Balmaha (

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

: ''Baile Mo Thatha'') is a village on the eastern shore of

Loch Lomond Loch Lomond (; gd, Loch Laomainn - 'Lake of the Elms'Richens, R. J. (1984) ''Elm'', Cambridge University Press.) is a freshwater Scottish loch which crosses the Highland Boundary Fault, often considered the boundary between the lowlands of C ...

in the council area of

Stirling Stirling (; sco, Stirlin; gd, Sruighlea ) is a city in central Scotland, northeast of Glasgow and north-west of Edinburgh. The market town, surrounded by rich farmland, grew up connecting the royal citadel, the medieval old town with its me ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

. The village is a popular tourist destination for picnickers and day trippers from

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

as well as walkers on the

West Highland Way The West Highland Way ( gd, Slighe na Gàidhealtachd an Iar) is a linear long-distance route in Scotland. It is long, running from Milngavie north of Glasgow to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, with an element of hill walking in the ...

. 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 Luss (''Lus'', 'herb' in Gaelic) is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, on the west bank of Loch Lomond. The village is within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. History Historically in the County of Dunbarton, its origina ...

as well as nearby

Inchcailloch Inchcailloch ( gd, Innis na Cailleach) is an islet on Loch Lomond in Scotland. It is at its highest point. It is also known to some as Inchebroida. The name Inchcailloch means "Isle of the old woman" or "Isle of the Cowled (Hooded) Woman" i ...

Island. Balmaha sits at the westerly foot of

Conic Hill Conic Hill (from Gaelic "còinneach" meaning moss) is a prominent hill in Stirling, Scotland. Location and description It is on the east bank of Loch Lomond, beside the village of Balmaha. It is a sharp little summit which is on the Highland ...

, and is roughly along the

if coming from Milngavie.

Etymology

The name Balmaha derives from the

''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 Caintigern (died 734), or Saint Kentigerna, was a daughter of Cellach Cualann, King of Leinster. Her feast is listed in the ''Aberdeen Breviary'' for 7 January. Her husband is said to have been Feriacus regulus of Monchestre, who possibly is the ...

, patron saint of the parish who was revered especially on the nearby island of Inchcailloch ('Island of Nuns'). Mo-Cha is a '

hypocoristic A hypocorism ( or ; from Ancient Greek: (), from (), 'to call by pet names', sometimes also ''hypocoristic'') or pet name is a name used to show affection for a person. It may be a diminutive form of a person's name, such as '' Izzy'' for ...

' 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 (

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (born 1951), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author and ...

: ''Cfb''). There is a Met Office 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 Bed and breakfast (typically shortened to B&B or BnB) is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast. Bed and breakfasts are often private family homes and typically have between four and eleven rooms, wit ...

, 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 Milarrochy Bay is a bay on Loch Lomond, in southern Scotland. It is near the village of Balmaha. There are a few houses near the bay. Other bays on the east of Loch Lomond include Cashel Bay and Sallochy Bay. The bay has a visitor centre, w ...

References

External links

Undiscovered Scotland - Balmaha- Balmaha Visit Scotland
Villages in Stirling (council area) Loch Lomond {{Stirling-geo-stub