cleugh

Cleugh is a term from the Scots language describing a narrow, steep‑sided ravine or gully formed by running water. In geographic usage, a cleugh is a small, often V‑shaped valley carved into upland terrain, where a stream or seasonal watercourse may flow. The feature is characteristic of Scotland and parts of northern England, and the word appears frequently in place names to indicate such terrain. Dialect spellings vary, with cleuch and cleugh commonly used in different regions, sometimes with additional elements describing location, direction, or surrounding landscape.

Geologically, cleughs are created by erosion from water and, in some cases, by glacial meltwater that exploits weaknesses in rock on hillside slopes. They are typically narrow and steep, with exposed rock faces or rugged banks, and may be dry for extended periods if the water supply is intermittent. In the landscape, cleughs contrast with broader valleys (glens) and with gentler streams further down the slope. The term is used not only in physical geography but also in cultural contexts, appearing in poetry and local lore to evoke rugged, sparsely inhabited hillsides.