River Kelvin

Description of the River Kelvin

The River Kelvin rises near village of Banton. It flows for 22 miles before joining the Clyde in Glasgow at Partick. It is a rapidly improving river offering salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing. Angling is run over the whole catchment by the very active River Kelvin Angling Association.

Tributarues include: Chantyclear Burn, Shawend Burn, Garrel, Dock Water, Queenzie Burn, Cast Burn Board Burn,Glazert, Luggie, and Allander Water.

The water in this ditch - discoloured by ochre - can be seen to be flowing (slowly) out of an agricultural drainage pipe - draining the fields known as the 'Meadows' to Bantonians. This is the highest point of water that constitutes the burn then water and finally river Kelvin - it can safely then be claimed to be the modern source of that river. Bill Gracie, a life long Bantonian in his History of Banton, published in 1995 has this to say on the subject. "The river Kelvin rises in Banton from a marshy area near Lammerknowes (farm, now demolished) from where it flows beneath the tennis courts and the village before turning south and passing under the parish church grounds on its way to Kelvihead where it is piped under the A803."

Photo and info above © Copyright Robert Murray and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The River KelvinWest of Inchbelly Bridge. All meanders taken away in the cause of flood prevention. It leaves a canal in all but name.

Photo and info above © Copyright Robert Murray and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Confluence of Glazert and Kelvin watersJust north of the Kirkintilloch town centre. The Kelvin name carries the day after these two waters meet but a blind dog would notice that the Glazert is the major waterway and the Kelvin a tributary of it.

Photo and info above © Copyright Robert Murray and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

River Kelvin near the Cawder Golf Courses, Swift flowing river after much rain, on its course towards the Clyde.

Photo © Copyright Chris Heaton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

River Kelvin in spate and the remains of old railway bridge south of Kelvindale Road.

© Copyright Jim Smillie and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

River Kelvin under Great Western Bridge. With one of the locally common Giant Hogweeds just coming into flower. Warning do not touch these plants, they can cause severe skin irritation.

 Photo © Copyright Keith Edkins and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

The River Kelvin looking up river, close to the confluence with the Clyde at Riverside Museum.

Photo © Copyright Thomas Nugent and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

Fishing Links for the River Kelvin

• Campsie Angling Association The association manages Glazert Water a tributary of the River Kelvin for salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing as well as Whitefield Pond for brown trout. Memberships are available at very reasonable cost.
• Clyde River Foundation The Clyde River Foundation was founded in 1999 with the aim of improving understanding of all aspects of river management, and in particular to provide a permanent, professional fisheries science presence in the catchment.
• Friends of the River Kelvin Friends of the River Kelvin (FORK) is a society formed in 1991 to build public awareness and commitment to the care and maintenance of the Kelvin and its tributaries.
• River Kelvin Angling Association The club provides salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing on the River Kelvin in central Scotland.
• Urban Fly Fishing on the Kelvin A really nice introduction to the River Kelvin, with loads of tips and advice as well as a blog and forum.