Balloch, West Dunbartonshire

Balloch
Scottish Gaelic: Am Bealach
National Park Visitor Centre with the 'Maid of the Loch' in the background
Balloch  Balloch shown within West Dunbartonshire
OS grid reference	NS390820
Civil parish	Bonhill
Council area	West Dunbartonshire
Lieutenancy area	Dunbartonshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ALEXANDRIA
Postcode district	G83
Dialling code	01389
Police	Scottish
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	West Dunbartonshire
Scottish Parliament	Dumbarton
List of places UK Scotland

Coordinates: 56°00′07″N 4°34′48″W / 56.002°N 4.580°W

Balloch (/ˈbæləx/; Gaelic: Am Bealach^[1]) is a small town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, at the foot of Loch Lomond.

Etymology

Balloch, or Bealach, comes from the Gaelic word 'bal' (baile or ball) which means village or hamlet, so Balloch means village on the Loch - as in nearby Loch Lomond. The word can also mean "the pass".

Geography

An environmental art installation in the woods at Balloch

Balloch is at the north end of the Vale of Leven, straddling the River Leven itself. It connects to the larger town of Alexandria and to the smaller village of Jamestown, both of which are located to its south. It also borders the Kilpatrick Hills. To the east of the town lies the major local authority housing scheme in the area known as 'The Haldane' or 'The Mill of Haldane'. At 56 degrees N, Balloch is at about the same latitude as Moscow.

Tourism

With its accessible location at the southern end of Loch Lomond and just off the main road from Glasgow to the West Highlands, it is an important centre of tourism, especially from Glasgow and Dumbarton. The town has a number of hotels, inns and pubs, and there are cruises from Balloch up Loch Lomond, and other services, including to nearby locations like Luss, and the Renfrew Ferry service. The largest number of boats cruising on Loch Lomond leave from Balloch. It contains Balloch Country Park and Balloch Castle, and is at the southern end of the first Scottish national park, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. There is a Sea Life Centre located in the town. The Loch Lomond Youth Soccer Festival used to take place in the town. "Lochfoot" in the Jean Robertson novels of Jane Duncan is partly based on the town. The PS Maid of the Loch is currently being restored at Balloch pier.

Transport

The A811 road (based on an eighteenth-century military road) goes from Balloch to Stirling, and the A813 goes from Dumbarton to Balloch. The Glasgow to Loch Lomond cycle path (part of National Cycle Route 7) ends at Balloch. The West Loch Lomond Cycle Path also runs from Balloch. The town was formerly served by two railway stations on the Caledonian and Dunbartonshire Junction Railway: Balloch Central, and Balloch Pier, which closed in 1988 and 1986, respectively. The town now has one railway station opened by British Rail, which is a terminus of the North Clyde electric train service from Glasgow.

Education

Balloch is served by Haldane Primary School and St. Kessog's Primary School.

Notable residents

• George Findlay, Victoria Cross recipient
• Sharleen Spiteri, singer, songwriter, guitarist and lead vocalist of Texas
• Hugh Hammil, colourist

See also

• List of places in West Dunbartonshire

References

1. "Place name database - Balloch". Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. Retrieved 22 May 2011.