard Scots for an enclosed piece of land, above all a field’. It flows into the River Nith near the parish boundary between New Cumnock and Kirkconnel.
RN
Parrie Burn
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS486054
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 200m
Paterson's Well
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS656121
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 318m
Elements: pn Paterson + SSE well
Description:
It is probable that someone called Paterson was connected in some way with the New Cumnock Water Works. Nothing, not even a well, is marked here on the OS 6 inch 1st edn.
Pathhead
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS618144
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 200m
Elements: Sc peth + Sc heid
Description:
‘Head or top of a rising road or path’. Sc peth can refer to a very steep incline. However, in this case it is a fairly gentle one rising up from the River Nith. It is described in the OS Name Book as ‘one of the five villages of New Cumnock, the other four being Mansfield, Castle, Bridgend, and Couplagate (OS1/3/49/70). It lies on the north side of the town. Note that there was another Pathhead to the south of New Cumnock on the Afton Glen road, distinguished from this Pathhead by the affix wee. Wee Pathhead lay at the top of a very gentle slope.
Pathhead Colliery
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS622144
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 187m
Elements: en Pathhead + SSE colliery
Pathhead Colliery (No. 3 Pit)
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS613147
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 192m
Elements: en Pathhead + SSE colliery
Patna Bridge
Dalmellington (DAL), Straiton (STT)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS416106
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 156m
Elements: en Patna + SSE bridge
Description:
Crossing the River Doon to the east of Patna, from which it takes its name, this road bridge spans the River Doon. It crosses the parish boundary between the parishes of Straiton and Dalmellington. It is marked simply as Bridge on the OS 6 inch 2nd edn map, published in 1897.
The bridge is described in the c.1857 OS Name Book for Dalmellington parish as: 'A large stone county bridge - Besides the large main arch over the river there is a small arch through which a mill lade flows. It is in good repair' (OS1/3/21/9). The OS Name Book for Straiton parish, however, does not contain any detail about the smaller arch (see OS1/3/60/41).
Patna Bridge T.P.
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS416106
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 156m
Elements: en Patna Bridge + SSE turnpike
Patna Station
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS416109
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 169m
Elements: en Patna + SSE station
Patowl Burn
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS679193
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 273m
Elements: Br *pol or G poll + G toll or G tabhal
Description:
Although we do not have an early form to clarify this, it seems very likely that this is originally a name in pol-, like Polwhannan, Powharnal etc. The second element might be several things. Perhaps G toll ‘hole, cavity, crevice’, though this would need to be gen. pl. e.g. *Poll Toll ‘the burn of the cavities’—the burn does go through a ravine before flowing into the Glenmuir Water. Or perhaps G tabhal ‘horsefly, gadfly, cleg’ (gen. pl., so *Poll Tabhal ‘Cleg Burn’.).
Peat Burn
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS517024
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 329m
Elements: SSE peat + SSE burn
Peat Hill
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS634242
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 241m
Elements: SSE peat + SSE hill
Description:
OSNB notes that this was ‘a prominent hill…recently planted [with trees.]’ and that the ‘name [is] well known’. The plantation, known as Boghead Wood, is visible on the OS 6 inch 2nd edn, but the whole site is now affected by opencast.
Peat Hill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS555098
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 377m
Elements: SSE peat + SSE hill
Peat Hill
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS636188
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 262m
Elements: SSE peat + SSE hill
Peat Moss
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS718177
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 374m
Elements: SSE peat + SSE moss
Peat Sike
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS533120
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 236m
Elements: Sc peat + Sc syke
Description:
‘A sluggish burn flowing through peaty ground’.
Peat Syke
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS703201
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 305m
Elements: SSE peat + SSE syke
Peat Syke
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS647188
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 237m
Elements: SSE peat + SSE syke
Peddinnan Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS539083
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 327m
Elements: Br *pol or G poll + SSE burn
Description:
The first element of Peddinnan is possibly Brittonic *pol or Gaelic poll, both of which in this part of Scotland mean ‘a burn’. The second element is obscure. It is described in the OS Name Book simply as: ‘A Rivulet flowing through a deep rocky Glen, into the Nith on the south side of Knipe Hill’ (OS1/3/49/147).
Peden's Cave
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Antiquity
Grid reference: NS488236
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 85m
Elements: pn Peden + SSE cave
Description:
'Cave associated with the famous Covenanter Alexander Peden'.
OS Name Book: ‘This Cave is evidently artificial, as the marks of the chisel or other instrument used in the hollowing of it out, are quite visible. Cut in a solid freestone rock which rises about 20 feet perpendicular from the water edge. The bottom of the cave is about 10 feet above the bed of the river, 6 feet high, 4 wide and about 8 long. The only way of access to it is from the top by 6 steps each 15 inch apart cut in the rock. It is generally supposed by the people of the neighbourhood that the prophet Peden lay concealed here for some time, from which circumstance the name is derived. Alexander Peden was born in 1626 and having become one of the Covenanting Ministers of the Church of Scotland (from 1666 to 1686) had occasion to secrete himself from the violence of the times. There is also a cave in the Parish of Sorn which he caused to be dug, and in which he was in the habit of hiding himself’ (OS1/3/51/1/7).
