Balnain
Encyclopedia
Balnain is a small village in Glenurquhart, Scotland, about 5 miles west of Drumnadrochit
. It is mostly dependent on tourism, forestry and farming. The first buildings were created in the 1880s and minor expansions occurred in the 1900s and 1960s.
, with the lands of the Frasers
to the north for most of its time.
s) in the winter.
Balnain-park is the well-equipped village play park.
Public house
The nearby pub is called "The Steading".
Post office
It closed circa 1998, when the owner retired.
Balnain bike park
The Forestry Commission
's adventure bike park was opened in early 2009 and closed in May 2011.
reports. The leaky roof was fixed in 2008 after an Ofsted report commented on it 2 years earlier. The school uniform is a red Balnain School sweatshirt, with either navy, grey or black skirts and trousers are a 'suitable accompaniment' as of 2008. The older uniform of the mid to late 1990s was a yellow Balnain School sweatshirt, yellow polo shirt, brown trousers or skirt and a yellow baseball cap. Before that it was the same as the modern uniform, but with a then compulsory white shirt or blouse under the red sweatshirt.
There are regular after-school activities and it caters for pupils between the ages of 5 to 12.
The opening hours are 09.00 to 15.00 on week days and the headmistress was Mrs M. L. Livingstone in 2010 and now 2011.
(as of 1990–2005), which is now only twice daily The bus stop is on the junction between the A831 and School Road End.
closed the 2 year old Bike-park and general access to cross-country cyclists in 2011, but walkers can still enjoy the scenery.
Drumnadrochit
Drumnadrochit is a village inthe Highland local government council area of Scotland, lying on the west shore of Loch Ness, at the foot of Glen Urquhart.-History:...
. It is mostly dependent on tourism, forestry and farming. The first buildings were created in the 1880s and minor expansions occurred in the 1900s and 1960s.
Over view
The River Enrick runs past the village and through to Loch Meiklie. The village also has a primary school. Balnain is a small village 5 miles north of Glenurquhart, Scotland. It is mostly dependent on tourism, forestry and farming. The first buildings were created in the 1880s and minor expansions occurred in the 1900s and 1960s. The River Enrick runs past the village and through to Loch Meiklie. The local guest house was called Meiklie House, but is now Glenurquhart House.History
Glenurquhart used to be part of the lands of the Grants of GlenmorisonClan Grant
-Origins:The Grants are one of the clans of Siol Alpin, and descend from the 9th century Kenneth MacAlpin, King of Scots; and also of Norse origin, from settlers who are the descents of Haakon inn Riki Sigurdarsson , Jarl of Hladr, Protector of Norway ,-Origins:The Grants are one of the clans of...
, with the lands of the Frasers
Clan Fraser
Clan Fraser is a Scottish clan of French origin. The Clan has been strongly associated with Inverness and the surrounding area since the Clan's founder gained lands there in the 13th century. Since its founding, the Clan has dominated local politics and been active in every major military conflict...
to the north for most of its time.
Climate
The weather is pleasantly warm and sunny in the spring and summer, cool and fairly rainy in the autumn and very cold and snowy (with some blizzardBlizzard
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or...
s) in the winter.
Local amenities
Recreational areas and parksBalnain-park is the well-equipped village play park.
Public house
The nearby pub is called "The Steading".
Post office
It closed circa 1998, when the owner retired.
Balnain bike park
The Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
's adventure bike park was opened in early 2009 and closed in May 2011.
Primary school
The main school building was built in circa 1880. The school did well in its 2006 and 2008 OfstedOfsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
reports. The leaky roof was fixed in 2008 after an Ofsted report commented on it 2 years earlier. The school uniform is a red Balnain School sweatshirt, with either navy, grey or black skirts and trousers are a 'suitable accompaniment' as of 2008. The older uniform of the mid to late 1990s was a yellow Balnain School sweatshirt, yellow polo shirt, brown trousers or skirt and a yellow baseball cap. Before that it was the same as the modern uniform, but with a then compulsory white shirt or blouse under the red sweatshirt.
| Years | Trousers and skirt | Shirt and blouse | Jumper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 and later | Either navy, grey or black skirts and trousers | White shirt (boys) | Red Balnain School sweatshirt. |
| Mid-late 90’s | Brown trousers or skirt | Yellow polo shirt | Yellow Balnain School sweatshirt and yellow baseball cap. |
| Early 90’s | Either navy, grey or black skirts and jog pants | White polo shirt | Red Balnain School. sweatshirt |
| Pre-1990’s | Either navy, grey or black skirts and trousers | White shirt or blouse | Red jumper. |
There are regular after-school activities and it caters for pupils between the ages of 5 to 12.
The opening hours are 09.00 to 15.00 on week days and the headmistress was Mrs M. L. Livingstone in 2010 and now 2011.
Transport
There was an occasional weekday bus service to InvernessInverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
(as of 1990–2005), which is now only twice daily The bus stop is on the junction between the A831 and School Road End.
Local attractions
The Forestry CommissionForestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
closed the 2 year old Bike-park and general access to cross-country cyclists in 2011, but walkers can still enjoy the scenery.
See also
- InvernessInvernessInverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
- Charles KennedyCharles KennedyCharles Peter Kennedy is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who led the Liberal Democrats from 9 August 1999 until 7 January 2006 and is currently a Member of Parliament for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency....
MP - Simon Fraser of Balnain
- BalbegBalbeg, Highland-Overview:Balbeg is a small village located about 0.5 miles north east from Balnain, near Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire and is in the Scottish council area of Highland....
- CorrimonyCorrimonyCorrimony is a remote village in Glenurquhart in Inverness-shire, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland.Corrimony is famous for Mony's Stone and the chambered cairn, part of the Clava group of cairns, which date from the 3rd century BC...
- AltnaharraAltnaharra-Notable persons:*Linda Norgrove, kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan, and killed by a US grenade during a rescue effort.-External links:**...
External links
- http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g1950892-s2/Balnain:United-Kingdom:Background.html
- http://balnain.2day.ws/Balnain/section/FamilyHistory/
- http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/timeline1799.html
- http://www.scotlandbandbs.co.uk/scotland_history.html
- http://www.cottageguide.co.uk/sheaigcroft/
- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Balnain/112409565440197
- http://www.hmie.gov.uk/ViewEstablishment.aspx?type=2&id=6471*