Balnakeil is a hamlet in the parish of
Durness,
Sutherland,
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands ( sco, the Hielands; gd, a’ Ghàidhealtachd , 'the place of the Gaels') is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland S ...
, and is in the
Scottish council area of
Highland. It is on the north coast of Scotland around northwest of Durness. The ruins of Balnakeil Church are a
scheduled monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.
The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage and d ...
. The
Kyle of Durness
Kyle of Durness is a coastal inlet on the north coast of Scotland in the county of Sutherland. It extends inland from Balnakeil and divides the Cape Wrath peninsula from the mainland.Groome.F.H (1885) 'Parish of Durness', ''Ordnance Gazetteer ...
is west of Balnakeil which gives its name to the Balnakeil Bay which the Kyle opens into.
[Groome.F.H (1885) 'Parish of Durness', ''Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical'',]
available online
. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
The
peninsula of
Faraid Head is to the north of Balnakeil. It was the site of a 1950s
radar
Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, we ...
station and remains the range control for
Ministry of Defence bombing operations in the
Cape Wrath Training Area to the west.
[RAF Faraid Head ('RAI') CEW R10 ROTOR Radar station]
Subterranea Britannica, 2004-06-15. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
Three small lochs are to the south of Balnakeil: Loch Croispol, Loch Borralie and Loch Caladail. Durness Golf Course is to the southwest.
[Loch Borralie, Kyle of Durness]
Historic Scotland, 2003. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
See also
*
Durness
*
Faraid Head
*
Cape Wrath
References
Populated places in Sutherland
Balnakeil
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