There is also a Peden’s Cave in Craigie parish (OS1/3/18/10), and a Pedens Hut in Straiton parish (STT).
See also https://canmore.org.uk/site/42751/pedens-cave-auchinbay
RN
Peesweip Row
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS589214
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 166m
Elements: Sc pees-weep + SSE row
Description:
This row of workers’ cottages attached to the Lugar Ironworks was subsumed first into the works themselves, and then later into the town of Lugar. The name is preserved in the current street-name Peesweep Brae.
It is possible that it took its name from an earlier dwelling place of which there’s no other trace. However, note definition 4 under ‘pees-weep’ in the Scottish National Dictionary: ‘A miner's singlet, usu. of blue-grey flannel, like a lapwing's wings (Fif. 1965)’. It may be worth considering whether the name of the row had to do with industry rather than birdlife.
RN
Penbreck
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS723194
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 343m
Elements: G peighinn or G beinn + G breac
Description:
This name is certainly Gaelic, and the second element is very clearly breac ‘speckled, mottled’, but the early forms are variable and make it hard to be certain what the first element is. Given this first appears as a settlement name, and that forms in pen-, pin- etc predominate, it is probably peighinn ‘pennyland; an estate originally valued at one silver penny’, a unit of land measure familiar from other names in the area. However, given it also is present in the name of a hill (Penbreck Rig, q.v.) ,and that we see a number of forms in Ben-, Ban-, beinn ‘hill’ is also possible, in which case the settlement will have taken its name from the topographical feature.
RN
Penbreck Burn
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS726198
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 363m
Elements: en Penbreck + SSE burn
Penbreck Limeworks
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS726197
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 357m
Elements: en Penbreck + SSE lime works
Penbreck Rig
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS723201
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 403m
Elements: en Penbreck + Sc rig
Pencloe
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS618094
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 266m
Elements: G peighinn or Br pen + ?
Description:
The first element is either G peighinn ‘a pennyland’ or, less likely, Br *pen ‘a head’ in the sense of a hill or the head/end of a feature’. The farm-steading lies at the end of the long northern slope of Meikle Hill near the north end of Glen Afton. Names with the element *pen are, however, rare in the area in contrast to those with peighinn. It is not listed as a possible *pen-name in Alan James’s Brittonic Language in the Old North (BLITON).
Penniquite Burn
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS529066
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 366m
Pennyarthur
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS481049
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 232m
Pennyarthur Rigg
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS485038
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 284m
Elements: en Pennyarthur + Sc rig
Pennyfadzeoch
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS525203
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 113m
Elements: G peighinn + G fòideach
Description:
‘A pennyland characterised by turf, divots or peat.’ The first element, G peighinn ‘a penny(land)’, has been translated or adapted to Sc penny ‘a pennyland’, an old unit of land valued at a silver penny. The second element is very likely fòideach, an adjective from G fòid ‘clod, peat, turf, sod’ (Dwelly). There are alternative forms fàd and fàideach, which account for the a in most form of the name.
Pennyfadzeoch Ds
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS527202
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 115m
Elements: en Pennyfadzeoch + SSE D
Description:
Marked clearly in red, but not named, on Roy's mid-eighteenth-century map, these two semicircular parts of a plantation shaped like two back-to-back letter Ds, sit in a west-east alignment with the site of Taringzean Castle. They are described in the OS Name Book a century later as: 'Two small portions of semicircular plantation so called - on the farm of Pennyfadzeoch property of the Marquis of Bute' (OS1/3/52/20). They are similar in shape and name to the Ds, a plantation which sits on the same alignment towards Taringzean Castle.
Pennyland
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS541214
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 126m
Elements: Sc pennyland
Description:
‘A cottage and garden the property of the Marquis of Bute occupied by David Murdoch’ (who was one of the informants for the name, the others being Rev. Chrystal and Sir James Boswell) (OS1/3/3/77).
Pennyland Mount
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief, Vegetation
Grid reference: NS544214
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 135m
Elements: en Pennyland + SSE mount
Description:
‘A Small oval hill plantation having a conspicuous appearance about 15 chains East of Pennyland Marquis of Bute Proprietor’ (OS1/3/3/77).
Pennyland Plantation
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS548214
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 137m
Elements: en Pennyland + SSE plantation
Pennymore
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS488218
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 143m
Elements: G peighinn + G mòr
Description:
‘Big pennyland’. G peighinn ‘a penny’ has been translated or adapted to Sc penny ‘a pennyland’, an old unit of land valued at a silver penny. There are several other place-names in the region using the element peighinn ‘pennyland’, though this is the only one surviving in Ochiltree. Stamley (q.v.) originally began with this element.
