welcome

Afton Water

The local pronunciation of the Afton suggests the

origin is the Welsh afon 'river' rather than the

later Gaelic alternative abhainn 'river' which

gives a much harder sound as in Avon Water,

Strathaven, Lanarkshire . Both names are congate
with Latin amnis 'stream, torrent'.

The Afton valley is known as Glenafton
(equivalent of Strathaven), a name adopted by
the local junior football club Glenafton Athletic
formed in 1930 and Scottish Junior Cup winners
in 1993.

James B. Johnston Place-Names of Scotland (3rd Edition, 1934)

W.J.Watson 'The Celtic Placenames of Scotland' (Birlinn Edition, 1993)

Hugh Lorimer 'A Corner of Old Strathclyde (1951)

Malcolm MacLennan 'Gaelic Dictionary (1995)

J.B. Johnston suggests Gaelic abh donn 'brown stream' which appears
overly complicated and certainly does not accurately describe the 'Sweet
Afton' as immortalised by Robert Burns. Indeed, the Bard originally called his
tribute as 'Clear Afton' in the fifth verse refers to the crystal stream (as in
crystal clear).

FLOW gently, sweet Afton! among thy green braes,

Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise;

My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream,

Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream.

Thy crystal stream, Afton, how lovely it glides,

And winds by the cot where my Mary resides;

How wanton thy waters her snowy feet lave,

As, gathering sweet flowerets, she stems thy clear wave'

Robert Burns

Close to Burns' Cairn commerating the poet's associations with New Cumnock is the Roarin' Linn, the only
named water-fall on the Afton Water. In the neighbouring parish of Auchinleck (close to where the parishes of
New Cumnock, Auchinleck and Kirckonnel meet) on the Auchtitench Burn is found the Connar Lynn. Hugh
Lorimer explains that this water-fall is known locally as the 'Deil's Backdoor' which he explains as a a
pathway from Gaelic conair 'spot of the pathway' (W.J.Watson). However, an alternative may be found in
Gaelic conghair (pronounced connyar) 'uproar, fury' . Connar Linn is an earlier Gaelic form conghair linne
of our own Roarin' Linn. (See Connel Burn)