North Uist is an island and also community 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 an area of 117 square miles (303 km2), slightly smaller than South Uist. North Uist is attached by embankments to Benbecula using Grimsay, to Berneray, as well as to Baleshare. With the exception of the south eastern, the island is really level, and also covered with a patchwork of peat bogs, reduced hillsides and lochans, with majority the land being covered by water. Several of the lochs consist of a combination of fresh and tidal seawater, generating some complicated and uncommon environments. Loch Sgadabhagh, regarding which it has actually been stated "there is probably nothing else loch in Britain which comes close to Loch Scadavay in irregularity and also complexity of rundown", is the largest loch by location on North Uist although Loch Obisary has concerning twice the volume of water. The north part of the island is part of the South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area, among 40 in Scotland. The main negotiation on the island is Lochmaddy, an angling port and also residence to a gallery, an arts centre and also an electronic 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 causeway), to Leverburgh in Harris. Lochmaddy also has Taigh Chearsabhagh-- a gallery and arts centre with a cafe, small store and also post office service. Neighboring is the Uist Outdoor Centre. The island's primary villages are Sollas, Hosta, Tigharry, Hougharry, Paible, Grimsay as well as Cladach Kirkibost. Other negotiations consist of Clachan, Carinish, Knockquien, Port nan Long, Greinetobht as well as Scolpaig, residence to the 19th century Scolpaig Tower recklessness. Loch Portain is a little district on the east coastline-- 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.