North Uist is an island as well as area 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 a location of 117 square miles (303 km2), a little smaller than South Uist. North Uist is attached by embankments to Benbecula via Grimsay, to Berneray, as well as to Baleshare. With the exception of the south east, the island is really level, as well as covered with a patchwork of peat bogs, low hillsides as well as lochans, with over half the land being covered by water. A few of the lochs contain a blend of fresh and also tidal seawater, generating some facility and also unusual environments. Loch Sgadabhagh, regarding which it has actually been stated "there is possibly nothing else loch in Britain which approaches Loch Scadavay in abnormality and also intricacy of summary", is the largest loch by area on North Uist although Loch Obisary has about 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, among 40 in Scotland. The main negotiation on the island is Lochmaddy, a fishing port as well as home to a gallery, an arts centre and an electronic camera obscura. Caledonian MacBrayne ferryboats sail from the village to Uig on Skye, as well as from the island of Berneray (which is attached 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 as well as post office service. Nearby is the Uist Outdoor Centre. The island's major villages are Sollas, Hosta, Tigharry, Hougharry, Paible, Grimsay as well as Cladach Kirkibost. 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 little community on the east coastline-- 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.