Lochmaddy
| Lochmaddy | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Loch nam Madadh | |
 Lochmaddy viewed from the south |
|
  Lochmaddy |
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| 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 |
Coordinates: 57°36′07″N 7°09′50″W / 57.602°N 7.164°W
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
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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
- ↑ "Details of Lochmaddy". Scottish Places. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ↑ "A865". Sabre. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ↑ "An account of Harris by John Knox". leverburgh.co.uk. 1787. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lochmaddy. |
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lochmaddy. |