River Lowther

For other uses, see Lowther (disambiguation).

Lowther
The River Lowther where it joins the River Eamont close to Brougham Castle
Map
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationthe confluence of the Keld Gill and the Keld Dub near the village of Keld
Mouth 
 • location
confluence with River Eamont

The River Lowther is a small river which flows through limestone rock in Cumbria, England.[1] It is a tributary of the River Eamont which in turn is a tributary of the River Eden which flows into the Solway Firth near Carlisle. The Lowther begins with the confluence of the Keld Gill and the Keld Dub near the village of Keld.[2] It flows north-west until it passes between Bampton and Bampton Grange, before turning north until it flows into the River Eamont close to Penrith.[2]

It is the main spawning area for Eden spring salmon, but is primarily a trout fishery.[1] The river is held back by the Wet Sleddale dam, and so flows at a fairly consistent level (between 0.33 m and 1.8 m for 90% of monitoring time), with the highest level ever recorded at the River Lowther (2.93 m) occurring at Eamont Bridge, Beehive, on Sunday 6 December 2015.[1][3]

Its name is recorded about 1175 as Lauder.[4] It may come from Brittonic lǭwadr, "a washing or bathing place",[5] which would give it the same etymology as Lauder, Scotland. Alternatively, it may come from Old Norse lauðr + á, meaning "foamy river".[6]

  1. ^ a b c "Penrith AA – River Lowther". www.penrithanglers.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b "River Lowther". www.knowledge.me.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  3. ^ "River Lowther at Eamont Bridge, Beehive, River Lowther: River level and flood alerts". www.riverlevels.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Place: Lauder". People of Medieval Scotland. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  5. ^ James, Alan. "A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence" (PDF). SPNS – The Brittonic Language in the Old North. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  6. ^ K. M. Sheard (2011). Llewellyn's Complete Book of Names for Pagans, Wiccans, Witches, Druids, Heathens, Mages, Shamans & Independent Thinkers of All Sorts who are Curious about Names from Every Place and Every Time. Llewellyn Worldwide. p. 362. ISBN 978-0-7387-2368-6.