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 a location of 117 square miles (303 km2), slightly smaller than South Uist. North Uist is linked by embankments to Benbecula using Grimsay, to Berneray, and to Baleshare. With the exception of the south east, the island is very level, and covered with a jumble of peat bogs, reduced hillsides and also lochans, with over half the land being covered by water. Several of the lochs consist of a mixture of fresh and tidal salt water, triggering some complicated as well as uncommon environments. Loch Sgadabhagh, about which it has been claimed "there is most likely no other loch in Britain which comes close to Loch Scadavay in irregularity as well as complexity of rundown", is the largest loch by location on North Uist although Loch Obisary has about twice the quantity of water. The northern part of the island belongs to the South Lewis, Harris as well as North Uist National Scenic Location, one of 40 in Scotland. The major settlement on the island is Lochmaddy, an angling port and home to a gallery, an arts centre as well as a video camera obscura. Caledonian MacBrayne ferryboats sail from the town to Uig on Skye, in addition to from the island of Berneray (which is linked to North Uist by road causeway), to Leverburgh in Harris. Lochmaddy likewise has Taigh Chearsabhagh-- a gallery and also arts centre with a cafe, little shop as well as post office service. Close-by is the Uist Outdoor Centre. The island's primary villages are Sollas, Hosta, Tigharry, Hougharry, Paible, Grimsay and also Cladach Kirkibost. Other settlements include Clachan, Carinish, Knockquien, Port nan Long, Greinetobht and also Scolpaig, home to the 19th century Scolpaig Tower recklessness. Loch Portain is a small community on the east 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.