 The river rises between Ansley Common and Birchley Heath, to the south west of Atherstone where it is shown in maps as the Bourne brook.It then flows in a south-westerly direction past Church End to Ansley Mill where it is forded by a minor road.It continues in the same direction passing between New and Old Arley to join the Didgley brook which drains the area around Fillongley.