River Culm

River Culm
River Culm at Culmstock
Country	England
County	Devon
Town	Cullompton
Source	Culmhead
- elevation	800 ft (244 m)
- coordinates	50°56′16″N 3°06′35″W / 50.93778°N 3.109821°W / 50.93778; -3.109821
Mouth	River Exe
- coordinates	50°45′45″N 3°30′54″W / 50.7625°N 3.515°W / 50.7625; -3.515Coordinates: 50°45′45″N 3°30′54″W / 50.7625°N 3.515°W / 50.7625; -3.515
Length	17 mi (27 km)
Discharge	for Wood Mill
- average	3.77 m3/s (133 cu ft/s)
Map of the River Culm and its catchment in Devon and Somerset, UK, with the inset showing the location in Devon.

The River Culm flows through the Devon Redlands in Devon, England and is the longest tributary of the River Exe. It rises in the Blackdown Hills at a spring near RAF Culmhead in Somerset, and flows west through Hemyock, then (in the Culm Valley) to Uffculme. The river turns south, through Cullompton (and alongside the M5 motorway), skirting the northern boundary of Killerton Park to join the River Exe on the north-western outskirts of Exeter. The name of the river is thought to mean 'knot' or 'tie', in reference to the river's twists and loops.

The River Culm begins in a marshy field near Culmhead (picture 1). Four and a half miles from its source the river (OS ST17501455) is 1.5m wide (picture 2). At Gladhayes the river passes under a two-arched bridge (picture 3). About half a mile further the river is joined by the waters of Madford River. From here the river continues to , a village straddling both sides of the river where the river is shallower. At Uffculme the river flows in a straight course and flows more slowly. The Spratford Steam, whose waters have flowed in a southerly direction, meets the Culm near Willand, and thereafter the river shares its valley with the present main railway line (former Great Western Railway) from Taunton to Exeter. The M5 motorway runs beside the railway, and all three continue past the market town of Cullompton. The river meanders a lot here and is prone to flooding. Shortly prior to reaching Hele - near Kensham House - the small River Weaver flows into the Culm from the east. It passes under a paper mill at Hele. North of Stoke Canon the river has many meanders. Shedding the motorway to the south of Hele, the river and the railway continue together into Exeter, although by then the Culm has joined the River Exe - just below Stoke Canon (picture 4).