Balmaha

Balmaha
Scottish Gaelic: Baile MoThatha
The Main Street in Balmaha
Balmaha Balmaha shown within the Stirling council area
OS grid reference	NS420909
Civil parish	Buchanan
Council area	Stirling
Lieutenancy area	Stirling and Falkirk
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Glasgow
Postcode district	G63
Dialling code	01360
Police	Scottish
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Stirling
Scottish Parliament	Stirling
List of places UK Scotland

Coordinates: 56°05′02″N 4°32′24″W / 56.084°N 4.540°W / 56.084; -4.540

The harbor and boat yard on Loch Lomond at Balmaha

Balmaha (Gaelic: Baile MoThatha) 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. Boat trips leave from Balmaha for the town of Balloch and the village of Luss as well as nearby Inchcailloch Island.^[1]

Balmaha sits at the westerly foot of Conic Hill, and is roughly 30 kilometres (20 miles) along the West Highland Way.

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 culted 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.

Facilities

The village has a visitor centre for the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.^[2] It also has a restaurant and Bed and Breakfast, the Oak Tree Inn, a bar and a shop. It is also the home of St Mocha coffee shop and ice cream parlour selling homemade ice cream, loose leaf teas and locally roasted coffee all perfectly crafted by none other than the famous 'Begonna'. Further along the road is Milarrochy Bay.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balmaha.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Balmaha.

Settlements in Stirling (council area)

Cities	Stirling

Towns	Bannockburn Bridge of Allan Callander Doune Dunblane

Villages	Aberfoyle Balfron Balmaha Balquhidder Blanefield Blairlogie Buchlyvie Cambusbarron Cambuskenneth Cowie Crianlarich Croftamie Deanston Drymen Fallin Fintry Gargunnock Gartmore Killearn Killin Kinlochard Kippen Milton of Buchanan Lochearnhead Plean Port of Menteith Strathblane Strathyre Thornhill Tyndrum

Hamlets	Ardchullarie More Ardchyle Ardeonaig Arnprior Ashfield Auchlyne Balfron Station Boquhan Buchanan Smithy Dalmary Gartness Inverarnan Kilmahog Kinbuck Milton Mugdock Stronachlachar Throsk

Districts of Stirling	Abbey Craig Airthley Allan Park Borestone Braehead Broomridge Burghmuir Causewayhead Chartersall Corn Exchange Cornton Coxethill Craigmill Craig Leith Cultenhove Forthbank Gillies Hill Gowan Hill Hillpark Kenningknowes Kildean King's Park Laurelhill Livilands Loanhead Mercat Cross Raploch Randolphfield Riverside Spittal Hill Springkerse St. Ninians Torbrex Whins of Milton Viewforth Wolfcraig

Other settlements	Auchtubh Blair Drummond Brig o' Turk Carbeth Clifton Dalrigh Inversnaid Rowardennan Ruskie

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/19/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.