North Uist is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. North Uist is the tenth-largest Scottish island and the thirteenth-largest island bordering Great Britain. It has an area of 117 square miles (303 km2), somewhat smaller than South Uist. North Uist is connected by causeways to Benbecula by means of Grimsay, to Berneray, as well as to Baleshare. With the exception of the south eastern, the island is very flat, and also covered with a jumble of peat bogs, reduced hills as well as lochans, with more than half the land being covered by water. A few of the lochs include a combination of fresh and also tidal seawater, generating some complicated as well as unusual habitats. Loch Sgadabhagh, about which it has actually been stated "there is most likely nothing else loch in Britain which approaches Loch Scadavay in abnormality as well as intricacy of outline", is the biggest loch by area on North Uist although Loch Obisary has regarding two times the volume of water. The north part of the island is part of the South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area, one of 40 in Scotland. The main settlement on the island is Lochmaddy, a fishing port and home to a museum, an arts centre and also a camera obscura. Caledonian MacBrayne ferries sail from the town to Uig on Skye, as well as from the island of Berneray (which is attached to North Uist by road causeway), to Leverburgh in Harris. Lochmaddy additionally has Taigh Chearsabhagh-- a museum and also arts centre with a coffee shop, small shop and post office service. Close-by is the Uist Outdoor Centre. The island's primary towns are Sollas, Hosta, Tigharry, Hougharry, Paible, Grimsay and Cladach Kirkibost. Other settlements consist of Clachan, Carinish, Knockquien, Port nan Long, Greinetobht as well as Scolpaig, house to the 19th century Scolpaig Tower folly. Loch Portain is a small hamlet on the eastern shore-- 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.