Balnain

Balnain
Scottish Gaelic: Baile an Fhàin

A view of Balnain in 1999
Balnain
 Balnain shown within the Inverness area
Population 300 (1991) estimated
OS grid referenceNH433305
Council areaHighland
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Postcode district IV63 6
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
List of places
UK
Scotland

Coordinates: 57°20′11″N 4°35′11″W / 57.336476°N 4.586312°W / 57.336476; -4.586312

Balnain is a small village in Glenurquhart, Scotland, about 5 miles west of Drumnadrochit. It is mostly dependent on tourism, forestry and farming. The first buildings were created in the 1880s and minor expansions occurred in the 1900s and 1960s.

Overview

The River Enrick runs past the village and through to Loch Meiklie.[1][2][3] The village also has a primary school.[4][5][6][7][8][8][9][10]

Balnain is a small village 5 miles north of Glenurquhart, Scotland. It is mostly dependent on tourism, forestry and farming. The first buildings were created in the 1880s and minor expansions occurred in the 1900s and 1960s. The River Enrick runs past the village and through to Loch Meiklie. The local guest house was called Meiklie House, but is now Glenurquhart House.

History

Glenurquhart used to be part of the lands of the Grants of Glenmorison, with the lands of the Frasers to the north for most of its time. The Fraser family of Balnain, Scotland, supported Bonnie Prince Charlie.[11]

Climate

The weather is pleasantly warm and sunny in the spring and summer, cool and fairly rainy in the autumn and very cold and snowy (with some blizzards) in the winter.

Economy

Tourism, agriculture and local farming.

Local amenities

Sheep in Balnain in 1989.

Recreational areas and parks

Balnain-park is the well-equipped village play park.[12]

Public house

The nearby pub is called "The Steading".[13][14][15]

Post office

It closed circa 1998, when the owner retired.

Balnain bike park

The Forestry Commission's adventure bike park was opened in early 2009 and closed in May 2011.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Primary school

A picture of Balnain primary school in 1998.[23][24][25]

It is a non-denominational,[26] mixed sex school,[26] with (as of 2012) 37 pupils.[26] This was reduced to 35 pupils in 2013.[27]

The main school building was built in circa 1880. The school did well in its 2006 and 2008 Ofsted reports. The leaky roof was fixed in 2008 after an Ofsted report commented on it 2 years earlier.[4][28][29]

The school uniform is a red Balnain School sweatshirt, with either grey trousers, pinafores or skirts and white or red polo shirt, or a white shirt.[30]

Years Trousers and skirt Shirt and blouse Jumper Head gear
2012 and later Either grey trousers, pinafores or skirtsWhite or red polo shirt, or a white shirt Red Balnain School sweatshirt Non.[30]
2009 - 2012 Either navy, grey or black skirts and trousers non Red Balnain School sweatshirt Non.[31][32][33][34]
2008 Either navy, grey or black skirts and trousers White shirt (optional for boys) or non for girlsRed Balnain School sweatshirt Non.[10]
2007 Either grey or shorts for boys or trousers for both gendersWhite polo-shirt for girls and a grey shirt or red polo-shirt for boys Red Balnain School sweatshirt Non.[35]
Early-mid 2000s Either navy, grey or black skirts, trousers or jog pants White polo shirt or blouse Red Balnain School sweatshirt Non.
Mid-late 1990s Brown trousers, jog pants or skirt Yellow polo shirt Yellow Balnain School sweatshirt A yellow baseball cap.
Early 1990s Either navy, grey or black skirts and jog pants White polo shirt or blouse Red Balnain School sweatshirt Non.
Pre-1990s Either navy, grey or black skirts and trousers White shirt or blouse Red jumper Non.

There are regular after-school activities and it caters for pupils between the ages of 5 to 12.[4][32][33][34] In 2012, the top age was cut from 12 to 11.[26]

The opening hours are 09.00 to 15.00 on week days and the headmistress was Mrs M. L. Livingstone in 2010 and now 2011.[4][32][33][34] Ms Stephanie Wood took over by [27] In 2015, Miss Janis MacRae became Head but was shortly delayed after she broke her ankle.

Transport

There was an occasional weekday bus service to Inverness (as of 1990–2005), which is now only twice daily. The bus stop is on the junction between the A831 and School Road End.[36] Road transport is often disrupted by harsh winter weather during December and January.

Near by satellite settlements

Near-by places include Strathnacrow, Balnaglack, Balbeg and Lochletter Cottages

A field in Lochletter.
A farm in Strathnacrow.