Pennyvenie
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS492068
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 227m
Pennyvenie Bridge
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS498069
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 224m
Elements: en Pennyvenie + SSE bridge
Description:
One of a number of bridges which carry the main road (B741) from Dalmellington to New Cumnock, Pennyvenie Bridge crosses Pennyvenie Burn between the settlements of Glenview and Clawfin.
Pennyvenie Burn
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS499068
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 222m
Elements: en Pennyvenie + SSE burn
Pennyvenie Colliery (No. 1 Pit)
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS495068
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 229m
Elements: en Pennyvenie + SSE colliery
Description:
Pennyvenie Colliery began in 1868 with its No. 1 coal pit. This pit stopped in 1908. A further six mines and pits are listed by Smith, the final one No. 7 started in 1946 (Smith 1967, 239-40).
Pennyvenie Colliery (No. 2 & 3 Pits)
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS487068
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 221m
Elements: en Pennyvenie + SSE colliery
Description:
Pennyvenie No. 2 coal pit started in 1881 and was 88 fathoms deep. No. 3 coal pit dates from 1881 until c.1960 at a depth of 39 fathoms (Smith 1967, 239).
Pennyvenie Colliery began in 1868 with its No. 1 coal pit (which was to stop work in 1908). A further six mines and pits are listed by Smith, the final one No. 7 started in 1946 (ibid., 239-40).
Pennyvenie Cottage
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS488067
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 212m
Elements: en Pennyvenie + SSE cottage
Pennyvenie Glen
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS499073
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 258m
Elements: en Pennyvenie + SSE glen
Pepper Hill
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS719211
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 498m
Elements: en *Papert + Sc hill
Description:
This has nothing to do with pepper, as is clear from the early forms. It belongs to a widespread group of similar names in southern Scotland such as Pappert Hill DNB and LAN, Pappert Law SLK and Paperthill # FIF. W. J. Watson suggests that such names probably have British (Brittonic) *perth ‘woodland, copse, grove’ as their latter part (1926, 357), and he is followed in this by Nicolaisen 1976 [2001], 164. It may perhaps be compared with Panbarthill (1574 RMS iv no. 2188) near Hedderwick, Dunbar parish ELO, which Watson also suggests contains *perth, combined with British (Brittonic) *pant ‘hollow’ (ibid., 374). It is noticeable, however, that most if not all these pap(p)ert/panbart-names are found in combination with a Sc generic (hill or law), which should cause us to think twice before going too readily down the Celtic route. For more discussion on this type of name, as well as names which do contain 'pepper', see PNF 5 Elements Glossary under pepper.
RN
Pettyconshiel Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS643048
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 439m
Elements: ? + SSE burn
Pickan's Dyke
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Antiquity
Grid reference: NS485061
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 245m
Pike Fall
Dalmellington (DAL), Straiton (STT)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS477018
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 207m
Elements: SSE pike + SSE fall
Pine Hurst
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS451199
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 128m
Elements: SSE pine + SSE hurst
Description:
A dwelling built sometime around 1950 adjacent to the farm of Shield, the name was presumably created at the time.
Piperhill
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS483164
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 221m
Elements: Sc piper or pn Piper + SSE hill
Description:
'A hill associated with a piper (presumably a bagpiper) or with a person or family called Piper'? It is not certain whether Pypertoun is the same place as Piperhill. Even if not the same place, there is very likely a close connection between the two names, not least because both form, or formed, part of the lands of Polquhairn. However, the forms Pipperhill and Peperhill throw some doubt on the first element being piper/Piper.
The OS Name Book makes the point that there is no corresponding relief feature called Piper Hill: ‘A farmsteading dwelling & outhouses one storey all slated & in good repair. John Pettigrew Wilson Esqr. proprietor. No hill bearing the same appelation [sic]’ (OS1/3/51/1/60).
Pittairn Burn
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS631191
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 218m
Elements: G poll or Br pol + ? + SSE burn
Description:
The first element of this name is probably G pol 'a burn', a word which ultimately derives from a NBr equivalent *pol. Although we only have very recent forms, other local burn names in Pit-, Pat- etc. more clearly have pol as their first element. The second element is obscure, but it is likely to have begun with t.
The OSNB (OS1/3/52/112) in 1855-57 noted: "This Stream flows from its source near Airds Hill in a Northerly direction to its Junction with Glenmore Water a little East of Guelt Plantation."
RN
Plaid
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS488178
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 167m
Elements: Sc plaid
Description:
If this is Sc plaid ‘a length of cloth, ? in a certain ( ? twilled) weave, and in single or double width; a plaid’ (DOST), then its application as a place-name is unclear.
It is uncertain where the original settlement-centre of Plaid was. For this reason the approximate NGR is of a point approximately half way between High Plyde and Laigh Plaid.
