North Uist is an island and area in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. North Uist is the tenth-largest Scottish island as well as the thirteenth-largest island surrounding Great Britain. It has a location of 117 square miles (303 km2), somewhat smaller sized than South Uist. North Uist is connected by embankments to Benbecula by means of Grimsay, to Berneray, and to Baleshare. With the exception of the south east, the island is extremely level, and covered with a jumble of peat bogs, low hillsides as well as lochans, with majority the land being covered by water. A few of the lochs have a combination of fresh and also tidal salt water, generating some complicated and uncommon habitats. Loch Sgadabhagh, about which it has actually been said "there is probably no other loch in Britain which approaches Loch Scadavay in irregularity and intricacy of outline", is the largest loch by area on North Uist although Loch Obisary has concerning two times the quantity of water. The north part of the island is part of the South Lewis, Harris and also North Uist National Scenic Area, among 40 in Scotland. The primary settlement on the island is Lochmaddy, a fishing port as well as house to a gallery, an arts centre as well as a video camera obscura. Caledonian MacBrayne ferryboats sail from the village to Uig on Skye, in addition to from the island of Berneray (which is attached to North Uist by road embankment), to Leverburgh in Harris. Lochmaddy also has Taigh Chearsabhagh-- a museum and arts centre with a coffee shop, tiny store and post office solution. Neighboring is the Uist Outdoor Centre. The island's major towns are Sollas, Hosta, Tigharry, Hougharry, Paible, Grimsay and Cladach Kirkibost. Other negotiations include Clachan, Carinish, Knockquien, Port nan Long, Greinetobht and also Scolpaig, residence to the 19th century Scolpaig Tower folly. Loch Portain is a little district on the eastern coast-- some 9 miles (14 kilometres) from Lochmaddy, with below areas of Cheesebay and also Hoebeg. According to the 2011 census North Uist had a population of 1,254.