Balmullo (Gaelic: Baile Mhullaich) is a village in Fife, Scotland. It is 7 miles (11 km) from the town of St Andrews and near to the villages of Lucklawhill, Guardbridge, Dairsie and Leuchars. Army base Leuchars Station is also nearby.

Balmullo
Balmullo is located in Fife
Balmullo
Balmullo
Location within Fife
Population1,320 (mid-2020 est.)[1]
OS grid referenceNO427210
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSt Andrews
Postcode districtKY16
Dialling code01334
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
56°22′42″N 2°55′43″W / 56.378393°N 2.928686°W / 56.378393; -2.928686

History edit

The name Balmullo derives from Celtic bāile "village" with mullaich "top". The village name was recorded as Beilmullhoh in 1282.

Now largely a dormitory settlement, it was once a weaving village. Balmullo was the home of the picture postcard cartoonist Martin Anderson ('Cynicus') whose red sandstone Cynicus Castle was demolished in 1939, seven years after his death.[2]

Balmullo today edit

Balmullo has a Spar grocery store which doubles as a Post Office and a pub, The Balmullo Inn.

The Balmullo Primary School is located in the heart the village.[3] A village newsletter is published online.[4]

In 2002, the village appeared in news articles after a big cat was allegedly spotted nearby.[5]

Industry edit

 
Balmullo quarry

The quarry at Balmullo extracts orange-pink felsite (red pathway chippings), and lies to the west of the village. Minerals found here include azurite, baryte, malachite, metatorbernite, and pseudomalachite.

Transport edit

Nearby travel links are:

References edit

  1. ^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Martin Anderson". Madras College. Archived from the original on 17 October 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2007.
  3. ^ "Balmullo Primary School". Fife Council. Retrieved 3 January 2007.
  4. ^ "The Balmullo Newsletter". Balmullo Community Council. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  5. ^ "Scottish Big Cats : Panther sighting in Balmullo, 9th March 2002". Scottish Big Cats. Archived from the original on 23 October 2003. Retrieved 3 January 2006.

External links edit