Plaid Loch
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS485185
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 149m
Elements: en Plaid + Sc loch
Description:
This loch on the lands of the farm of Plaid was once much more extensive than it currently is: compare the two OS 6 inch maps of 1860 v. 1897.
Plantainside
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS592201
Certainty: 2
Altitude: 186m
Elements: SSE plantain + SSE side
Description:
‘A hill-side characterised by plantain’. The two most appropriate meanings of SSE plantain are: a) any of various low-growing plants constituting the genus Plantago (family Plantaginaceae), the most common being ribwort; b) a plane tree (Oxford English Dictionary). Alternatively plantain is the name of the small burn, unnamed on OS maps, so side means ‘side of a water-course’.
The name is only recorded in Plantainside Bridge and Plantainside Smithy.
Plantainside Br.
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS591200
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 181m
Elements: en Plantainside + SSE bridge
Plantainside Smithy
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS592201
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 186m
Elements: en Plantainside + SSE smithy
Pley Knowe
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS592224
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 182m
Elements: Sc plea + Sc knowe
Description:
This name contains Sc pley 'a plea', which may indicate the site of a local court of justice. In the OSNB all three sources consulted by the OS surveyors gave the name as Plea Knowe (an estate map, Sir James Boswell and Mr Wallace), so it is not clear why Pley- was chosen as the map-name. It is described there as follows: 'This name is well Known but the origin of the name is obscure it is a Small elevated Know a little North of where Craigston Burn Commences' (OS1/3/3/67).
Plotcock
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS479223
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 132m
Elements: Sc plotcock
Description:
Sc plotcok, later plotcock is a sobriquet for the Devil (DOST and SND). If this is indeed the origin of the name, it does not reflect well on the character and reputation of whoever lived here at some time before it first appears in the record in 1586. There is another Plotcock, in Lanarkshire, cf. Plotock Castle (https://www.trove.scot/place/45728#details ).
Pluck
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS533187
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 170m
Elements: G pluc
Description:
'A small, pimple-like hill'.
Pluck Bridge
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS533188
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 167m
Elements: en Pluck + SSE bridge
Description:
A road bridge over Back Burn, it takes its name from the settlement of Pluck.
Pochriegavin Burn
Carsphairn (CPH), Dalmellington (DAL), New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS567038
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 318m
Elements: G poll + G crìoch + G gamhainn + SSE burn
Description:
‘Border burn of year-old calves or stirks’. While the first and last elements are certainly G poll ‘a burn’ and G gamhainn ‘year-old calf, stirk’, the middle element is less certain. It may be G crìoch ‘a border or boundary’, which is made more likely by the fact that it forms the boundary between Ayrshire and Kirkcudbrightshire for much of its course. The -gaun/-gown forms clearly reflect the local pronunciation in the 19th century.
The burn rises in Dalmellington parish and is spelled Pougherygown Burn on the OS 1st and 2nd edns as it flows through that parish.
Polcalk Burn
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS537206
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 96m
Elements: G poll + G cailc + SSE burn
Description:
‘Burn characterised by or associated with limestone or chalk’, the second element probably G cailc (f.), OG cailc (f.) ‘limestone, lime’. There are several ‘Old Quarries’ at its source, marked as such on OS 6 inch 1st edn). It has still to be established whether any of them are limestone. Local knowledge needed.
Polcalk Wood
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS540196
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 150m
Elements: en Polcalk + SSE wood
Poldive Burn
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS721193
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 341m
Elements: G poll + G damh + SSE burn
Description:
The Gaelic name would be *Poll Daimh (pronounced as the current name).
The first element is either Br *pol or G poll, both meaning 'burn', a very common element in south-west Scotland. In Auchinleck parish alone there are four burns with this element: Poldive Burn, Poldownie Burn, Polwhannan Burn and Powharnal Burn. The second element of Poldive is very likely to be the G element damh 'ox or stag', so 'burn of the ox or stag'. There are numerous similar names in the Highlands, using the name Allt an Daimh, also 'burn of the ox or stag'.
Poldownie Burn
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS700200
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 303m
Elements: G poll + G dùnadh + SSE burn
Description:
The first element is G poll, meaning 'burn', a very common element in south-west Scotland,and ultimately derived from NBr *pol ‘burn’. In Auchinleck parish alone there are four or five burns with this element: Poldive Burn, Poldownie Burn, Polwhannan Burn and Powharnal Burn, and probably also Patowl Burn.
The second element may be OG dúnad (ScG dùnadh) ‘encampment’, or perhaps OG dúnad ‘obstruction’, cf. ScG dùnadh ‘shutting, closure’. There are other possibilities, however, for instance G domhain ‘deep; deep place’ (with genitive doimhne), which might well suit the terrain of this burn which flows through a ravine.
