The source of the burn is in a field to the north-east of the village of Strathkinness, located 3 miles to the west of St Andrews.

Further downstream, the burn's mouth is a southern boundary of West Sand Beach of St Andrews.

The name may derive from a form of Scots word swelch which means ‘whirlpool, abyss in the sea’ and has a common root with the English verb ‘to swallow’.

[3] Since the 18th century, both the burn and the bridge have been spelled in various ways, including Swilcanthe, Swilcauth, Swilkin, Swilken, and Swilcan.

Many modern maps spell the bridge’s name as ‘’Swilcan’’ (this variant is also used by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club), but the burn’s name as ‘’Swilken’’.