North Uist is an island as well as area in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. North Uist is the tenth-largest Scottish island and also the thirteenth-largest island surrounding Great Britain. It has an area of 117 square miles (303 km2), a little smaller than South Uist. North Uist is linked by causeways to Benbecula through Grimsay, to Berneray, and to Baleshare. With the exception of the south eastern, the island is really flat, and also covered with a patchwork of peat bogs, low hills and lochans, with more than half the land being covered by water. A few of the lochs contain a combination of fresh and also tidal salt water, triggering some complicated and also uncommon habitats. Loch Sgadabhagh, regarding which it has been stated "there is probably nothing else loch in Britain which approaches Loch Scadavay in irregularity and also complexity of rundown", is the largest loch by location on North Uist although Loch Obisary has about two times the volume of water. The north part of the island is part of the South Lewis, Harris as well as North Uist National Scenic Location, one of 40 in Scotland. The main negotiation on the island is Lochmaddy, an angling port and home to a museum, an arts centre as well as a video camera obscura. Caledonian MacBrayne ferryboats sail from the village to Uig on Skye, along with from the island of Berneray (which is linked to North Uist by road embankment), to Leverburgh in Harris. Lochmaddy additionally has Taigh Chearsabhagh-- a gallery and also arts centre with a coffee shop, small shop and also post office service. Nearby is the Uist Outdoor Centre. The island's primary villages are Sollas, Hosta, Tigharry, Hougharry, Paible, Grimsay and also Cladach Kirkibost. Various other settlements include Clachan, Carinish, Knockquien, Port nan Long, Greinetobht as well as Scolpaig, residence to the 19th century Scolpaig Tower recklessness. Loch Portain is a little hamlet on the eastern coastline-- some 9 miles (14 km) from Lochmaddy, with below areas of Cheesebay as well as Hoebeg. According to the 2011 census North Uist had a population of 1,254.