RN
Polga Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS585077
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 342m
Elements: Br pol or G poll + G gall + SSE burn
Description:
The first element is clearly Br pol or G poll ‘a burn’. It is just possible that the second element is G gall ‘a freestanding stone, rock or boulder'. In a photograph taken by Chris Wimbush https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/209448I, a medium-sized boulder is shown right beside this small burn in otherwise featureless upland pasture, and it may well be the gall referred to in the name (thanks to Robert Guthrie for pointing this out).
Guthrie also points out that the 1772 form spelled with double a (Polgaa) suggests that the name was stressed on the second syllable, so /pɔl’ga:/ or
or /pʌl’ga/.
.
Polhigh Burn
New Cumnock (NCU), Kirkconnel (KCL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS672091
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 402m
Elements: Br pol or G poll + un ? + SSE burn
Description:
While the first element is clearly Br *pol or G poll ‘a burn’, the second element is obscure. The OS Name Book suggestion that it is ciar ‘dark’ (see below) simply does not work.
This burn flows from New Cumnock AYR into Kirkconel DMF. The OS Name Book for Dumfriesshire is a lot more forthcoming than its Ayrshire counterpart. It has: ‘A considerable stream having its source in the County of Ayr and falling into Polstacher shortly after passing through the County Boundary’. It then adds: ‘Probable roots of the name "poll" stream and "ciar", dusky "the dusky stream"’. At the end of these remarks there is a note in red which reads: ‘There is a Hill on the Ayrshire side of the Boundary called "Polhigh Hill" by which this stream flows’. Furthermore, three of the informants give this name as ‘Polchie Burn pronounced Pikkie’ (OS1/10/30/215). This suggests that locally the stress was on the first syllable.
Polhigh Hill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS666089
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 508m
Elements: en Polhigh (Burn) + SSE hill
Poljorg Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS658061
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 481m
Elements: G poll + G dearg + SSE burn
Description:
‘Red burn’? If, as is likely, this contains G dearg ‘red’, it will require investigation on the ground to establish what is red about it. It runs into Earlseat Burn, which is a tributary of the Kello Water. A small tributary of this burn is called Little Poljorg Burn.
Pollach
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS628090
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 251m
Elements: G poll + ?
Description:
The first element of this name is G poll 'a burn'. The second element is more difficult. While the ending -ach is a relatively common G place-name forming suffix, both the early forms and the modern local pronunciation seem to rule this out, suggesting rather an original -osh (G -ois). This is reflected in the local pronunciation -osh. Furthermore it bears the stress, so /pɔ’lɔʃ/ (poLOSH) (Robert Guthrie pers. comm.).
The OS Name Book (1857) describes it simply as: ‘A shepherd's house, occupied by George Hyslop, herd, of Lochingirroch’. Hyslop is one of the 3 informants, all of whom give Polloch as the form of the name. The same (?) hand has added in red ink: ‘Pollach - Lumpish - stupid - Gaelic Dictionary’ (OS1/3/49/167).
See POLLACH, POLLACH BURN – NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY for more discussion and photographs.
Pollach Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS628087
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 246m
Elements: en Pollach + Sc burn
Pollachie Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS641054
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 375m
Elements: G poll + G -ach + G -in SSE burn
Description:
'A small burn'? There is little doubt that the first element is G poll 'a burn', while the rest of the name seems to consist of one or more suffixes, perhaps in this case acting as a diminutive. It is certainly a very small burn, a tributary of the Craig Burn. A waterfall is marked on the OS 6 inch map near its mouth.
Polmarlach Burn
Kirkconnel (KCL), New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS730185
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 350m
Elements: G poll + G mèirleach + SSE burn
Description:
'Thief burn'.
Polmath Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS538104
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 251m
Elements: Br *pol or G poll + Sc burn
Description:
While the first element of this name is either Br *pol or G poll meaning ‘a burn’, the second element is obscure. The burn gave its name to a settlement, now lost.
RN
Polmathburn Bridge
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS544099
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 310m
Elements: en Polmath Burn + SSE bridge
Description:
The bridge is one of a number which carry the main road (B741) from Dalmellington to New Cumnock. It spans the Polmath Burn, from which it takes its name.
Polnaskie Bridge
Carsphairn (CPH), Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS515006
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 290m
Elements: en Polnaskie (Burn) + SSE bridge
Description:
This road bridge crosses the Polnaskie Burn on the parish and county boundary between Dalmellington in Ayrshire and Carsphairn in Kirkcudbrightshire.
The OS Name Book for Dalmellington parish of c.1856 spells the name as Punaskie Bridge, describing it as: 'A small but substantial stone Bridge of one arch over Punaskie Burn on the Turnpike road from Ayr to Dumfries and on the County Boundary between Ayr and Kirkcudbright - It is the highest Bridge on the road or rather this is the highest point of the road between Ayr and Dumfries' (OS1/3/21/130). Four informants plus an 'Estate plan of Balbeth' (Barbeth?) confirm the spelling of the name as Punaskie Bridge. However, a note states: 'Polnaskie Bridge adopted on the Decimal Plans to agree with the 6 inch Plan' (ibid.). The earlier OS Name Book for Carsphairn parish, dated c.1850, gives the name as Polnaskie Bridge (see OS1/20/6/5 and OS1/20/6/38).
