A ghyll is a steep, often tree-filled cleft cut by a lively stream. Mossy stones, sudden waterfalls, and overhanging branches give it a close, echoing atmosphere. Poets can use a ghyll as a threshold between ordinary paths and a more secluded natural world, where light is broken into fragments and water seems to speak. Its confined shape also makes it effective for scenes of concealment, fear, wonder, or concentrated sensory attention.

A ghyll is a narrow, often wooded ravine or gorge, usually with a stream running between steep banks; the word is especially associated with northern England. Its enclosed terrain can create effects of shade, echo, secrecy, or sudden descent. Compare the broader glen and the Scottish linn. Study hint: map the speaker’s movement through the ghyll and note how sound and light are restricted.