Balivanich

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title: "Balivanich" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["villages-in-the-outer-hebrides", "benbecula"] topic_path: "general/villages-in-the-outer-hebrides" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balivanich" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox UK place"]

FieldValue
official_nameBalivanich
gaelic_nameBaile a' Mhanaich
population
population_ref()
label_positionleft
static_image_nameBalivanich (West).jpg
static_image_captionWestern part of Balivanich with former primary school
languageScottish Gaelic
language1English
coordinates
countryScotland
os_grid_referenceNF776552
post_townISLE OF BENBECULA
postcode_areaHS
postcode_districtHS7
dial_code01870
civil_parishSouth Uist
constituency_westminsterNa h-Eileanan an Iar
unitary_scotlandNa h-Eileanan Siar
lieutenancy_scotlandWestern Isles
constituency_scottish_parliamentNa h-Eileanan an Iar
::

| official_name = Balivanich | gaelic_name = Baile a' Mhanaich | population = | population_ref = () | label_position = left | static_image_name = Balivanich (West).jpg | static_image_caption = Western part of Balivanich with former primary school | language = Scottish Gaelic | language1 = English | coordinates = | country = Scotland | os_grid_reference = NF776552 | post_town = ISLE OF BENBECULA | postcode_area = HS | postcode_district = HS7 | dial_code = 01870 | civil_parish = South Uist | constituency_westminster = Na h-Eileanan an Iar | unitary_scotland = Na h-Eileanan Siar | lieutenancy_scotland = Western Isles | constituency_scottish_parliament = Na h-Eileanan an Iar

Balivanich ( ) is a village on the island of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. It is the main centre for Benbecula and the adjacent islands of North Uist, South Uist and several smaller islands. Balivanich is within the parish of South Uist.

History

The name meaning "town of the monk" possibly relates to a monastery which may have been founded here as early as during the 6th century. Teampull Chaluim Chille, an ancient church dedicated to Columba, might have been part of this monastery; its remains can still be seen south of the village. An airfield to the north, built during World War II, became the control centre for the Hebrides rocket range, established in 1957 at the height of the Cold War. It is now Benbecula Airport.

Geography

Balivanich is located on the north-west coast of Benbecula in a largely flat area (0 to above sea level). As of the date of the census on 29 April 2001, the village comprised 3.76 km2.

Climate

A weather station has collected climate data for the island a short distance northeast at Benbecula airport. As with the rest of the British Isles and Scotland, Balivanich experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters, and is particularly windy due to its position directly facing the North Atlantic.

|location = Benbecula 6m asl, 1971-2000, Rainfall 1951-1980 (Weather station 1 mi north of Balivanich) |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |Jan high C = 7.2 |Feb high C = 7.3 |Mar high C = 8.3 |Apr high C = 10.0 |May high C = 12.9 |Jun high C = 14.5 |Jul high C = 16.1 |Aug high C = 16.2 |Sep high C = 14.4 |Oct high C = 12.0 |Nov high C = 9.2 |Dec high C = 7.8 |year high C = |Jan low C = 2.5 |Feb low C = 2.4 |Mar low C = 3.1 |Apr low C = 4.3 |May low C = 6.6 |Jun low C = 8.9 |Jul low C = 11.1 |Aug low C = 11.0 |Sep low C = 9.2 |Oct low C = 7.3 |Nov low C = 4.6 |Dec low C = 3.2 |year low C = |Jan precipitation mm = 129 |Feb precipitation mm = 86 |Mar precipitation mm = 89 |Apr precipitation mm = 62 |May precipitation mm = 65 |Jun precipitation mm = 76 |Jul precipitation mm = 83 |Aug precipitation mm = 83 |Sep precipitation mm = 119 |Oct precipitation mm = 139 |Nov precipitation mm = 140 |Dec precipitation mm = 132 |year precipitation mm = 1203 |Jan sun = 40.3 |Feb sun = 70.6 |Mar sun = 114.7 |Apr sun = 174.0 |May sun = 201.5 |Jun sun = 195.0 |Jul sun = 142.6 |Aug sun = 151.9 |Sep sun = 114.0 |Oct sun = 77.5 |Nov sun = 48.0 |Dec sun = 27.9 |year sun = 1361.0 |source 1 = YR.NO |source 2 = ScotClim{{cite web | url =http://www.weather.org.uk/climate/scotclim.html | title = Benbecula 1951-1980 averages | accessdate = 3 Nov 2011 | publisher = ScotClim}} |date=Nov 2011

Economy

The local council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) has offices in Balivanich, and there is also a post office, hospital, primary school and several shops and cafés.

Transport

Road

Balivanich is on the B892 and is connected to the north–south main road, which is the A865. This connects North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist. The village is served by the bus route W17, which operates between Berneray in the north and Eriskay in the south. This service is provided by the local government for the Western Isles (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) in collaboration with local bus companies and the PostBus service. The buses are regular, but not frequent, due to the low number of inhabitants. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Benbecula_airport_building.jpg" caption="Benbecula in Balivanich airport reception building"] ::

Several private taxi services complement the bus traffic. In addition, there is a scheduled door to door transport service for the elderly and those with restricted mobility, driving to shops, banks, post offices and other important amenities with minibuses.

Education

Since the old primary school was badly damaged during a storm, children from Balivanich and the surrounding communities have been attending the new Balivanich School (Sgoil Bhaile a' Mhanaich) since August 2011. About 140 boys and girls aged 1 – 12 years old are cared for or taught there in 3 preschool and 6 primary school classes. A secondary school is located in the neighbouring town of Liniclate.

Airport

Benbecula Airport (Port Adhair Bheinn na Fadhla) (IATA: BEB, ICAO: EGPL) is located on the northern edge of the village. The operator is the Highlands and Islands Airports Limited based in Inverness.

Operations include scheduled flights to the Mainland (Inverness via Stornoway and Glasgow International) and mail cargo flights. In addition, the airport is used, due to its central location close to the hospital, as a landing site for rescue helicopters and aircraft. Some land is also used for the Royal Air Force to refuel and for transport and logistics purposes.

References

References

  1. {{Scottish settlement population citation
  2. "Details of Balivanich". Scottish Places.
  3. Catriona Garbutt, Jean Newman: "Teampull Chaluim Chille - Balivanich's Scheduled Monument" In: ''Am Pàipear'' - Balivanich - No. 315, April 2012, p. 20–21.
  4. "SCROL Analyser". SCROL.
  5. "Benbecula 1971-2000 averages". [[YR.NO]].
  6. "B892". Sabre.
  7. "Bus Services". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
  8. "Community Transport & Dial-A-Bus". Tagsa Uibhist.
  9. "Benbecula Airport". Highland & Islands Airports.

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villages-in-the-outer-hebridesbenbecula