The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word DALE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
D
A
L
E
More clues leading to the result DALE
- Young man from the right English valley
- Beginning to distil drink in northern valley
- Northern valley sees English youth returning
- Valley at last supplied with beer
- Might he have starred in Carry On Up The Valley?
- Who’s opponent cut feature in Yorkshire?
- Northern valley supplied at last with beer
- Day on beer brings depression
- Last of Highland drink in glen
- Who’s enemy finally denied in northern valley?
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "northern valley" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case northern valley = dale.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DALE mean?
DALE noun- A valley, often in an otherwise hilly area.
- A trough or spout to carry off water, as from a pump.