Grimsay

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Grimsay
Location
Grimsay (Scotland)
Grimsay
Grimsay
Grimsay shown within Scotland.
OS grid reference: NF855572
Names
Gaelic name: Griomasaigh
Norse name: Grímsey
Meaning of name: ON: Grim's Island
Area and Summit
Area: 833 ha
Area rank (Scottish islands): 58
Highest elevation: 22 m
Population
Population (2001): 201
Population rank (inhabited Scottish islands): 32 out of 97
Main settlement: Bàgh Mòr and Ceallan
Groupings
Island Group: Uist and Barra
Local Authority: Outer Hebrides
Scotland
References: [1][2][3][4]
A wheelhouse on Grimsay
A wheelhouse on Grimsay
Bagh Mòr on Grimsay, with Ronay in distance
Bagh Mòr on Grimsay, with Ronay in distance

Grimsay (Scottish Gaelic: Griomasaigh) is a tidal island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

Grimsay is the largest of the low-lying stepping-stones which convey the Oitir Mhòr (North Ford) causeway, a five mile arc of single track road linking North Uist and Benbecula via the western tip of Grimsay.[5] 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.[6] 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,[5] 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[7] 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.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
  2. ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
  3. ^ Ordnance Survey
  4. ^ Iain Mac an Tailleir. Placenames. Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
  5. ^ a b Overview of Grimsay. Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
  6. ^ Feature Page: Grimsay. Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
  7. ^ Grimsay Boat Project. LEADER+. Retrieved on 2007-07-22.

Coordinates: 57°29′31″N 7°14′39″W / 57.49194, -7.24417

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