North Uist is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. North Uist is the tenth-largest Scottish island and also 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 attached by causeways to Benbecula via Grimsay, to Berneray, as well as to Baleshare. With the exception of the south east, the island is extremely level, as well as covered with a patchwork of peat bogs, reduced hillsides as well as lochans, with more than half the land being covered by water. Some of the lochs contain a blend of fresh and tidal seawater, giving rise to some facility and also unusual habitats. Loch Sgadabhagh, regarding which it has been said "there is most likely no other loch in Britain which approaches Loch Scadavay in abnormality and also intricacy of outline", is the biggest loch by area on North Uist although Loch Obisary has about two times the quantity of water. The north part of the island becomes 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 house to a gallery, an arts centre as well as a cam obscura. Caledonian MacBrayne ferryboats sail from the village to Uig on Skye, as well as from the island of Berneray (which is linked to North Uist by road embankment), to Leverburgh in Harris. Lochmaddy likewise has Taigh Chearsabhagh-- a museum as well as arts centre with a cafe, small store and post office solution. Close-by is the Uist Outdoor Centre. The island's primary villages are Sollas, Hosta, Tigharry, Hougharry, Paible, Grimsay and Cladach Kirkibost. Other negotiations include Clachan, Carinish, Knockquien, Port nan Long, Greinetobht and Scolpaig, residence to the 19th century Scolpaig Tower folly. Loch Portain is a little community on the east coastline-- some 9 miles (14 km) from Lochmaddy, with sub locations of Cheesebay and Hoebeg. According to the 2011 census North Uist had a population of 1,254.