# Glen

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{{short description|Name for valley commonly used in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man}}
{{About|the geographical feature}}
{{dmy|date=August 2016}}
[[File:Glendun - geograph.org.uk - 465779.jpg|thumb|[Glendun](/source/Glendun), one of the [Glens of Antrim](/source/Glens_of_Antrim) in [Northern Ireland](/source/Northern_Ireland)]]
A '''glen''' is a [valley](/source/valley), typically one that is long and bounded by gently sloped concave sides, unlike a [ravine](/source/ravine), which is deep and bounded by steep slopes. Glens are appreciated by tourists for their tranquility and scenery.

== Etymology ==
[[File:Raven's Craig Glen.JPG|thumb |Raven's Craig Glen located in [Dalry, North Ayrshire](/source/Dalry%2C_North_Ayrshire), [Scotland](/source/Scotland)]]
The word is [Goidelic](/source/Goidelic_languages) in origin: ''gleann'' in [Irish](/source/Irish_language) and [Scottish Gaelic](/source/Scottish_Gaelic), ''glion'' in [Manx](/source/Manx_language). The designation "glen" also occurs often in place names. In Manx, ''glan'' is also to be found meaning glen. It is cognate with [Welsh](/source/Welsh_language) ''glyn''.{{cn|date=August 2016}} Whittow defines it as a "Scottish term for a deep valley in the Highlands" that is "narrower than a [strath](/source/strath)".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Whittow |first=John |title=Dictionary of Physical Geography |publisher=Penguin |year=1984 |isbn=0-14-051094-X |location=London}}.</ref>

Examples in [Northern England](/source/Northern_England), such as [Glenridding](/source/Glenridding), [Westmorland](/source/Westmorland), or Glendue, near [Haltwhistle](/source/Haltwhistle), [Northumberland](/source/Northumberland), are thought to derive from the aforementioned [Cumbric](/source/Cumbric) cognate, or another [Brythonic](/source/Brittonic_languages) equivalent. This likely underlies some examples in [Southern Scotland](/source/Scottish_Lowlands).<ref name="bliton" />{{pn|date=February 2024}}

As the name of a [river](/source/river), it is thought to derive from the Irish word ''glan'' meaning clean, or the Welsh word ''gleindid'' meaning purity. An example is the [Glens of Antrim](/source/Glens_of_Antrim) in [Northern Ireland](/source/Northern_Ireland) where nine glens radiate out from the Antrim plateau to the sea along the coast between [Ballycastle](/source/Ballycastle%2C_County_Antrim) and [Larne](/source/Larne).{{cn|date=August 2016}}

== Places ==
thumb|left|Robert's Glen in Macon, Georgia circa 1877
[[File:Glenorchy at the Head of Lake Wakatipu.jpg|thumb|Glenorchy, in [Otago](/source/Otago), [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand)]]
The designation "glen" also occurs often in place names such as [Great Glen](/source/Great_Glen) and [Glenrothes](/source/Glenrothes) in Scotland; [Glendalough](/source/Glendalough), [Glenswilly](/source/Glenswilly_GAA), [Glen of Aherlow](/source/Glen_of_Aherlow), [Glen of Imaal](/source/Glen_of_Imaal) and the [Glens of Antrim](/source/Glens_of_Antrim) in Northern Ireland;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thebottleimp.org.uk/2013/11/gaelic-place-names-gleann-and-srath/|title=Gaelic PlaceNames: Gleann And Srath|website=thebottleimp|date=November 2013 }}</ref> [Glenn Norman](/source/Glen_Norman%2C_Ontario) in Canada; [Glendale](/source/Glendale%2C_California), [Glen Ellen](/source/Glen_Ellen) and [Klamath Glen](/source/Klamath_Glen) in [California](/source/California), [Glenview](/source/Glenview%2C_Illinois) and [Homer Glen](/source/Homer_Glen) in [Illinois](/source/Illinois), and [Glenrock](/source/Glenrock%2C_Wyoming) in [Wyoming](/source/Wyoming); [Glenview](/source/Glenview%2C_Queensland), [Glen Waverley](/source/Glen_Waverley), [Glen Eira](/source/Glen_Eira), [Glengowrie](/source/Glengowrie%2C_South_Australia), [Glen Huntly](/source/Glen_Huntly%2C_Victoria) and [Glen Forrest](/source/Glen_Forrest%2C_Western_Australia) in Australia; and [Glenorchy](/source/Glenorchy%2C_New_Zealand), [Glendowie](/source/Glendowie), [Glen Eden](/source/Glen_Eden), [Glenledi](/source/Glenledi), [Glenomaru](/source/Glenomaru), [Glen Massey](/source/Glen_Massey), [Glen Murray](/source/Glen_Murray%2C_New_Zealand), [Glenleith](/source/Glenleith), [Glendhu Bay](/source/Glendhu_Bay), [Glenbrook](/source/Glenbrook%2C_New_Zealand), and [Glen Innes](/source/Glen_Innes%2C_New_Zealand) in New Zealand.{{cn|date=August 2016}}

