Balvicar

Balvicar
Scottish Gaelic: Baile a' Bhiocair
Balvicar
 Balvicar shown within Argyll and Bute
Population 112 [1]
LanguageEnglish
Scottish Gaelic
OS grid referenceNM7617
   – Edinburgh 96.54 mi (155.37 km)  ESE
   – London 399.58 mi (643.06 km)  SE
Council areaArgyll and Bute
Lieutenancy areaArgyll and Bute
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town OBAN
Postcode district PA34
Dialling code 01852
EU Parliament Scotland
UK ParliamentArgyll and Bute
Scottish ParliamentArgyll and Bute
List of places
UK
Scotland

Coordinates: 56°17′28″N 5°36′56″W / 56.291192°N 5.6155°W

Balvicar (Scottish Gaelic: Baile a' Bhiocair) is a village on the island of Seil, a small island 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Oban, Scotland. It is one of three villages on the island along with Ellenabeich and Clachan-Seil. It was a former slate-mining village beginning in the 16th century, and eventually ceased mining after sporadic operation between the 1940s and 60s.[2]

Balvicar contains a shop[3] which also serves as a post office. The Isle of Seil Golf Club is also situated in the village.There is a fish factory which processes locally caught langoustines that go for export, and a number of creel fishing boats operate out of Balvicar Bay. There is a boatyard which offers repairs and maintenance for both fishing and pleasure vessels plus winter storage for yachts and small commercial vessels.

2.68% of people in Balvicar speak Scottish Gaelic.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Balvicar Census Data - Scotland Census 2001
  2. ↑ Seil on Undiscovered Scotland
  3. ↑ Balvicar Stores
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