About North Uist

North Uist’s landscape is often referred to as ‘drowned’, which doesn’t sound particularly welcoming, but is actually an apt description for spectacular way the way the peat bogs, tidal strands and lochans seem to shimmer and dip under and over the waterline. Its long, pale coastline adds to the shimmering effect, with white sandbanks dipping in and out of the waves. There’s really nowhere else like it! The best places to stay on North Uist are a sparse bunch, but we've uncovered a charming restaurant with rooms that won't disappoint.

North Uist has a vast breeding colony of grey seals, and its skies are filled with incredible birdlife in season, including corncrakes, gannets, Arctic terns and Manx shearwaters. The landscape impacts the biodiversity too, because the saltwater and freshwater running onto the land mingles, creating a really unique opportunity for life. The island looks and feels magically remote, but it’s actually conveniently connected to slightly larger South Uist by causeways, to Benbecula via Grimsay, and Berneray and Baleshare too. So the best places to stay on North Uist make excellent bases for exploring South Uist too.

Lochmaddy is the main settlement, an ex-fishing port with a ferry connection to Uig, a museum, an arts centre, and a camera obscura. It also has a handful of shops and a post office. North Uist has a number of significant historic sites too, including stone circles, cairns, ancient roundhouses and standing stones, some of which date back to the Vikings.

The spectacular surrounds, breathtaking beaches, and incredible richness of biodiversity mean that the best places to stay in North Uist fill up fast during the peak summer months. So do your research and book well ahead.

The Best Places to Stay on North Uist

For Families

Langass Lodge is best know as a restaurant, and a very creative one at that, famed for it use of fresh, local ingredients. There’s plenty of other reasons to stay over at the Lodge — the incredible views, proximity to the coastline and fantastic walking routes. There’s lots to do around here! There are 11 rooms and suites, and there’s plenty of space for the whole family, even your dog. The decor is charmingly cosy, and quite traditional.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

North Uist’s closest airport is Benbecula Airport, which is on Benbecula, just to the south of North Uist. If you’re travelling across from mainland Scotland by car there are two ferry options, the Mallaig Ferry, which crossed to Lochboisdale, South Uist, and the Uig Ferry, which crosses to Lochmaddy on North Uist.
The easiest way to get around North Uist is by car, and if you want to hire one we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
Scotland’s unpredictable weather is well known, and North Uist is subject to all the usual recommendations about packing wet weather gear whatever the season. The mildest months are April through October — this is definitely the time to travel if you want to book boat cruises or tours, as most trips will operate fairly reliably. If you’d like to see the amazing marine animals of the region, September is the best time to travel. Visit during September, or October, and you also have a chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Seals visit the Hebrides in the summer months. Some tourist businesses close between November and March, so do you research extra carefully if you want to travel during this window.