The Vale of Arryn

The Vale of Arryn is one of the constituent regions of the continent of Westeros, and was formerly a sovereign nation known as the Kingdom of Mountain and Vale before the Targaryen conquest. The Vale is ruled by House Arryn. Protected and surrounded by mountain ranges, the Vale tends to be slightly isolated from the rest of Westeros.

In the books
In the Song of Ice and Fire novels, the term 'Vale' refers to the entire region ruled by the Arryns, as well as the Vale itself (which runs from the foot of the Giant's Lance almost to the sea). The Arryns rule the Vale from the castle known as the Eyrie.

The people of the Vale, popularly called 'valemen', are known as honourable, reliable warriors steeped in honour and the worship of the Faith of the Seven.

Some of the valemen living in the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon have rejected the authority of the Eyrie and exist as little more than clans and tribes of savage warriors, such as the Black Ears and Burned Men. Whilst dangerous to passing travellers, they lack the number and equipment to properly invade or trouble the Vale.

The borders of the Vale are held to be the Bite to the north, the Bay of Crabs to the south, the Mountains of the Moon to the west and the Narrow Sea to the east.

Bastards born in the North are given the surname Stone.