55°58′41″N 4°34′51″W / 55.9780°N 4.5808°W
The Vale of Leven (Scottish Gaelic: Magh Leamhna) is an area of West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, in the valley of the River Leven. Historically, it was part of The Lennox, the name of which derives from the Gaelic term Leamhnach, meaning field of the Leven. Leamnha is thought to mean elm-water.[1][2]
Geographically the valley of the Vale of Leven runs from Loch Lomond in the north to Dumbarton in the south. However, the term "Vale of Leven" or just "The Vale" is commonly used locally to refer to the urban area towards the north of the valley that consists of a number of communities. These were historically separate villages but have expanded into one conurbation. The largest of these communities is the town of Alexandria, which sits on the west bank of the Leven. Alexandria is connected to the village of Renton to the south and to the village of Balloch in the north. Across the river from Alexandria Is Bonhill which is connected to Jamestown to the north. The combined population of these areas in 2020 was approximately 22000.
The area's name lends itself to Alexandria's local football club, Vale of Leven F.C.; the secondary school, Vale of Leven Academy; the Vale of Leven District General Hospital and other local organisations.
- ^ Watson, William J. (2004). The history of the Celtic place-names of Scotland. Birlinn. pp. 119–120. ISBN 978-1-906566-35-7. OCLC 751666075.
- ^ Nicolaisen, W. F. H. (2001). Scottish place-names. John Donald. p. 228. ISBN 0-85976-556-3.