| Balivanich | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Baile a' Mhanaich | |
|
Balivanich
Balivanich shown within the Outer Hebrides |
|
| Council area | Na h-Eileanan Siar |
|---|---|
| Lieutenancy area | Western Isles |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ISLE OF BENBECULA |
| Postcode district | HS7 |
| Dialling code | 01870 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Na h-Eileanan an Iar |
| Scottish Parliament | Western Isles |
| List of places: UK • Scotland • | |
Balivanich (Baile a' Mhanaich) 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. The name meaning "town of the monks" relates to a monastery established here in the 6th century and the remains of Teampull Chaluim Chille can be seen to the 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.
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 cafes.
A weather station has collected climate data for the Island a short distance to the North East 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.
| Climate data for Benbecula 6m asl, 1971-2000, Rainfall 1951-1980 (Weather station 1 mile (2 km) to the North of Balivanich) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 7.2 (45.0) |
7.3 (45.1) |
8.3 (46.9) |
10.0 (50.0) |
12.9 (55.2) |
14.5 (58.1) |
16.1 (61.0) |
16.2 (61.2) |
14.4 (57.9) |
12.0 (53.6) |
9.2 (48.6) |
7.8 (46.0) |
11.33 (52.39) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2.5 (36.5) |
2.4 (36.3) |
3.1 (37.6) |
4.3 (39.7) |
6.6 (43.9) |
8.9 (48.0) |
11.1 (52.0) |
11.0 (51.8) |
9.2 (48.6) |
7.3 (45.1) |
4.6 (40.3) |
3.2 (37.8) |
6.18 (43.13) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 129 (5.08) |
86 (3.39) |
89 (3.5) |
62 (2.44) |
65 (2.56) |
76 (2.99) |
83 (3.27) |
83 (3.27) |
119 (4.69) |
139 (5.47) |
140 (5.51) |
132 (5.2) |
1,203 (47.36) |
| Sunshine hours | 40.3 | 70.6 | 114.7 | 174.0 | 201.5 | 195.0 | 142.6 | 151.9 | 114.0 | 77.5 | 48.0 | 27.9 | 1,361.0 |
| Source no. 1: YR.NO[1] | |||||||||||||
| Source no. 2: ScotClim[2] | |||||||||||||