River Aire

This article is about the River Aire in England; for other rivers called Aire, see Aire River.

The River Aire is a river in Yorkshire, England. Part of the river is canalised and is known as the Aire and Calder Navigation. It starts at Aire Head, near Malham, in North Yorkshire and flows through Gargrave and Skipton. After Cononley, the river enters West Yorkshire where it passes through the former industrial areas of Keighley, Bingley, Saltaire and Shipley. It then flows through the city of Leeds. It re-enters North Yorkshire near Knottingley and in its lower reaches forms part of the boundary between North Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire. The River Aire empties into the River Ouse at Airmyn, 'myn' being an old English word for 'river mouth'. The name Aire is probably Celtic or pre-Celtic, but its meaning is obscure.