Cairn Water

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Cairn Water

| image = Bank of Cairn Water near Crossford - geograph.org.uk - 211012.jpg

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| image_caption = Bank of Cairn Water near Crossford

| map =

| map_size =

| map_alt =

| map_caption =

| source1_location = Moniaive

| mouth_location =

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|55.08586|-3.616819|display=inline,title}}

| progression =

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = Scotland

| basin_cities =

| length_mi = 11.5

| source1_elevation =

| mouth_elevation =

| discharge1_avg =

| basin_size =

| river_system = River Nith

| tributaries_left = Dalwhat Water, Old Water

| tributaries_right = Castlefairn Water

}}

Cairn Water is a small river in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The river, formed by the confluence of the Castlefern, Craigdarroch and Dalquhat, flows for {{convert|11.5|mi|km}} southeast to the Cluden.{{cite book

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h3hOAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA124 |page=124

|title=Gazetteer of the British isles: statistical and topographical

|editor=John Bartholomew

|publisher=A. and C. Black |year=1887}}

The Castlefairn is joined by the Craigdarroch and then by the Dalwhat, both from its left, just below the village of Moniaive in the parish of Glencairn.

The confluence of these streams forms the Cairn Water. The parish is named for the river valley. The river flows east past Kirkland, then southeast to Newtonairds, where it is joined by the Old Water to form Cluden Water. Cluden Water flows east and southeast to join the River Nith just north of Dumfries.{{cite web

|url=http://www.explorebritain.info/water-dumfries-and-galloway-cairn-water-nx8582/osmap

|title=Cairn Water - Dumfries and Galloway

|work=Explore Britain

|accessdate=2012-02-14}} The entire stretch of river from Moniaive to the Nith is known locally as the River Cairn.{{cite web

|url=https://dgaa.org.uk/river-cairn/

|title=River Cairn - Dumfries & Galloway Angling Association

|accessdate=2022-11-11}}

The river once defined part of the boundary between Dumfriesshire to the east and Kirkcudbrightshire to the west.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BIHRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA353 |page=353

|title=The Topographical, statistical, and historical gazetteer of Scotland: with a complete county-atlas from recent surveys, exhibiting all the lines of road, rail, and canal communication; and an appendix, containing the results of the census of 1851

|volume=1

|publisher=A. Fullarton |year=1853}}

File:Cairn Water - geograph.org.uk - 1327995.jpg|River flanked by trees on either bank

File:Cairn Water - geograph.org.uk - 1328911.jpg|Looking upstream from Dalgonar Bridge

File:Cairn Water Near Stepford - geograph.org.uk - 638401.jpg|Near Stepford