 The name of the river is believed to derive either from the Old English "gyr" which means "mud", or from the Brittonic words "*ar", "flowing", or "*īr", "fresh, clean, pure", suffixed with "-ed", a nominal suffix meaning "having the quality of...".The river forms at the confluence of Lingmell Beck and Mosedale Beck on Wasdale Head, which is on the north-western side of Scafell Pike.On its short journey to the coast, the Irt is crossed by the Cumbria Coastal Way long distance footpath, at Drigg Holme packhorse bridge.