Local attractions

The Forestry Commission closed the 2 year old Bike-park and general access to cross-country cyclists in 2011,[21][37][38] but walkers can still enjoy the scenery.[39]

Imagery

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Forestry.gov.uk was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balnain.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lochletter, Highland.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Strathnacrow, Highland.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Loch Meiklie area – map of – Loch Meiklie, Highland – at". Pagemost.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  2. ↑ "Loch Meiklie". Am Baile. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  3. ↑ "Photo of Scotland – Loch Meiklie, Balnain". Panoramio. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Balnain Primary School". Highland.gov.uk. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  5. ↑ "Balnain Primary School Drumnadrochit, Inverness, Schools and Colleges". Misterwhat.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "Balnain Primary School – IV63 6TJ – Inverness". Yelp.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  7. ↑ "Balnain Primary School – Highland, Scotland". Friendsreunited.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Map – Directions | Balnain Primary School | Schools & Colleges, Inverness". Yell.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "Schools Local Authority in Inverness – Balnain Primary School". ThomsonLocal.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Highlands and Islands schools to receive renewable energy toolkits". Hi-energy.org.uk. 9 September 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  11. ↑ http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/fraser.html
  12. ↑ "Balnain Park". Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  13. ↑ "Balnain Pubs, Restaurants, Banks, Hotels, Shops, Cinemas, Supermarkets, Takeaways, Bars, Telephone code and Postcode – Balnain, Highland". Bigreddirectory.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  14. ↑ "The Steading Country Pub & Restaurant Glen Urquhart Loch Ness". Thesteadingbar.co.uk. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  15. ↑ "Balnain". Wn.com. 8 December 2000. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  16. ↑ "Trails: Balnain Bike Park, Scotland". bikesR4riding. 28 January 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  17. ↑ "Balnain Bike Park | Super Fun Days Out-Activity Experiences,Stag and Hen Weekends and more!". Superfundaysout.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  18. ↑ "Forestry Commission – Glen Urquhart – Balnain Bike Park". Forestry.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  19. ↑ "Mountain Biking in the Highlands of Scotland – Balnain Bike Park: a fun park and skills development area near the popular holiday destination of Loch Ness". Mtb-highland.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  20. ↑ "Balnain Bike Park in Highlands and Islands | days out | canals & rivers". Waterscape.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  21. 1 2 "Balnain Bike Park – Mountain Biking – United Kingdom > North Scotland". Moredirt.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  22. ↑ http://www.forestry.gov.uk/balnainbikepark
  23. ↑ "Balnain Primary School". Highland.gov.uk. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  24. ↑ "Balnain Primary School, Highland, Inverness". Axcis.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  25. ↑ "Balnain Primary School Drumnadrochit, Inverness, Schools and Colleges". Misterwhat.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "Balnain Primary School | Inverness | LEA:Highland". The Good Schools Guide. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  27. 1 2 http://www.highland.gov.uk/learninghere/schools/schoollist/glenurquharthighschool/balnainprimaryschool.htm
  28. ↑ "Balnain Primary School Inverness Inspection 28/03/2006". Hmie.gov.uk. 28 March 2006. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  29. ↑ "Balnain Primary School Balnain Follow-through 29/01/2008". Hmie.gov.uk. 29 January 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  30. 1 2 http://keepingoutofthed.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/in-with-new-but-lets-hang-on-to-old-for.html
  31. ↑ "Microsoft Word - Balnain Handbook 2009 - 2010.doc" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-09-30. Boy's shirts were also optional in 2008
  32. 1 2 3 "Balnain School Handbook" (PDF). Highland.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  33. 1 2 3 "Powered by Google Docs" (PDF). Docs.google.com. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  34. 1 2 3 "Powered by Google Docs" (PDF). Docs.google.com. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  35. ↑ http://scottishprovincialpress.newsprints.co.uk/view/6157102/balnain%20primary_2_jpg
  36. ↑ "Balnain Bus & Train Tickets, Timetables & Journey Planner". TravelFor.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  37. ↑ "Forestry Commission Scotland – Balnain Bike Park". Forestry.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  38. ↑ "Millness Croft, Glenurquhart, Scotland, Luxury self-catering accommodation in the Highlands". Millnesscroft.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  39. ↑ "Natural History". 57.3285136089169;-4.48456764221191: Craigmonie Centre. Retrieved 18 October 2011.

External links

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