Editing Balivanich

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Expand German|topic=geo|Balivanich|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name                    = Balivanich
| gaelic_name                      = Baile a' Mhanaich
| population                       = {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Baile a'Mhanaich (Balivanich)}}
| population_ref                   = ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</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 language|English]]
| coordinates                      = {{coord|57.473|-7.378|display=inline,title}}
| 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 (UK Parliament constituency)|Na h-Eileanan an Iar]]
| unitary_scotland                 = [[Outer Hebrides|Na h-Eileanan Siar]]
| lieutenancy_scotland             = [[Outer Hebrides|Western Isles]]
| constituency_scottish_parliament = [[Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Na h-Eileanan an Iar]]
}}

'''Balivanich''' ({{langx|gd|Baile a' Mhanaich}} {{IPA|gd|palə ˈvanɪç|}}) 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish-places.info/towns/towndetails5121.html|title=Details of Balivanich|publisher=Scottish Places|accessdate=28 December 2014}}</ref>

==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 [[St. Columba|Columba]], might have been part of this monastery; its remains can still be seen south of the village.<ref>Catriona Garbutt, Jean Newman: "Teampull Chaluim Chille - Balivanich's Scheduled Monument" In: ''Am Pàipear'' - Balivanich - No. 315, April 2012, p. 20–21.</ref> 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 ({{convert|0|to|10|m|ft|abbr=off|disp=or}} above sea level). As of the date of the census on 29 April 2001, the village comprised {{convert|3.76|km2|sqmi|frac=32|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/analyser/analyser?topicId=1&tableId=UV02&tableName=Population%20density&selectedTopicId=1&aggregated=true&subject=&tableNumber=&selectedLevelId=&postcode=&areaText=&RADIOLAYER=&actionName=list-tables-in-topic&clearAreas=&stateData1=&stateData2=&stateData3=&stateData4=&debug=&tempData1=&tempData2=&tempData3=&tempData4=&levelId=9&areaId=455 |title=SCROL Analyser |publisher=SCROL |accessdate=28 December 2014 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228132627/http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/analyser/analyser?topicId=1&tableId=UV02&tableName=Population%20density&selectedTopicId=1&aggregated=true&subject=&tableNumber=&selectedLevelId=&postcode=&areaText=&RADIOLAYER=&actionName=list-tables-in-topic&clearAreas=&stateData1=&stateData2=&stateData3=&stateData4=&debug=&tempData1=&tempData2=&tempData3=&tempData4=&levelId=9&areaId=455 |archivedate=28 December 2014 |df= }}</ref>

===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.

{{Weather box
|location = Benbecula 6m asl, 1971-2000, Rainfall 1951-1980 (Weather station {{convert|1|mi|km|round=0.5|abbr=on|disp=or}} 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]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/Scotland/Benbecula/statistics.html | title = Benbecula 1971-2000 averages | accessdate = 3 Nov 2011 | publisher = [[YR.NO]] | archive-date = 3 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235015/http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/Scotland/Benbecula/statistics.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>
|source 2 = [[ScotClim]]<ref>{{cite web
| url =http://www.weather.org.uk/climate/scotclim.html | title = Benbecula 1951-1980 averages | accessdate = 3 Nov 2011 | publisher = [[ScotClim]]}}</ref>
|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 road (Great Britain)|A865]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=B892|title=B892|publisher=Sabre|accessdate=28 December 2014}}</ref> This connects North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist. The village is served by the bus route W17,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/travel/busservice/current/indexu.asp|title=Bus Services|publisher=Comhairle nan Eilean Siar|accessdate=28 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228140647/http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/travel/busservice/current/indexu.asp|archive-date=2014-12-28|url-status = dead|df=}}</ref> which operates between [[Berneray, North Uist|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.
[[File:Benbecula airport building.jpg|thumb|right|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tagsa-uibhist.com/our-services-projects/community-transport-dial-a-bus/|title=Community Transport & Dial-A-Bus|publisher=Tagsa Uibhist|accessdate=28 December 2014|archive-date=28 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228134017/http://www.tagsa-uibhist.com/our-services-projects/community-transport-dial-a-bus/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===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'') ([[International Air Transport Association|IATA]]: BEB, [[International Civil Aviation Organization|ICAO]]: EGPL) is located on the northern edge of the village. The operator is the [[Highlands and Islands Airports|Highlands and Islands Airports Limited]] based in Inverness.

Operations include scheduled flights to the Mainland (Inverness via [[Stornoway]] and [[Glasgow Airport|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hial.co.uk/benbecula-airport/about-us/benbecula-airport-today/|title=Benbecula Airport|publisher=Highland & Islands Airports|accessdate=28 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228131723/http://www.hial.co.uk/benbecula-airport/about-us/benbecula-airport-today/|archive-date=28 December 2014|url-status = dead}}</ref> Some land is also used for the [[Royal Air Force]] to refuel and for transport and logistics purposes.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Balivanich}}
{{Wikivoyage|Balivanich}}
*[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/277494/details/benbecula+balivanich/ Canmore - Benbecula, Balivanich site record]
*[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/90522/details/benbecula+airport+airfield/ Canmore - Benbecula Airport, Airfield site record]
*[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/9970/details/south+uist+benbecula+balivanich+teampall+chaluim+chille/ Canmore - South Uist, Benbecula, Balivanich, Teampall Chaluim Chille site record]
*[http://www.teampull.info/ Teampull Chaluim Chille - website about the historic site and efforts to preserve it]

{{Na h-Eileanan Siar places}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in the Outer Hebrides]]
[[Category:Benbecula]]