Balloch, West Dunbartonshire

For other places with the same name, see Balloch (disambiguation).

Coordinates: 56°00′07″N 4°34′48″W / 56.002°N 4.580°W / 56.002; -4.580

Balloch
Scottish Gaelic: Am Bealach
National Park Visitor Centre with the 'Maid of the Loch' in the background
Balloch  Balloch shown within West Dunbartonshire
OS grid reference	NS390820
Parish	Bonhill
Council area	West Dunbartonshire
Lieutenancy area	Dunbartonshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ALEXANDRIA
Postcode district	G83
Dialling code	01389
Police	Strathclyde
Fire	Strathclyde
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	West Dunbartonshire
Scottish Parliament	Dumbarton
List of places: UK • Scotland •

Balloch ( /ˈbæləx/; Gaelic: Am Bealach^[1]) is a small town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, at the foot of Loch Lomond. The name comes from the Gaelic for "the pass"^[1].

An Environmental Art piece in the woods at Balloch

Balloch is at the north end of the Vale of Leven, straddling the River Leven itself. It connects to the larger town of Alexandria and to the smaller village of Jamestown, both of which are located to its south. To the east of the town lies the major local authority housing scheme in the area known as 'The Haldane' or 'The Mill of Haldane'. Balloch railway station is a terminus of the North Clyde electric train service from Glasgow.

With its accessible location at the southern end of Loch Lomond and just off the main road from Glasgow to the West Highlands, it is an important centre of tourism. The largest number of boats cruising on Loch Lomond leave from here. It contains Balloch Country Park and Balloch Castle.

Balloch is at the southern end of the first Scottish National Park. The town has a number of hotels, inns and pubs, and there are cruises leaving from Balloch up Loch Lomond. The Glasgow to Loch Lomond cycle path ends at Balloch.

The new Balloch road bridge over the river Leven is believed to have reduced the number of people jumping into the river.

The town is a popular place on a summer's day, with people flocking to it from Glasgow and Dumbarton.

Scottish Band Texas frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri moved to Balloch as a young child and was raised there. Celebrity Colourist Hugh Hammil lived in the Haldane from 1968 to 1974. "Lochfoot" in the Jean Robertson novels of Jane Duncan is partly based on the town.

At 56 degrees N, Balloch is at about the same latitude as Moscow.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Place name database - Balloch". Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. http://www.ainmean-aite.org/database.asp?intent=details&id=464. Retrieved 22 May 2011. 

See also

• List of places in West Dunbartonshire