Water of Ken

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The Water of Ken upstream from High Bridge of Ken

The Water of Ken is a river in Kirkcudbrightshire, which becomes a tributary of the River Dee, though only in the course of creating a fine inland loch, Loch Ken.

The river rises on Blacklorg Hill, northeast of Cairnsmore of Carsphairn in the Carsphairn Hills, and flows south-westward into the Glenkens valley, passing through Carsfad and Earlstoun lochs, both of which are dammed to supply the Galloway Hydro Electric Scheme.

From these lochs, the river flows south, passing St John's Town of Dalry and New Galloway, and below these towns it widens to form the 11-mile long Loch Ken.

The River Dee also enters halfway down the loch, and from the foot of the loch at Glenlochar the emergent river continues as the Dee towards Kirkcudbright and the coast.

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