River South Esk

River South Esk at Newbattle Abbey
©2022 Gazetteer for Scotland

River South Esk at Newbattle Abbey

A river of Midlothian, the South Esk rises at the southernmost extremity of the council area, on the western slopes of Blackhope Scar (651m / 2135 feet), the highest of the Moorfoot Hills. The river flows north through Gladhouse and Rosebery reservoirs, and through the village of Temple, before receiving the Redside Burn close to Arniston House. It is joined by the Gore Water and then the Dalhousie Burn, just to the west of Newtongrange, before passing Newbattle Abbey. It proceeds through Dalkeith before merging with the North Esk 1¼ miles (1.25 km) north northeast of Dalkeith Palace, on the border of East Lothian, having completed a course of 19 miles (30 km). The River Esk continues north northeast to enter the Firth of Forth at Musselburgh. Before the building of the Gladhouse Reservoir, the upper reaches of the river were known as the Gladhouse Burn or Gladhouse Water.


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