North Uist is an island and neighborhood in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. North Uist is the tenth-largest Scottish island as well as the thirteenth-largest island bordering Great Britain. It has a location of 117 square miles (303 km2), slightly smaller sized than South Uist. North Uist is attached by embankments to Benbecula through Grimsay, to Berneray, and also to Baleshare. With the exception of the south east, the island is very level, as well as covered with a jumble of peat bogs, reduced hills and lochans, with more than half the land being covered by water. A few of the lochs consist of a mix of fresh as well as tidal seawater, triggering some complex and unusual environments. Loch Sgadabhagh, concerning which it has been claimed "there is probably nothing else loch in Britain which comes close to Loch Scadavay in abnormality and intricacy of rundown", is the biggest loch by area on North Uist although Loch Obisary has about two times the quantity of water. The northern part of the island becomes part of the South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area, among 40 in Scotland. The major negotiation on the island is Lochmaddy, a fishing port and home to a gallery, an arts centre and also an electronic camera obscura. Caledonian MacBrayne ferries cruise from the village to Uig on Skye, as well as from the island of Berneray (which is connected to North Uist by road causeway), to Leverburgh in Harris. Lochmaddy additionally has Taigh Chearsabhagh-- a museum as well as arts centre with a cafe, tiny store and also post office service. Neighboring is the Uist Outdoor Centre. The island's primary towns are Sollas, Hosta, Tigharry, Hougharry, Paible, Grimsay as well as Cladach Kirkibost. Various other settlements consist of Clachan, Carinish, Knockquien, Port nan Long, Greinetobht and Scolpaig, house to the 19th century Scolpaig Tower folly. Loch Portain is a small district on the eastern shore-- some 9 miles (14 km) from Lochmaddy, with sub areas of Cheesebay as well as Hoebeg. According to the 2011 census North Uist had a population of 1,254.