Balvicar

Balvicar
Balvicar is located in Argyll and Bute
Balvicar
Balvicar
Location within Argyll and Bute
Population112 [1]
LanguageEnglish
Scottish Gaelic
OS grid referenceNM7617
• Edinburgh95 mi (153 km) ESE
• London400 mi (640 km) SE
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townOBAN
Postcode districtPA34
Dialling code01852
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
56°17′31″N 05°36′42″W / 56.29194°N 5.61167°W / 56.29194; -5.61167

Balvicar (Scottish Gaelic: Baile a' Bhiocair) is a village on the island of Seil, a small island seven miles (eleven kilometres) southwest of Oban, Scotland. It is one of three villages on the island along with Ellenabeich and Clachan-Seil. It was a former slate-mining village beginning in the 16th century, and eventually ceased mining after sporadic operation between the 1940s and 60s.[2]

Balvicar contains a shop[3] which also serves as a post office. The Isle of Seil Golf Club is also situated in the village. There is a fish factory which processes locally caught langoustines that go for export, and a number of creel fishing boats operate out of Balvicar Bay. There is a boatyard which offers repairs and maintenance for both fishing and pleasure vessels plus winter storage for yachts and small commercial vessels.

As of 2001, 2.68% of people in Balvicar could speak Scottish Gaelic.[1]

  1. ^ a b Balvicar Census Data – Scotland Census 2001
  2. ^ Seil on Undiscovered Scotland
  3. ^ Balvicar Stores