Balnain
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.
Overview
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
used to be part of the lands of the Grants of Glenmorison, with the lands of the Frasers to the north for most of its time. The Fraser family of Balnain, Scotland, supported Bonnie Prince Charlie., but came from a township of the same name, in Stratherrick on the other side of Loch Ness.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 in the winter.Economy
Tourism, agriculture and local farming.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's adventure bike park was opened in early 2009 and closed in May 2011.
Primary school
It is a non-denominational, mixed sex school, with 37 pupils. This was reduced to 35 pupils in 2013.The main school building was built in circa 1880. The school did well in its 2006 and 2008 Ofsted 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 grey trousers, pinafores or skirts and white or red polo shirt, or a white shirt.
| Years | Trousers and skirt | Shirt and blouse | Jumper | Head gear |
| 2012 and later | Either grey trousers, pinafores or skirts | White or red polo shirt, or a white shirt | Red Balnain School sweatshirt | Non. |
| 2009 - 2012 | the fine shinty outfit that was balnain boasted players such as the mythical Thomas maclean Either navy, grey or black skirts and trousers | non | Red Balnain School sweatshirt | Non. |
| 2008 | Either navy, grey or black skirts and trousers | White shirt or non for girls | Red Balnain School sweatshirt | Non. |
| 2007 | Either grey or shorts for boys or trousers for both genders | White polo-shirt for girls and a grey shirt or red polo-shirt for boys | Red Balnain School sweatshirt | Non. |
| Early-mid 2000s | Either navy, grey or black skirts, trousers or jog pants | White polo shirt or blouse | Red Balnain School sweatshirt | Non. |
| Mid-late 1990s | Brown trousers, jog pants or skirt | Yellow polo shirt | Yellow Balnain School sweatshirt | A yellow baseball cap. |
| Early 1990s | Either navy, grey or black skirts and jog pants | White polo shirt or blouse | Red Balnain School sweatshirt | Non. |
| Pre-1990s | Either navy, grey or black skirts and trousers | White shirt or blouse | Red jumper | Non. |
There are regular after-school activities and it caters for pupils between the ages of 5 to 12. In 2012, the top age was cut from 12 to 11.
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. Ms Stephanie Wood took over by In 2015, Miss Janis MacRae became Head but was shortly delayed after she broke her ankle.