River Cart

The River Cart is a short tributary of the River Clyde in Scotland. It flows for just 1.2 kilometres after the Black Cart Water and the White Cart Water meet near Paisley. The river joins the Clyde from the west, between Erskine and Renfrew, opposite Clydebank. The Forth and Cart Canal once linked the Forth and Clyde Canal to the River Cart, allowing boats to travel directly to Paisley and beyond. This waterway opened in 1840 and aimed to connect Paisley with Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth without going down the Clyde. The White Cart Water, one of its main tributaries, rises near Eaglesham Moor in South Lanarkshire. It flows northwest through East Kilbride, Busby, and Clarkston, passing under a large railway viaduct. The river is surrounded by ancient woodland, particularly around Busby and Clarkston, where a large Site of Special Scientific Interest protects the habitat. Near Paisley, the White Cart passes through Pollok Country Park and under the M77 motorway before reaching the town centre. It then flows under several bridges, including one at Paisley Abbey, where medieval monks once used it to carry away waste. Visitors can follow the White Cart’s path through Paisley’s town centre, where it emerges near the abbey. The river runs beneath Gauze Street and the Piazza Shopping Centre before passing Paisley Gilmour Street station. From there, it continues mostly hidden until it meets the Black Cart Water near Glasgow Airport. The Black Cart itself starts at Castle Semple Loch in Lochwinnoch and flows through Johnstone and Linwood. Near Renfrew, both rivers join to form the River Cart, which soon meets the Clyde. The area around the rivers offers quiet walks and glimpses of Paisley’s industrial past.