| Coordinates: | 57.49°N -7.24°W |
| Location Map: | Scotland Outer Hebrides |
| Caption: | Grimsay shown within the Outer Hebrides |
| Gridreference: | NF855572 |
| Celtic Name: | Griomasaigh |
| Norse Name: | Grímsey |
| Meaning Of Name: | ON: Grim's Island |
| Area Rank: | 58 |
| Population: | 169 |
| Population Rank: | 36 |
| Main Settlement: | Bàgh Mòr and Ceallan |
| Island Group: | Uist and Barra |
| Local Authority: | Outer Hebrides |
| References: | [1] |
Grimsay (Gaelic; 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 5miles arc of single track road linking North Uist and Benbecula via the western tip of Grimsay.[2] Until it opened in 1960,[3] a ferry linked Carinish (on North Uist) with Gramsdale (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.[4] East of Grimsay lie several smaller islands including Ronay which was inhabited until 1931.
The island's population was 169 as recorded by the 2011 census a drop of over 15% since 2001 when there were 201 usual residents. During the same period Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702.[5] 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,[2] 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.[6] Three generations of Stewart family built as many as 1,000 boats from three sheds on Grimsay.[6] 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 at Bàgh nam Feadag.[7] It is one of the best examples of a wheelhouse on North Uist but does not appear on Ordnance Survey maps.[8]