North Uist is an island and also neighborhood 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), somewhat smaller than South Uist. North Uist is connected by embankments to Benbecula using Grimsay, to Berneray, and to Baleshare. With the exception of the south east, the island is very level, and also covered with a patchwork of peat bogs, low hillsides and also lochans, with majority the land being covered by water. Several of the lochs include a mix of fresh and tidal seawater, giving rise to some complicated as well as unusual habitats. Loch Sgadabhagh, regarding which it has been claimed "there is probably nothing else loch in Britain which approaches Loch Scadavay in abnormality and also intricacy of rundown", is the biggest loch by area on North Uist although Loch Obisary has concerning twice the quantity of water. The north part of the island is part of the South Lewis, Harris as well as North Uist National Scenic Area, one of 40 in Scotland. The primary settlement on the island is Lochmaddy, an angling port and also house to a museum, an arts centre and a camera obscura. Caledonian MacBrayne ferryboats cruise from the town to Uig on Skye, in addition to from the island of Berneray (which is attached to North Uist by road causeway), to Leverburgh in Harris. Lochmaddy additionally has Taigh Chearsabhagh-- a gallery as well as arts centre with a cafe, small store as well as post office service. Nearby is the Uist Outdoor Centre. The island's main towns 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 folly. Loch Portain is a small community on the east coastline-- some 9 miles (14 km) from Lochmaddy, with below areas of Cheesebay and Hoebeg. According to the 2011 census North Uist had a population of 1,254.