Polnaskie Burn
Carsphairn (CPH), Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS514005
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 293m
Polnessan Burn
Dalmellington (DAL), Dalrymple (DRL)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS417116
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 149m
Elements: Br pol or G poll +
Description:
A full analysis will follow. This entry, like many in Dalmellington, is still a work in progress.
Polnessan Lower Bridge
Dalrymple (DRL)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS417116
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 149m
Elements: en Polnessan + SSE lower + SSE bridge
Description:
This is one of two bridges to cross the Polnessan Burn that are shown on both the OS 6 inch 1st and 2nd edn maps. This one lay closer to the River Doon and lower down the slope than Polnessan Upper Bridge, hence the use of the adjective lower in its name. It lay just inside Dalrymple parish in contrast to Polnessan Upper Bridge which was in Dalmellington parish.
Although the name is included in the OS Name Book for Dalmellington parish with a full entry, a note beneath it states: 'This bridge is in the Parish of Dalrymple' (OS1/3/21/4). The OS Name Book for Dalrymple records the bridge as: 'A small county bridge stone - one arch - in good repair built over Ponessan [sic] Burn near its junction with the Doon River on the road from Dalmellington to Ayr' (OS1/3/22/58).
Polnessan Upper Bridge
Dalmellington (DAL)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS419116
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 173m
Elements: en Polnessan + SSE upper + SSE bridge
Description:
This is one of two bridges to cross the Polnessan Burn that are shown on both the OS 6 inch 1st and 2nd edn maps. It is named in contrast to Polnessan Lower Bridge, which lay just inside the parish of Dalrymple, further down the slope and closer to the River Doon. The adjective upper in the name of this bridge reflects its higher position.
It is described in the OS Name Book for Dalmellington parish as: 'A small - one arch stone bridge - County. on the old county road from Dalmellington to Ayr. It is in good repair' (OS1/3/21/3).
Polnood *
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS523199
Certainty: 2
Altitude: 119m
Elements: G poll + G nuadh
Description:
‘The new burn’? The first element is probably the very common Gaelic poll (deriving from Br pol) meaning ‘a burn’ in south-west Scotland, of which there are many in the study area. The second element is less certain, but G nuadh ‘new’ might result in the form we have here. For comparison, one might note Allt Nuadh in Kirkmichael parish in Banffshire.
What might be ‘new’ about the burn in question is unclear, but then it is not completely certain what is being referred to. The name survives only in a different name, that of a wood which lies along the banks of the Coachford Burn. This being the case, ‘Polnood’ may have been the older name of the Coachford Burn itself. Its current name is clearly linguistically later, and derives from an early modern aspect of the burn, so it is likely to have had an earlier name.
The approximate NGR is roughly the central part of the wood on the west bank of the Coachford Burn.
Polnood Wood
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS523199
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 116m
Elements: en Polnood + SSE wood
Description:
This wood is shown but not named on OS 6 inch 1st edn (1860), the name Polnood Wood first appearing on OS 6 inch 2nd edn. It is likely to have taken its name from a feature called *Polnood OCH, which see.
Polquhairn
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS473161
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 187m
Elements: G poll + G càrn
Description:
‘A burn associated with a cairn or burial mound’. The eponymous burn is probably what is today the Drumbowie Burn. The original central place of the extensive lands of Polquhairn was presumably Old Polquhairn, c.1km south-east of the modern farmsteading of Polquhairn, and it is therefore somewhere in its vicinity that the eponymous cairn or burial mound (tumulus) was situated. All the early references to Polquhairn will be to Old Polquhairn.
The late forms beginning with Dal- can be assumed to have arisen from an error on Armstrong’s map of 1775 which was then replicated on maps derived from it. The same error is found on these same maps in the name Old Polquhairn.
As can be seen from the 1625 charter (RMS viii no. 926) the lands of Polquhairn were divided up into several different units: Bonnyton, Muirston, Lochhill (or Lochhoill), *Barquhassanhill, Woltoun, *Whitefarding and Glen. The 1642 Retour (Retours AYR no. 362) adds a further two divisions, namely Greenside and Richardston # (marked as such on Roy map). Bonnyton was also known as Wester Polquhairn (see under Bonnyton for more details).
Polquhap
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS585162
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 200m
Elements: G poll + ?
