Cairn, a small river of Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbrightshire. It is formed, in the parish of Glencairn, by the confluence of the Castlefern, the Craigdarroch, and the Dalwhat burns, a little below the village of Moniaive; it runs about 6 miles south-eastward through the lower half of Glencairn parish; it then goes 1¾ mile southward along the boundary between Glencairn and Dunscore; it then receives, on its right bank, the tributary Glenessland Burn; it then runs 1½ mile, partly along the boundary between Dunscore and Holywood and partly across a narrow part of Holywood, to the boundary between Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbrightshire; it then runs nearly 2 miles east-south-eastward along that boundary to a confluence with the Cluden, coming in from Kirkcudbrightshire; and it thenceforth, over a distance of 5 miles eastward, to a confluence with the Nith, 1¼ mile N by W of Dumfries, bears the name of Cluden. Its entire length of course, from the sources of the Castlefern and the Dalwhat to the mouth of the Cluden, is about 23 miles. Its scenery, in most parts, is finely picturesque; and its waters, in their lower reaches, contain great store of excellent trout, some sea-trout and herlings, a few pike, and a tolerable quantity of a peculiar variety of salmon.—Ord. Sur., sh. 9,1863.
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