Balallan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Balallan
Scottish Gaelic: Baile Ailein
Balallan (Outer Hebrides)
Balallan

Balallan shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid reference NB2920
Council area Na h-Eileanan Siar
Lieutenancy area Western Isles
Constituent country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town ISLE OF LEWIS
Postcode district HS2
Police Northern
Fire Highlands and Islands
Ambulance Scottish
European Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Scottish Parliament Western Isles
List of places: UKScotland

Coordinates: 58°05′N 6°36′W / 58.08, -6.6

Balallan (Scottish Gaelic: Baile Ailein, sometimes spelt "Bail' Ailein", meaning "Allan's Town") has the distinction of being the longest village (4 miles measured from end to end) in Lewis (and also in northern Scotland). Straggled along the head of a long sea loch between Arivruach and Laxay, it developed due to a mixture of crofting along the loch shore and fishing. It sits at the head of Loch Erisort.

Those on the loch side were each given direct access to the loch for their boats as well as access to the moorland behind for their sheep. They also attended to their croft, given relative shelter from the elements by the high ground to the west.

The village has a police house and a post office that sells various groceries.

Just south of the village there is a cairn that stands as a memorial to the Deer Park Raiders. It is one of three Land Struggle Cairns to have been commissioned on the Isle of Lewis.