Pow Burn
Encyclopedia
The Pow Burn is a relatively long burn located in South Ayrshire, Scotland. The name 'Pow or 'Poll' refers to a slow-moving ditch-like stream.
near the estate of Coodham and is relatively narrow until it reaches Prestwick
, where it starts to widen. The Burn separates Prestwick and Monkton. It crosses Prestwick Airport and flows through Prestwick Golf Course
, where is serves as a natural obstacle. A caravan park has been built at the mouth, where it flows into the Firth of Clyde
.
The Ayrshire Cycle Track runs over the burn near the estuary, allowing views of the native wildlife.
. The small tributary from Barnweil Loch had also the Heugh Mill.
Powbank Mill closed at the outbreak of World War II
, when it was requisitioned as a Canteen/Naafi. After the war, the mill never returned to the family, being the home of the Scottish Aviation Club, before they moved into the St Cuthbert's site on Kirk Street.
. Parts are designated as a Wildlife Corridor and as a Wildlife Site. It has locally rare habitats and nationally rare species as well as locally uncommon species.
All sorts of plants and animals have been sighted at the Pow, including sea otter
s, red admiral, many species of rare dragonfly
and hundreds of songbirds such as thrush
and nightingale
. There has been a decline in the number of waxwings migrating to the area. The Pow Burn is managed by the local council for conservation and recreation. It provides an area where families can picnic beside the burn and play on the sand dunes west of the burn. The dunes were once a sand quarry.
Location
The Pow Burn is fed by a small lochLoch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
near the estate of Coodham and is relatively narrow until it reaches Prestwick
Prestwick
Prestwick is a town in South Ayrshire on the south-west coast of Scotland, about south-west of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is about south...
, where it starts to widen. The Burn separates Prestwick and Monkton. It crosses Prestwick Airport and flows through Prestwick Golf Course
Prestwick Golf Club
Prestwick Golf Club is located in the town of Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is approximately southwest of Scotland's largest city, Glasgow. Prestwick is a classic links golf course, being built on the rolling sandy land that "links" the beach and the land further inland...
, where is serves as a natural obstacle. A caravan park has been built at the mouth, where it flows into the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
.
The Ayrshire Cycle Track runs over the burn near the estuary, allowing views of the native wildlife.
Mills
At one time there were four mills operating on the Pow Burn. Near the mouth was Prestwick Mill, later called Monkton Mill. Upstream were Powbank, situated near Monkton, Adamton Mill and, ¾ mile east of Symington, Helenton MillHelenton Loch
Helenton Loch was situated in a a low lying area between the farms and dwellings of Helentongate, Mains, and Burnbank in the Parish of Symington, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The loch was natural, sitting in a hollow, a kettle hole, created by glaciation...
. The small tributary from Barnweil Loch had also the Heugh Mill.
Powbank Mill closed at the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when it was requisitioned as a Canteen/Naafi. After the war, the mill never returned to the family, being the home of the Scottish Aviation Club, before they moved into the St Cuthbert's site on Kirk Street.
Wildlife
The Burn is untouched and is one of the last coastal wildlife havens in South AyrshireSouth Ayrshire
South Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway....
. Parts are designated as a Wildlife Corridor and as a Wildlife Site. It has locally rare habitats and nationally rare species as well as locally uncommon species.
All sorts of plants and animals have been sighted at the Pow, including sea otter
Sea Otter
The sea otter is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg , making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals...
s, red admiral, many species of rare dragonfly
Dragonfly
A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
and hundreds of songbirds such as thrush
Thrush (bird)
The thrushes, family Turdidae, are a group of passerine birds that occur worldwide.-Characteristics:Thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized birds, inhabiting wooded areas, and often feed on the ground or eat small fruit. The smallest thrush may be the Forest Rock-thrush, at and...
and nightingale
Nightingale
The Nightingale , also known as Rufous and Common Nightingale, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...
. There has been a decline in the number of waxwings migrating to the area. The Pow Burn is managed by the local council for conservation and recreation. It provides an area where families can picnic beside the burn and play on the sand dunes west of the burn. The dunes were once a sand quarry.