Editing Glen

{{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]], one of the [[Glens of Antrim]] in [[Northern Ireland]]]]
A '''glen''' is a [[valley]], typically one that is long and bounded by gently sloped concave sides, unlike a [[ravine]], which is deep and bounded by steep slopes. The word is [[Goidelic languages|Goidelic]] in origin: ''gleann'' in [[Irish language|Irish]] and [[Scottish Gaelic]], ''glion'' in [[Manx language|Manx]]. The designation "glen" also occurs often in place names. 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]], [[Scotland]]]]
The word is [[Goidelic languages|Goidelic]] in origin: ''gleann'' in [[Irish language|Irish]] and [[Scottish Gaelic]], ''glion'' in [[Manx language|Manx]]. In Manx, ''glan'' is also to be found meaning glen. It is cognate with [[Welsh language|Welsh]] ''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]]".<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]], such as [[Glenridding]], [[Westmorland]], or Glendue, near [[Haltwhistle]], [[Northumberland]], are thought to derive from the aforementioned [[Cumbric]] cognate, or another [[Brittonic languages|Brythonic]] equivalent. This likely underlies some examples in [[Scottish Lowlands|Southern Scotland]].<ref name="bliton" />{{pn|date=February 2024}}

As the name of a [[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]] in [[Northern Ireland]] where nine glens radiate out from the Antrim plateau to the sea along the coast between [[Ballycastle, County Antrim|Ballycastle]] and [[Larne]].{{cn|date=August 2016}}

== Places ==
[[File:Robert's Glen, circa 1877 - DPLA - ca6d90442a3574b7551b029c31a71c84.jpg|thumb|left|Robert's Glen in Macon, Georgia circa 1877]]
[[File:Glenorchy at the Head of Lake Wakatipu.jpg|thumb|Glenorchy, in [[Otago]], [[New Zealand]]]]
The designation "glen" also occurs often in place names such as [[Great Glen]] and [[Glenrothes]] in Scotland; [[Glendalough]], [[Glenswilly GAA|Glenswilly]], [[Glen of Aherlow]], [[Glen of Imaal]] and the [[Glens of Antrim]] in 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> [[Glen Norman, Ontario|Glenn Norman]] in Canada; [[Glendale, California|Glendale]], [[Glen Ellen]] and [[Klamath Glen]] in [[California]], [[Glenview, Illinois|Glenview]] and [[Homer Glen]] in [[Illinois]], and [[Glenrock, Wyoming|Glenrock]] in [[Wyoming]]; [[Glenview, Queensland|Glenview]], [[Glen Waverley]], [[Glen Eira]], [[Glengowrie, South Australia|Glengowrie]], [[Glen Huntly, Victoria|Glen Huntly]] and [[Glen Forrest, Western Australia|Glen Forrest]] in Australia; and [[Glenorchy, New Zealand|Glenorchy]], [[Glendowie]], [[Glen Eden]], [[Glenledi]], [[Glenomaru]], [[Glen Massey]], [[Glen Murray, New Zealand|Glen Murray]], [[Glenleith]], [[Glendhu Bay]], [[Glenbrook, New Zealand|Glenbrook]], and [[Glen Innes, New Zealand|Glen Innes]] in New Zealand.{{cn|date=August 2016}}

In the [[Finger Lakes]] region of [[New York (state)|New York]] State, the southern ends of [[Seneca Lake (New York)|Seneca Lake]] and [[Cayuga Lake]] in particular are etched with glens, although in this region the term "glen" refers most frequently to a narrow [[Canyon|gorge]], as opposed to a wider [[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 State Park|Watkins Glen]], [[Fillmore Glen State Park]] and [[Treman State Park]]s) and waterfalls (e.g., [[Taughannock Falls State Park|Taughannock Falls]]) 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 languages|Brittonic]] languages [[Cumbric]] and [[Pictish language|Pictish]] or from the Gaelic loanword ''glen'' in [[Scots language|Scots]].
* Glenalmond, Perthshire
* [[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, Dumfries and Galloway|Glencairn]], Dumfriesshire
* [[Glen Coe]], Argyll
* Glencortas, Fife - from Gaelic ''gleann'' + possibly ''coirthe'' ("standing stone") + ''as'' (locational suffix).<ref name="fpnd" />
* [[Glendevon Castle|Glendevon]], Perthsihire 
* Glendevon, Lanarkshire
* Glendivan, Dumfriesshire
* Glendow, Dumfriesshire - from Middle Irish ''glenn-dubh'' or Brittonic ''glyn-du'' ("dark valley").
* [[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]], Argyll 
* Glengaber, Dumfriesshire 
* [[The Glenkens|Glenkens]], Kirkcudbrightshire - Brittonic ''glyn'' + ''[[Water of Ken|Ken]]'' (river name).<ref name="bliton" />{{pn|date=February 2024}}
* [[Glenlochar]], Kirkcudbrighshire 
* [[Glen Ogle]], Perthshire
* Glenrothes, Fife - from Scots ''glen'' + [[Rothes]].<ref name="fpnd" />
* Glensax, Peeblesshire
* Glensaxon, Dumfriesshire
* [[Glen Shiel]], Ross and Cromarty
* Glentanner, Selkirkshire
* Glentenmont, Dumfriesshire
* Glenturk, Wigtownshire
* [[Glenturret distillery|Glenturret]], 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}}
* [[Geltsdale & Glendue Fells|Glendue]], Northumberland
* [[Glendurgan Garden|Glendurgan]], Cornwall - from Cornish ''glynn'' ("deep valley") + ''dowrgeun'' ("otters").<ref name="htpn" />
* [[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]] 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]], Pembrokshire, 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>
* [[Glyn Ceiriog|Glynceiriog]], Denbighshire<ref name="pnw" />
* [[Glyncorrwg]], Glamorgan
* [[Glynneath]], Glamorgan<ref name="pnw" />
* [[Glynrhonwy quarries|Glynrhonwy]], Carnarfonshire<ref name="pnw" />
* [[Glyn Tarell]], Brecknockshire

=== Isle of Man ===
* [[Glen Maye]], Glenfaba
* [[Glen Wyllin]], Kirk Michael
* [[Silverdale Glen]], Malhew
* [[Sulby Glen|Tholt-y-Will Glen]], Lezayre - also known as Sulby Glen

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

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Rivers, streams and springs}}

[[Category:Glens| ]]
[[Category:Landforms]]
[[Category:Slope landforms]]
[[Category:Valleys]]