In the [Finger Lakes](/source/Finger_Lakes) region of [New York](/source/New_York_(state)) State, the southern ends of [Seneca Lake](/source/Seneca_Lake_(New_York)) and [Cayuga Lake](/source/Cayuga_Lake) in particular are etched with glens, although in this region the term "glen" refers most frequently to a narrow [gorge](/source/Canyon), as opposed to a wider [valley](/source/valley) or strath. The steep hills surrounding these lakes are filled with loose shale from glacial moraines. This material has eroded over the past 10,000 years to produce rocky glens (e.g., [Watkins Glen](/source/Watkins_Glen_State_Park), [Fillmore Glen State Park](/source/Fillmore_Glen_State_Park) and [Treman State Park](/source/Treman_State_Park)s) and waterfalls (e.g., [Taughannock Falls](/source/Taughannock_Falls_State_Park)) as rainwater has flowed down toward the lakes below.{{cn|date=August 2016}}

=== Scotland ===
Many place-names in Scotland with "glen" derive from the Gaelic ''gleann'' ("deep valley"), with some being  from the cognates in the [Brittonic](/source/Brittonic_languages) languages [Cumbric](/source/Cumbric) and [Pictish](/source/Pictish_language) or from the Gaelic loanword ''glen'' in [Scots](/source/Scots_language).
* Glenalmond, Perthshire
* [Glen Affric](/source/Glen_Affric), Inverness-shire
* Glenbarton, Dumfriesshire - from Gaelic '' *gleann-Breatann'', or else Brittonic ''glyn-Brython'' ("Briton valley").<ref name="bliton">{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Alan G. |title=A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence |url=https://spns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Alan_James_Brittonic_Language_in_the_Old_North_BLITON_Volume_II_Dictionary_2023_edition.pdf |website=Scottish Place-Name Society |access-date=5 February 2024}}</ref>{{pn|date=February 2024}}
* [Glencairn](/source/Glencairn%2C_Dumfries_and_Galloway), Dumfriesshire
* [Glen Coe](/source/Glen_Coe), Argyll
* Glencortas, Fife - from Gaelic ''gleann'' + possibly ''coirthe'' ("standing stone") + ''as'' (locational suffix).<ref name="fpnd" />
* [Glendevon](/source/Glendevon_Castle), Perthshire 
* Glendevon, Lanarkshire
* Glendivan, Dumfriesshire
* Glendow, Dumfriesshire - from Middle Irish ''glenn-dubh'' or Brittonic ''glyn-du'' ("dark valley").
* [Glen Doll](/source/Glen_Doll), Perthshire
* Glenduckie, Fife - from Gaelic ''gleann'' + possibly ''duaigh'' ("evil") + ''-in'' (suffix).<ref name="fpnd">{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Simon |url=https://fife-placenames.glasgow.ac.uk/ |website=Fife Place Name Data |access-date=5 February 2024 |title=Fife Place-name Data}}</ref>
* [Glen Etive](/source/Glen_Etive), Argyll 
* Glengaber, Dumfriesshire 
* [Glenkens](/source/The_Glenkens), Kirkcudbrightshire - Brittonic ''glyn'' + ''[Ken](/source/Water_of_Ken)'' (river name).<ref name="bliton" />{{pn|date=February 2024}}
* [Glenlochar](/source/Glenlochar), Kirkcudbrightshire 
* [Glen Ogle](/source/Glen_Ogle), Perthshire
* Glenrothes, Fife - from Scots ''glen'' + [Rothes](/source/Rothes).<ref name="fpnd" />
* Glensax, Peeblesshire
* Glensaxon, Dumfriesshire
* [Glen Shiel](/source/Glen_Shiel), Ross and Cromarty
* Glentanner, Selkirkshire
* Glentenmont, Dumfriesshire
* Glenturk, Wigtownshire
* [Glenturret](/source/Glenturret_distillery), Perthshire
* Glen Vale, Fife - from Gaelic ''gleann-a’-bhealaich'' ("glen of the pass").<ref name="fpnd" />

