Lochmaddy

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Lochmaddy
Scottish Gaelic: Loch nam Madadh
240px
Lochmaddy viewed from the south
Lochmaddy is located in Outer Hebrides
Lochmaddy
Lochmaddy
 Lochmaddy shown within the Outer Hebrides
Language Scottish Gaelic
English
OS grid reference NF915686
Civil parish North Uist
Council area Na h-Eileanan Siar
Lieutenancy area Western Isles
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town ISLE OF NORTH UIST
Postcode district HS6
Dialling code 01876
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Scottish Parliament Na h-Eileanan an Iar
List of places
UK
Scotland

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Lochmaddy (Scottish Gaelic: Loch nam Madadh, "Loch of the Hounds") is the administrative centre of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Na Madaidhean (the wolves/hounds) are rocks in the bay after which the loch, and subsequently the village, are named. Lochmaddy is within the parish of North Uist.[1]

Geography

Lochmaddy sits at the end of a sea inlet (tairbeart) and, due to the rocky nature, is the only settlement of any size on the east coast — far from the villages in the more populous west of North Uist. Lochmaddy is situated at the northern end of the A865.[2]

History

Virtually the first mention anywhere of Lochmaddy is a complaint of "piracie and murder" in a report dated 1616: "Lochmaldie on the coast of Uist is a rendezvous for pirates" it said. The coves and inlets characterising the area around the village were ideal hiding places for raiding ships stocked with fine goods bound for the clan chiefs of the time, and contraband activity persisted until the modern era.

Lochmaddy was an important fishing community before the commercial decline of the herring. During the reign of King Charles it was the site of a Royal Fishing Station.[3]

Economy

Nowadays, the same good harbour makes Lochmaddy the ferry port for the island, with the MV Hebrides plying the route to Skye. The commercial activity of shops and public building has been generated due to the port activity, and today the village has the only bank, courthouse, tourist information office and youth hostel on North Uist. Lochmaddy hospital closed in March 2001. It was replaced by the newly opened Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh (Uist and Barra Hospital) in Balivanich, Benbecula.

References

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External links

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