Description:
Originally a burn-name, presumably the older name for the Shield Burn beside which the farm of Polquhap lies. The letter-combination quh, now usually pronounced as wh as in Scots and Scottish Standard English ‘whale’, often represents earlier ch as in ‘loch’. This would suggest that the second element was cap (m.) ‘a cup’ (a loan-word from English cup), also, rarely, ‘a cart’ (Dwelly), from OG capp (f.) ‘a cart, tumbril’ (DIL); or G càpa (m.) ‘a cap, a top’ (Dwelly), also a loan-word from English.
Polquheys
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS619150
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 209m
Elements: G poll + G còs or G cas
Description:
‘(The) foot- or leg-burn’? ‘Burn characterised by crevices or hollows’? While the generic element is clearly the frequently found G poll ‘a burn’, the second element is less clear. It may be G cas f. (genitive singular coise) ‘a foot, a leg’, so G *Poll Choise, although as a feminine noun you would not expect lenition of c i.e. the c going to ch, the sound which was later spelled quh. The eponymous burn (i.e. the burn which which gave rise to the name) must be the Muirfoot Burn, which probably formed the eastern boundary of the land of Polquheys. There may therefore have been a feature of the burn which resembled a foot or leg. Robert Guthrie writes that the burn has what you might call a dog-leg shape in its upper reaches (pers. comm.).
Another possibility for the second element is G còs m. (genitive singular còis) 1. ‘a hollow, crevice, recess;’ 2. ‘a cavern, cave’ (Dwelly), from OG cúas ‘cúas ‘hollow; cavity; cave’, so G *Poll Chòis. As a masculine noun the lenition of c to ch is more regular. Robert Guthrie writes that the burn cuts through the land creating a crevice-like landscape with the parts of the eastern banks considerably higher in altitude than the west bank’ (pers. comm.).
Polquhirter
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS630130
Certainty: 2
Altitude: 195m
Elements: G poll + G cruitear
Description:
‘Burn associated with a harper or harpers; or with a person or family called (Mac)Whirter’. If the former, it would be in Gaelic Poll Chruiteir or the like. For more on the personal name, see Black 1946 (Surnames) under Macchruiter, from which Macwhirter has developed. A cruitear someone who plays the cruit (OG crott or cruitt) ‘a harp, lyre’, presumably professionally.
The NGR is of West Polquhirter, which appears as O[ver]. Polwhyrtyr on Blaeu (Kyle) (1654) but simply as Polwhirter on Armstrong AYR (1775) and Ainslie (1821).
Polquhirter Bridge
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS631131
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 193m
Elements: en Polquhirter + SSE bridge
Description:
This road bridge, carrying the main road (A76) from New Cumnock to Kirkconnel, crosses over Polquhirter Burn at the east end of West Polquhirter.
Polquhirter Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS634134
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 182m
Elements: en Polquhirter + Sc burn
Polquhirter Cottage
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS630130
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 195m
Elements: en Polquhirter + SSE cottage
Polshill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS650130
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 223m
Elements: Br pol or G poll + ?
Description:
The first element of this name is Br *pol or G poll ‘a burn’, referring to what is now the Garepool Burn, formerly the *Polshill Burn (Poulshell b. 1654 Blaeu (Kyle)), which runs right past the farm-steading of Polshill. The second element is obscure.
Polshill Bridge
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Other
Grid reference: NS652129
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 231m
Elements: en Polshill + SSE bridge
Description:
This road bridge, carrying the main road (A76) from New Cumnock to Kirkconnel over the Garepool Burn, is situated to the south of Polshill, from which it takes its name.
RN
Polstacher Burn
Kirkconnel (KCL), New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS687090
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 362m
Elements: Br *pol or G poll + ? + SSE burn
Description:
The first element is Br *pol or G poll ‘a burn’, despite the Johnson form. The second element is obscure.
Polwhannan Burn
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS703200
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 300m
Elements: G poll + G conan + SSE burn
Description:
The first element is G poll, meaning 'burn', a very common element in south-west Scotland,and ultimately derived from NBr *pol ‘burn’. In Auchinleck parish alone there are four or five burns with this element: Poldive Burn, Poldownie Burn, Polwhannan Burn and Powharnal Burn, and probably also Patowl Burn.
The second element may perhaps be Gaelic conan ‘quaking grass’ (genus briza); the Gaelic name would be *Poll Chonain; Gaelic ch- is often represented in names in Scots spelling as wh- or quh-.
Polwhannan Hill
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS701210
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 411m
Elements: en Polwhannan + SSE hill
Pool
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS496212
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 154m
Elements: Sc puil or SSE pool
Description:
Apparently a place associated with a small pool of water, though there is no sign of such a feature on earlier maps or at present. It seems to have functioned as a cottage rather than a separate farm, from the second half of the 19th century. In the OS Name Books it is described as ‘A Cothouse’ (OS1/3/51/1).
