This is an old revision of this page, as edited by JBellis (talk | contribs) at 17:45, 22 July 2007 (drying island is only a sialing term). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 17:45, 22 July 2007 by JBellis (talk | contribs) (drying island is only a sialing term)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) For other places with the same name, see Grimsay (disambiguation).| Scottish Gaelic name | Griomasaigh |
|---|---|
| Old Norse name | Unknown |
| Meaning of name | ON: Grim's Island |
| Location | |
 | |
| OS grid reference | NF855572 |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Uist and Barra |
| Area | 1146 ha |
| Area rank | 46 |
| Highest elevation | 22 m |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Outer Hebrides |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 201 |
| Population rank | 32 |
| Largest settlement | Bàgh Mòr and Ceallan |
 | |
| References | |
Grimsay (Scottish Gaelic: Griomasaigh) is an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
Grimsay is the largest of the low-lying stepping-stones which convey the North Ford (Oitir Mhór) causeway, a five mile arc of single track road linking North Uist and Benbecula via the western tip of Grimsay. Until it opened in 1960, a ferry linked Carinish (on North Uist) with Gramisdale (on Benbecula), but could only operate at high tide. There was also a ford which could only be crossed close to low water, usually only with a guide. For significant parts of each day the North Ford was too wet to ford and not wet enough to cross by ferry. East of Grimsay lie several smaller islands including Ronay which was inhabited until the 1920s.
The main settlements are Baymore (Bàgh Mòr) and Kallin (Ceallan) at the eastern end of the island. Grimsay has a harbour at Kallin, which is the base to a sizeable shellfish industry, the island's main industry, mostly for lobster, prawns and scallops. Also in Kallin is The Boatshed, a marine repair facility which promotes traditional skills and includes a museum. Boat building was previously important. Grimsay is encircled by a single-track road that links most of the island's small croft and fishing settlements together.
There is a fine example of an Iron-Age wheelhouse on the northeast coast of the island.
Footnotes
- ^ Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
- 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
- Ordnance Survey
- Iain Mac an Tailleir. "Placenames" (PDF). Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
- ^ "Overview of Grimsay". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
- "Feature Page: Grimsay". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
- "Grimsay Boat Project". LEADER+. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
57°29′31″N 7°14′39″W / 57.49194°N 7.24417°W / 57.49194; -7.24417
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