Eddleston Water
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Eddleston Water
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| nickname = The Cuddy
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| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = Scotland
| subdivision_type2 = Council area
| subdivision_name2 = Scottish Borders
| subdivision_type3 = Settlements
| subdivision_name3 = Eddleston, Redscarhead and Peebles
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| source1 = Howgate
| source1_location = Herbertshaw Farm
| source1_coordinates= {{Coord|55|48|06|N|003|11|25|W|display=inline only}}
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| mouth = River Tweed
| mouth_location = Peebles
| mouth_coordinates = {{Coord|55|39|03|N| 003|11|43|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation =
| progression = River Tweed→ Solway Firth→ Irish Sea
| river_system = Solway Tweed
| basin_size_km2 = 69
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| tributaries_left = Longcote Burn
| tributaries_right = {{ubl|Middle Burn|Shiplaw Burn}}
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File:Eddleston Water - geograph.org.uk - 568023.jpg
Eddleston Water is a small river north of Peebles, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland which joins the River Tweed at Peebles.[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/peebles/peebles/index.html Peebles - Undiscovered Scotland] It is also known locally as "The Cuddy".{{Cite web |url=http://www.peebles.info/index.cfm?page=places |title=Royal Borough of Peebles - Peebles attractions |access-date=2010-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916173520/http://www.peebles.info/index.cfm?page=places |archive-date=2008-09-16 |url-status=dead}}
Course
Eddleston Water rises near Mount Lothian and passes through Waterheads, Eddleston, Milkieston, Redscarhead, along the route of the A703, and into Peebles past crossburn, and Dalatho, where the Tree Bridge, on an old drove road,{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=51448 |num2=NT24SE 13 |desc=Peebles, Bridgegate, Tree Bridge |access-date=10 July 2025}} and the Cuddy Bridge (just by brown brothers and squeaks old bit) cross it. The original bridge was constructed in the 15th century but was replaced in 1857 by the current bridge.{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=51447 |num2=NT24SE 12 |desc==Peebles, Cuddy Bridge |access-date=10 July 2025 |fewer-links=yes}}
When the Edinburgh to Peebles railway was built in the middle of the 19th century the river was straightened for much of its course which adversely affected the wildlife habitat and increased the speed of flow.{{Cite web |url=http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/pdf/27764.pdf |title=Scottish Borders Council publication: "Improving the Eddleston Water for People and Wildlife" |access-date=2010-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606044654/http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/pdf/27764.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-06 |url-status=dead}} As a result, the river is liable to flooding.[http://www.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-000-055-390 SCRAN image: Eddleston Water bursts its banks]
Flood management
In August 2009 the University of Dundee was invited to carry out an initial study on how Eddleston Water could be restored to provide a better habitat for wildlife and to reduces the risk of flooding in Peebles and Eddleston. Known as natural flood management (NFM) it involves re-meandering, tree planting and other measures, including "leaky dams" where logs are placed across a stream in such a way that the normal flow passes under but, as the water rises, the logs slow the passage of the water. This has been shown to be more effective at reducing flooding than the introduction of bends though the latter has led to an increase of biodiversity along the river.{{cite journal |last1=Murugesu |first1=Jason Arunn |title=How a UK river serves as a natural lab for flood research |journal=New Scientist |date=3 June 2023 |volume=258 |issue=3441 |page=12}}
See also
References
{{commons category|Eddleston Water}}
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Rivers of the Scottish Borders
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{{Scotland-river-stub}}