Garvald or Garrel, an ancient parish and a burn in Dumfriesshire. The parish was annexed, about 1674, partly to Johnstone, chiefly to Kirkmichael; and it continues to give name to the two farms of Upper and Nether Garrel. Its church, rebuilt so late as 1617, stood on the right bank of Garvald Burn, 3¼ miles NE of Kirkmichael church; and now is represented by ruined walls and an enclosed burying-ground. The burn, rising at an altitude of 1050 feet above sea-level, winds 7¼ miles south-south-eastward through all the length of the parish, till it glides into Ae Water, 2 miles NNW of Lochmaben. With a total descent of 860 feet, it forms a number of tiny cascades and cataracts, making in one place a fall of 18 feet over a mural rock.—Ord. Sur., sh. 10, 1864.

(F.H. Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4); © 2004 Gazetteer for Scotland)