Rising in the foothills of Dunside Rig, the Back Burn flows north-east for two and a half miles to empty into the southern end of Kype Reservoir. The Back Burn is met on the journey to Kype Reservoir by the Long Knowe Burn.
At approximately 890 feet above sea level, the Kype Reservoir is located 4 miles (6 km) southeast of Strathaven and 7½ miles (12 km) northwest of Douglas in South Lanarkshire. The Kype Reservoir is impounded by an earth embankment dam and covers an area of 13.6 ha (33 acres). It is the source of the Kype Water. It opened in 1898 for Hamilton Town Council and is now operated by Scottish Water for the supply of drinking-water.
It has a natural stock of native Brown Trout. Reaching the Kype Reservoir involves a final journey of two and a half miles, over old farm road, winding through fields of sheep and cattle. The Reservoir is surrounded by mature conifer woodland on two sides.
The Kype Water flows north, then north-east, from Kype Reservoir, before joining the Avon Water a mile south-east of Strathaven, having completed a course of roughly six miles.
The Avon Water flows into the River Clyde.