Grimsay & Flodaigh

Ask an Islander

We asked islanders what makes Grimsay and Flodaigh so special. On Grimsay, Pàdruig Moireasdan told us:

“On my croft I enjoy making silage and helping other Grimsay crofters do the same,” he says. “The long July nights are amazing; perfect for getting out in the evenings.”

“Gaelic culture is alive and thriving here, and in summers gone by we have enjoyed plenty of ceilidhs and festivals”.

Pàdruig is a big fan of the island’s seafood, as he tells us. “Fishing is a big part of Grimsay and we’re lucky to have Kallin Shellfish on the island. I love going to our local cafe at Kallin harbour for tasty fish & chips! They do some of the best scallops, langoustines and lobsters and they post them anywhere, so head to their website!”

As well as boasting beautiful vistas, Grimsay has a tradition of boat building, as we found out from Pàdruig.

“The Grimsay boat trail is a real gem – it dots around the island between the old harbour and boatshed, to the new boatshed and present harbour. It includes our newly opened Boat Haven museum and exhibition and next door you can go to Ceann na h-Airigh (our community centre) for a lovely soup and top quality coffee!” Just what you need after a day of exploring!

Next Pàdruig told us about something else the island is well known and loved for – the community.

“One of my favourite things is spending time with the older generation. We have so much to learn from these deeply knowledgeable people about the rich heritage of Grimsay. Now that Gaelic is seeing a resurgence, it’s really important to speak to them and capture as much as we can. Tha mòran ann a gheibh sinn bhuapa – mar sin bruidhinnibh agus gleidh ar dualchais!”

Flodaigh may only have a handful of human inhabitants, but its rocky coastline is perfect for spotting seals, otters and a range of birdlife, including the merlin, eider, short-eared owl, and Arctic tern.

Gaelic / Gàidhlig

The Gaelic name for Grimsay is Griomasaigh. Flodaigh is taken directly from Gàidhlig.

One word for a boat in Gàidhlig is bàta.

Getting Here

CalMac Ferries run services to North Uist and South Uist. Onward travel to Grimsay and Flodaigh is by road via causeways. Bus services run from Benbecula to North Uist (W16 route) and South Uist (W17 route) Monday–Saturday.

Loganair offers flights to Benbecula from Glasgow, Inverness and Stornoway.

Find out more about getting to North Uist.

Find out more about getting to South Uist.