River Ellen

The Ellen is a river in the English county of Cumbria, flowing from Skiddaw in the Northern Fells to the Solway Firth at Maryport. It was historically in the county of Cumberland. It is approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) in length.

River Ellen
The mouth of the River Ellen at Maryport harbour.
Location of the mouth within Cumbria
Location
Country	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Physical characteristics
Source	Skiddaw massif
• location	Keswick, Northern Fells
Mouth	Maryport harbour
• location	Maryport, Solway Firth
• coordinates	54.7145°N 3.5013°W / 54.7145; -3.5013
Length	25 mi (40 km)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Gill Gooden
• right	Dash Beck

Etymology

The River Ellen gets its name from Common Brythonic *Alünā. *Alünā has an uncertain etymology but might come from Proto-Indo-European *ala meaning 'water'.^[1] Alternatively the name *Alünā could be derived from Alaunos or Alaunā.^[2] Names of this type could derive from the Celtic root *al- ('feed, raise, nurture') or *alǝ- (to wander'),^[3] or else from the Brittonic element *al-, "shining, bright" (Welsh alaw, 'waterlilly').^[4] Another suggestion is that the name is derived from the Brittonic root *Alaun- (‘holy one’ or ‘mighty one’).^[5]

Course

Bridge over the River Ellen dividing Baggrow and Blennerasset

The river rises on the Skiddaw massif,^[6] and runs in a generally westerly direction, passing Uldale, Ireby, Boltongate, Baggrow and Blennerhasset parish boundary and Aspatria. From there, it continues southwest (instead of more northwesterly) past Oughterside, Gilcrux, Bullgill, Crosby and Dearham, and skirts the grounds of Netherhall School before flowing into the Solway Firth at Maryport.

Fish

The river contains populations of brown trout, eels, lamprey, minnows, salmon, sea trout, and stickleback.^[7][8]

Sewage contamination

In 2023, it was reported that a pipe owned by the water company United Utilities had discharged sewage into the river for almost 7,000 hours in 2022.^[9]

Tributaries

• Dash Beck
• Gill Gooden
• Row Beck