Balmullo

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 Scottish Gaelic: Baile Mhullaich Scots: Bawmullo
Balmullo Location within Fife
Population	1,320 (2020)[1]
OS grid reference	NO427210
Council area	Fife
Lieutenancy area	Fife
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	St Andrews
Postcode district	KY16
Dialling code	01334
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	North East Fife
Scottish Parliament	North East Fife
List of places UK Scotland 56.378393°N 2.928686°W / 56.378393; -2.928686

History

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

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

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

Nearby travel links are:

• Leuchars railway station, 1.6 miles (2.6 km)
• Cupar railway station, 5.8 miles (9.3 km)
• Dundee Airport, 10 miles (16 km)