Grimsay

Grimsay (Template:Langx) is a tidal island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

Geography

Grimsay is the largest of the low-lying stepping-stones which convey the Oitir Mhòr (North Ford) causeway, a Template:Convert arc of single track road linking North Uist and Benbecula via the western tip of Grimsay.<ref name="geo">Template:Cite web</ref> Until it opened in 1960,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> a ferry linked Carinish (on North Uist) with Gramsdale (on Benbecula), but could only operate at high tide.<ref name=damp/> There was also a ford which could only be crossed close to low water, usually only with a guide.<ref name=damp/> For significant parts of each day the North Ford was too wet to ford and not wet enough to cross by ferry.<ref name=damp>Template:Cite web</ref> East of Grimsay lie several smaller islands including Ronay which was inhabited until 1931.<ref name="Smith"/>

Inhabitants

The island's population was 169 as recorded by the 2011 census<ref name=NRS>Template:NRS1C</ref> a drop of over 15% since 2001 when there were 201 usual residents.<ref>Template:GRO10</ref> During the same period Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By 2022 the population was recorded as 149.<ref name=RESAS/>Template:Efn 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,<ref name="geo"/> 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 employs a full-time boatbuilder and trainee.<ref name=boat>Template:Cite web</ref> Three generations of Stewart family built as many as 1,000 boats from three sheds on Grimsay.<ref name=boat/> Grimsay is encircled by a single-track road that links most of the island's small croft and fishing settlements together.

History

There is a fine example of an Iron-Age wheelhouse on the northeast coast of the island at Bàgh nam Feadag.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is one of the best examples of a wheelhouse in the North Uist area but does not appear on Ordnance Survey maps.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Grimsay Wheelhouse (Bagh nam Feadag) Uist, Scotland.jpg

A near infrared view of Grimsay Wheelhouse.

• Bagh Mòr on Grimsay, with Ronay in distance
  Bagh Mòr on Grimsay, with Ronay in distance
• A wheelhouse on Grimsay
  A wheelhouse on Grimsay