Editing Avon Water (section)

==Course==
The Avon Water rises in the hills on the boundary between [[East Ayrshire]] and [[South Lanarkshire]], close to the head of the [[Irvine Water]]. The river flows in a north easterly direction, following the [[A71 road]] past [[Drumclog, South Lanarkshire|Drumclog]], and running to the south of [[Strathaven]], where the river enters a more pronounced valley. The Avon flows between the village of [[Glassford]], and [[Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire|Stonehouse]] to the south, before merging with the smaller Cander Water just south of [[Larkhall]]. The river then skirts the west side of Larkhall in a deepening gorge, crossed by the disused Larkhall railway viaduct, built in 1904 for the [[Caledonian Railway]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/13099051.Life_after_Beeching__a_boon_for_walkers_and_cyclists/|title=Life after Beeching|last=McQuillan|first=Rebecca|date=6 April 2013|work=Sunday Herald|accessdate=10 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst9740.html|title=Larkhall Viaduct|work=Gazetteer for Scotland|accessdate=10 December 2017}}</ref>

Beyond this the gorge is part of [[Chatelherault Country Park]], to the south of [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]]. There are several public footpaths along this section of the gorge, although the area was once the preserve of the [[Duke of Hamilton]], forming the hunting and pleasure grounds of the Dukes' former home, [[Hamilton Palace]]. Many features of this period remain in the park, including the Duke's Bridge which crosses the gorge. Older structures along the gorge include the ruins of [[Cadzow Castle]], started in the 13th century, and the Cadzow Oaks, a group of [[oak]] trees, some of which are over 600 years old.

The river bends to the east at the end of the gorge between the villages of [[Barncluith]] and [[Ferniegair]], flowing beneath three [[Listed buildings in the United Kingdom#Scotland|listed]] stone bridges: a viaduct carrying the [[Argyle Line]] railway tracks, {{ill|a single-arch bridge|de|Avon Bridge}} carrying the [[A72 road]], and the {{ill|Old Avon Bridge|de}}, now a footbridge. The Avon Water flows north beneath the [[M74 motorway]], merging into the Clyde between Hamilton and [[Motherwell, Scotland|Motherwell]], beside Junction 6 of the M74.