River Eden

A historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, edited by Francis H. Groome and originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh between 1882 and 1885.

This edition is copyright © The Editors of the Gazetteer for Scotland, 2002-2022.

It has taken much time and money to make the six-volumes of Groome's text freely accessible. Please help us continue and develop by making a donation. If only one out of every ten people who view this page gave £5 or $10, the project would be self-sustaining. Sadly less than one in thirty-thousand contribute, so please give what you can.

Use the tabs on the right of this page to see other parts of this entry Arrow

Eden, a river of northern and north-eastern Fife, formed by the confluence of Carmore and Beattie Burns at Burnside, on the Kinross-shire border, 3 ¼ miles NE of Milnathort, and 3¾ WSW of Strathmiglo. Thence it runs through the parish of Strathmiglo; between the parishes of Auchtermuchty, Collessie, and Monimail on the left, of Falkland, Kettle, and Cults on the right; through the parish and past the town of Cupar; and between the parishes of Dairsie and Leuchars on the left, of Kemback and St Andrews on the right-till, at St Andrews Bay, it falls into the German Ocean. Its prevailing direction is first ENE, next E, next ESE, next and mainly, or from about the middle of its contact with Collessie, ENE. Its length of course, measured along the windings, is 29½ miles, viz., 17¾ from Burnside to Cupar Bridge, and 11¾ thence to Eden Mouth. Its tributaries are numerous, but all small. Its basin, for the most part, is a fine flat valley, of great fertility and highly cultivated, more beautiful than bold in natural features, and bearing the names of Stratheden and the Howe of Fife. Large portions of land on its banks were formerly devastated by its floods, but are now protected by canal cuts and embankments. From Burnside the total fall is only 300 feet; and the current throughout the greater part of its course, particularly below the town of Cupar, is very slow, yielding scanty water-power, but skilfully husbanded for driving mills. In spite of these mills, the Eden is a very fair trouting stream, but the ascent of salmon is hindered by various dams. Its lowest reaches, to the extent of 6 miles, are estuary, mostly left bare at the recess of the tide; and have, midway, extensive beds of cockles and mussels. The river might, at no great expense, be rendered navigable to Cupar.—Ord. Sur., shs. 40, 48, 49, 1865-68.

An accompanying 19th C. Ordnance Survey map is available, or use the map tab to the right of this page.

Note: This text has been made available using a process of scanning and optical character recognition. Despite manual checking, some typographical errors may remain. Please remember this description dates from the 1880s; names may have changed, administrative divisions will certainly be different and there are known to be occasional errors of fact in the original text, which we have not corrected because we wish to maintain its integrity. This information is provided subject to our standard disclaimer

If you have found this information useful please consider making
a donation to help maintain and improve this resource. More info...

By using our site you agree to accept cookies, which help us serve you better