Balmaha (
Gaelic: ''Baile Mo Thatha'') is a village on the eastern shore of
Loch Lomond in the council area of
Stirling,
Scotland.
The village is a popular tourist destination for
picnic
A picnic is a meal taken outdoors ( ''al fresco'') as part of an excursion, especially in scenic surroundings, such as a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event such as preceding ...
kers and day trippers from
Glasgow as well as walkers on the
West Highland Way. The only road passing through the village is the B837. Boat trips leave from Balmaha for the town of
Balloch and the village of
Luss as well as nearby
Inchcailloch Island.
Balmaha sits at the westerly foot of
Conic Hill, and is roughly along the
West Highland Way if coming from Milngavie.
Etymology
The name Balmaha derives from the
Gaelic ''Bealach Mo-Cha'', 'the pass of Saint Mo-Cha'. The pass referred to is now named The Pass of Balmaha, a narrow route between hills at the north end of the village, carrying the road north along Loch Lomond. The saint referred to is
Kentigerna, patron saint of the parish who was revered especially on the nearby island of Inchcailloch ('Island of Nuns'). Mo-Cha is a '
hypocoristic' form of her name, a sort of devotional nickname, common in medieval Gaelic and Welsh use. She is also commemorated in a well in the hills above the village, St Maha's Well.
Climate
Balmaha has an
oceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ( ...
(
Köppen: ''Cfb''). There is a
Met Office
The Meteorological Office, abbreviated as the Met Office, is the United Kingdom's national weather service. It is an executive agency and trading fund of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and is led by CEO Penelope E ...
weather station located at Arrochymore, around to the north.
Facilities
The village previously had a visitor centre for the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, currently defunct. It also has a restaurant and
bed and breakfast, th
Oak Tree Inn a bar and a shop, as well as several smaller accommodation premises nearby due to its position on the West Highland Way and its popularity with daytrippers. It is also the home of St Mocha coffee shop and ice cream parlour.
The Macfarlane and Son Boatyard is found in Balmaha; the boatyard was established over 150 years ago by John Macfarlane and has been in the family ever since. The boatyard currently runs a ferry service over to Inch Cailloch and around the loch for visitors, as well as delivering the mail to inhabited islands.
Further along the road is
Milarrochy Bay.
References
External links
Undiscovered Scotland - Balmaha- Balmaha Visit Scotland
Villages in Stirling (council area)
Loch Lomond
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