River Cart - White Cart Water

The White Cart Water originates on the edge of Eaglesham moor in East Renfrewshire. It then flows northwards around the south of East Kilbride to Waterfoot. The river forms the boundary between East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire here before running through the centre of the village of Busby after which it runs around the eastern side of Clarkston and Netherlee where it crosses the Glasgow city boundary into Linn Park, heading downstream to Cathcart. Here, the river turns west, flowing through Pollokshaws and cutting through Pollok Country Park, under the M77 motorway towards Crookston, where it is joined by the River Levern. From Crookston, the river passes the grounds of Leverndale Hospital and then crosses into Renfrewshire and flows through the farmlands of Hawkhead, parallel with the Paisley Canal railway line. On entering the town of Paisley, the river falls over rapids called The Hammills, and flows under two roads, to emerge in the town centre at Paisley Abbey. It then passes under Gauze Street, the Piazza Shopping Centre and Paisley Gilmour Street railway station where it emerges from the Abercorn Bridge, a wide, high arched red sandstone bridge at Old Sneddon Street. From there it runs, mostly hidden from view, towards Glasgow International Airport and Renfrew.

In the town of Paisley the White Cart is joined by a number of tributary streams including the Lady Burn, the St Mirin Burn, the Sneddon Burn and the Espedair Burn. Just outside the burgh boundary, close to Glasgow Airport, the river meets with the Abbot's Burn.

The Greenock Road (A8), between Inchinnan and Renfrew, passes over the White Cart Water by means of the Swing Bridge. The White Cart Water then joins with the Black Cart Water, just downstream of the bridge, to become the River Cart.

Robert Burns' poem The Gallant Weaver mentions the River Cart.

A major flood alleviation scheme is currently under construction by Glasgow City Council to protect vulnerable property on the south side of Glasgow. Designed by Halcrow the scheme will be the largest flood alleviation project undertaken in Scotland.