=== England ===
Some place-names in England contain the element "Glen". Many of these are derived from Brittonic cognates of Gaelic ''gleann'' (Welsh ''glyn'').
* Glencoyne, Cumberland - Brittonic ''glyn'' or Middle Irish ''glenn'' + possibly a river name.<ref name="bliton" />{{pn|date=February 2024}}
* Glendinning, Cumberland - Brittonic ''glyn'' or Middle Irish ''glen'' + Brittonic ''din'' ("fort") + ''an''/''in'' (suffix).<ref name="bliton" />{{pn|date=February 2024}}
* Glendon, Devon - possibly a hybrid of Cornish ''glyn'' and Old English ''dun'' ("hill").<ref name="epnssepn" />
* Glendowlin, Westmorland - Brittonic ''glyn'' or Middle Irish ''glenn'' + earlier Brittonic ''du'' ("black") + ''llyn'' ("pool").<ref name="bliton" />{{pn|date=February 2024}}
* [Glendue](/source/Geltsdale_%26_Glendue_Fells), Northumberland
* [Glendurgan](/source/Glendurgan_Garden), Cornwall - from Cornish ''glynn'' ("deep valley") + ''dowrgeun'' ("otters").<ref name="htpn" />
* [Glenridding](/source/Glenridding), Westmorland - equivalent to Old Welsh ''glinnredin'' ("bracken valley").<ref name="epnssepn" />
* Glyn Morlas, Shropshire
* Glynn Kenyel, Cornwall - from Cornish ''glynn'' ("deep valley") + ''ken'' ("meeting, confluence") + ''yel'' (adjectival suffix).<ref name="htpn">{{cite web |url=https://www.akademikernewek.org.uk/place-names/a-z |website=Henwyn Tyller Place Names |access-date=5 February 2024 |title=Hwilas / Search }}</ref>
Note that some place-names in England with "Glen", such as [Glen Parva](/source/Glen_Parva) in Leicestershire, are actually more likely to derive from river-names named with Brittonic ''glan'' ("shining").<ref name="epnssepn">{{cite web |title=Survey of English Place-Names |url=http://epns.nottingham.ac.uk/ |website=English Place-Name Society}}</ref>

=== Wales ===
Some place-names in Wales contain the element ''glyn'' ("valley").
* [Emlyn](/source/Emlyn), Pembrokeshire, from ''am-glyn'' ("at the valley")<ref name="pnw">{{cite book |last1=Owen |first1=Hywel Wyn |title=The place-names of Wales |date=1998 |location=Cardiff |isbn=0708314589 |url=https://archive.org/details/placenamesofwale0000owen |access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref>
* [Glynceiriog](/source/Glyn_Ceiriog), Denbighshire<ref name="pnw" />
* [Glyncorrwg](/source/Glyncorrwg), Glamorgan
* [Glynneath](/source/Glynneath), Glamorgan<ref name="pnw" />
* [Glynrhonwy](/source/Glynrhonwy_quarries), Caernarfonshire<ref name="pnw" />
* [Glyn Tarell](/source/Glyn_Tarell), Brecknockshire

=== Isle of Man ===
* [Glen Maye](/source/Glen_Maye), Glenfaba
* [Glen Wyllin](/source/Glen_Wyllin), Kirk Michael
* [Silverdale Glen](/source/Silverdale_Glen), Malhew
* [Tholt-y-Will Glen](/source/Sulby_Glen), Lezayre - also known as Sulby Glen

== See also ==
* {{annotated link|High valley}}
* {{annotated link|Strath}}
* [Dale (landform)](/source/Dale_(landform))

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Rivers, streams and springs}}

Category:Glens
Category:Landforms
Category:Slope landforms
Category:Valleys

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Glen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.