Russell McNab, in his discussion of the farm of Cawhillan on the Ploughing up the Past website (https://farminginthecumnockarea.blogspot.com/search/label/Cawhillan), discusses ‘The Pill Pad (a narrow walking path) starts at the top of the Cawhillan road and runs from the junction south eastwards to the village of Ochiltree along the lands of Watston Farm on the south west and Hill of Ochiltree on the north east, passing Pill Cottage, and into Broom Crescent in the village. The Pill Pad is about 1.25 Km in length. Pill here clearly represents the local pronunciation of Pool. The term pad is Scots for ‘path’.
Porter's Burn
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS656185
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 248m
Elements: SSE porter or pn Porter + SSE burn
Description:
Difficult to know if this is named from someone with the job of being a porter, or from someone’s surname.
Porter's Burn Rig
Auchinleck (AUK)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS664182
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 304m
Elements: en Porter's Burn + Sc rig
Pottery Row
Old Cumnock (OCU)
Classification: Settlement
Grid reference: NS570198
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 128m
Elements: SSE pottery + SSE row
Description:
‘A row of cottages so called adjoining Pottery, name popularly known’ (OS1/3/52/39). The Pottery itself is marked on the OS map and according to the OS Name Book belonged to the Marquis of Bute, was run by James Nicol, and specialised in coarse earthenware (OS1/3/52/32).
Pougherygown Burn
Carsphairn (CPH), Dalmellington (DAL), New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS540042
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 395m
Description:
This is simply a different spelling of Pochriegavin Burn, Dalmellington/New Cumnock/Carsphairn parishes (DAL/NCU/CPH). It is applied to the upper reaches of that burn as it flows through Dalmellington parish. For full details, see under Pochriegavin Burn.
Powharnal Burn
Auchinleck (AUK), Muirkirk (MUK)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS650262
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 192m
Elements: G poll + G carnal + SSE burn
Description:
The first element is G poll, meaning 'burn', a very common element in south-west Scotland,and ultimately derived from NBr *pol ‘burn’. In Auchinleck parish alone there are four or five burns with this element: Poldive Burn, Poldownie Burn, Polwhannan Burn and Powharnal Burn, and probably also Patowl Burn. The second element may be G carnal ‘heap’ (Dwelly, carnal ‘small heap of stones’; OG: DIL carnail ‘heap, freq of bodies, carnage’). The Gaelic name would then have been *Poll Charnail ‘burn of the stone heap’; or perhaps *Poll Charnal, ‘burn of the stone heaps’, with genitive plural. Gaelic ch- is often represented in names in Scots spelling as wh- or quh-.
This burn in part formed the boundary between Auchinleck and Muirkirk. Most of the burn has gone under opencast; however, a portion remains between the Auchinleck-Muirkirk road and where the burn flows into the River Ayr.
Powkelly Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS537078
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 314m
Elements: G poll + G coille + SSE burn
Description:
‘Wood-burn; a burn which runs through or past woodland’? G coille ‘a wood, woodland’ often becomes -kelly in place-names adopted and adapted by Scots-speakers.
Prickeny Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS556041
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 355m
Elements: en Prickeny + SSE burn
Description:
The name Prickeny is obscure. It is not even certain whether it originally referred to a burn or a hill, as it flows past Prickeny Hill nearby. Given its upland situation, it is unlikely that it originally referred to a settlement.
It is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘‘A rivulet rising between Logan and Enoch Hills, and running in a southerly direction unites with Pochriegann Burn, the Parish Boundary [with Carsphairn KCB]’ (OS1/3/49/149).
A noteable feature of this burn is that it rises only a few yards from the source of the Nith. This short distance represents an important water-shed, with the Nith flowing north and the Prickeny Burn flowing south into the Water of Deugh, the Water of Ken and ultimately the River Dee.
Prickeny Hill
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Relief
Grid reference: NS543054
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 507m
Elements: en Prickeny + SSE hill
Description:
The name Prickeny is obscure. It is not even certain whether it originally referred to a burn or a hill, as Prickeny Hill lies immediately west of Prickeny Burn. Given its upland situation, it is unlikely that it originally referred to a settlement.
It is described in the OS Name Book as: ‘An eminence South of Drumbrush Rig and near the parish Boundary’ (OS1/3/49/149).
Provost Mount
Ochiltree (OCH)
Classification: Vegetation
Grid reference: NS476198
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 149m
Elements: SSE provost + SSE mount
Description:
A circular stand of trees. The trees are no longer extant, but the circular feature remains as the site of a dwelling house of the same name.
Pumarleuch Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS534118
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 246m
Elements: G poll + G mèirleach + SSE burn
Description:
‘Thief burn’? If this is the correct analysis, then it is one of two burns of this name in the parish, the other being Polmarlach Burn, about 11 miles (17km) to the north-east.
Purreoch Burn
New Cumnock (NCU)
Classification: Water
Grid reference: NS588081
Certainty: 1
Altitude: 350m
Elements: ? + SSE burn
Description:
While Purreoch looks like a Gaelic name, its derivation is obscure. It is a tiny burn which flows into the Connel Water.