The Elrick Burn rises above the urban area of Westhill, 10km to the west of Aberdeen. ‘Westhills’, originally a relatively small village, has grown considerably over the past decades and the burn now runs as a culverted section through residential developments, receiving surface water run-off from the area. The culverted section then opens out directly below Westhill Industrial Estate where it receives discharges from a further two surface water outfalls draining run-off from the adjacent industrial estate and business park directly east and west of the burn. It then flows south to join with the Brodiach and Culter Burns before discharging into the River Dee.

The Local Nature Reserve of Arnhall Moss lies within the catchment.