Balnakeil

Balnakeil is a hamlet in the parish of Durness, Sutherland,^[1] Scottish Highlands, and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. It is on the north coast of Scotland around 3⁄4 mile (1.2 kilometres) northwest of Durness. The ruin of Balnakeil Church is a scheduled monument. The Kyle of Durness is west of Balnakeil which gives its name to the two-mile-wide (three-kilometre) Balnakeil Bay which the Kyle opens into.^[2]

Balnakeil Scottish Gaelic: Baile na Cill
Ruined church at Balnakeil
Balnakeil Location within the Sutherland area
OS grid reference	NC394678
Council area	Highland
Lieutenancy area	Sutherland
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Durness
Postcode district	IV27 4
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
List of places UK Scotland 58.576°N 4.768°W / 58.576; -4.768

The peninsula of Faraid Head is to the north of Balnakeil. It was the site of a 1950s radar station and remains the range control for Ministry of Defence bombing operations in the Cape Wrath Training Area to the west.^[3]

Three small lochs are to the south of Balnakeil: Loch Croispol, Loch Borralie and Loch Caladail. Durness Golf Course is to the southwest.^[4]

See also

• Durness
• Faraid Head
• Cape Wrath