the shenandoah valley (nicknamed "the big valley" ) is a geographic valley and cultural region of western virginia and the eastern panhandle of west virginia in the united states. the valley is bounded on the east by the blue ridge mountains. on the west it is bounded by the eastern front of the appalachians. to the north it goes to the potomac river and to the south by the james river. the cultural region covers a larger area that includes all of the valley plus the virginia highlands to the west, and the roanoke valley to the south. the valley is about long. it is the home of two well-known universities, james madison and shenandoah university.