Balvicar

Balvicar Scottish Gaelic: Baile a' Bhiocair
Balvicar Location within Argyll and Bute
Population	112  [1]
Language	English Scottish Gaelic
OS grid reference	NM7617
•  Edinburgh	95 mi (153 km)  ESE
•  London	400 mi (640 km)  SE
Council area	Argyll and Bute
Lieutenancy area	Argyll and Bute
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	OBAN
Postcode district	PA34
Dialling code	01852
UK Parliament	Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
Scottish Parliament	Argyll and Bute
List of places UK Scotland 56°17′31″N05°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 ^[update] , 2.68% of people in Balvicar could speak Scottish Gaelic. ^[1]

References

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