Flowing in a south-easterly direction for the entirety of its course, the river rises in the Antrim Hills and follows the A42 road through Broughshane to Ballygarvey; it then flows through Ballymena before flowing into the River Main near the Tullaghgarley townland.[4]
On 10 February 2018, a five-year-old boy died after falling into the river and being swept four miles downstream.[5] He died in hospital.[6][7]