Balmaha
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = Scotland
| official_name = Balmaha
| gaelic_name = Baile Mo Thatha
| scots_name =
| population = 60
| population_ref = (approximately)
| os_grid_reference = NS420909
| label_position = right
| coordinates = {{coord|56.084|-4.540|display=inline,title}}
| civil_parish = Buchanan
| unitary_scotland = Stirling
| lieutenancy_scotland = Stirling and Falkirk
| constituency_westminster = Stirling
| constituency_scottish_parliament = Stirling
| post_town = Glasgow
| postcode_district = G63
| postcode_area = G
| dial_code = 01360
| static_image_name = Main_Street,_Balmaha.JPG
| static_image_caption = The Main Street in Balmaha
}}
Image:Balmaha Boat Yard.jpg at Balmaha]]
Balmaha (Gaelic: Baile Mo Thatha) is a village on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond in the council area of Stirling, Scotland.
The village is a popular tourist destination for picnickers and day trippers from Glasgow as well as walkers on the West Highland Way. The only road passing through the village is the B837. Boat trips leave from Balmaha for the town of Balloch and the village of Luss as well as nearby Inchcailloch Island.{{cite web|title=Visit Balmaha|url=http://www.trossachs.co.uk/balmaha.php|access-date=8 April 2013|archive-date=9 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609074052/http://www.trossachs.co.uk/balmaha.php|url-status=dead}}
Balmaha sits at the westerly foot of Conic Hill, and is roughly {{convert|20|mi|km|sigfig=1|order=flip|abbr=off}} along the West Highland Way if coming from Milngavie.
Etymology
The name Balmaha derives from the Gaelic Bealach Mo-Cha, 'the pass of Saint Mo-Cha'. The pass referred to is now named The Pass of Balmaha, a narrow route between hills at the north end of the village, carrying the road north along Loch Lomond. The saint referred to is Kentigerna, patron saint of the parish who was revered especially on the nearby island of Inchcailloch ('Island of Nuns'). Mo-Cha is a 'hypocoristic' form of her name, a sort of devotional nickname, common in medieval Gaelic and Welsh use. She is also commemorated in a well in the hills above the village, St Maha's Well.
Climate
Balmaha has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb). There is a Met Office weather station located at Arrochymore, around {{convert|1|km|mi|abbr=on|frac=8}} to the north.
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Arrochymore ({{convert|30|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=or|0}} asl, averages 1991–2020)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan high C = 7.2
| Feb high C = 7.7
| Mar high C = 9.3
| Apr high C = 12.2
| May high C = 15.4
| Jun high C = 17.7
| Jul high C = 19.2
| Aug high C = 18.8
| Sep high C = 16.5
| Oct high C = 13.0
| Nov high C = 9.7
| Dec high C = 7.4
| year high C = 12.9
| Jan low C = 1.5
| Feb low C = 1.5
| Mar low C = 2.3
| Apr low C = 4.0
| May low C = 6.4
| Jun low C = 9.1
| Jul low C = 11.1
| Aug low C = 10.6
| Sep low C = 8.9
| Oct low C = 6.2
| Nov low C = 3.6
| Dec low C = 1.4
| year low C = 5.6
| Jan rain mm = 211.7
| Feb rain mm = 158.0
| Mar rain mm = 149.9
| Apr rain mm = 90.7
| May rain mm = 84.5
| Jun rain mm = 101.9
| Jul rain mm = 121.2
| Aug rain mm = 131.2
| Sep rain mm = 143.2
| Oct rain mm = 185.2
| Nov rain mm = 181.7
| Dec rain mm = 212.5
| year rain mm = 1771.7
| Jan sun = 31.6
| Feb sun = 59.3
| Mar sun = 91.9
| Apr sun = 142.7
| May sun = 178.0
| Jun sun = 152.1
| Jul sun = 140.8
| Aug sun = 133.6
| Sep sun = 102.4
| Oct sun = 76.7
| Nov sun = 43.3
| Dec sun = 27.1
| year sun = 1179.4
}}
Facilities
The village previously had a visitor centre for the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, currently defunct.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/plan-your-visit/visitor-centres/|title = Visitor Centres | Respect Protect Enjoy}} It also has a restaurant and bed and breakfast, the [http://www.theoaktreeinn.co.uk Oak Tree Inn], a bar and a shop, as well as several smaller accommodation premises nearby due to its position on the West Highland Way and its popularity with daytrippers. It is also the home of St Mocha coffee shop and ice cream parlour.
The Macfarlane and Son Boatyard is found in Balmaha; the boatyard was established over 150 years ago by John Macfarlane and has been in the family ever since. The boatyard currently runs a ferry service over to Inch Cailloch and around the loch for visitors, as well as delivering the mail to inhabited islands.{{Cite web|url=http://www.balmahaboatyard.co.uk/about.htm|title = Balmaha Boatyard}}
Further along the road is Milarrochy Bay.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Balmaha}}
{{wikivoyage|Balmaha}}
- [http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/balmaha/balmaha/ Undiscovered Scotland - Balmaha]
- [https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/balmaha-p240541 - Balmaha Visit Scotland]
{{Stirling Towns & Villages}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Villages in Stirling (council area)
{{Stirling-geo-stub}}