(Gaelic name meaning… Loch of the Hounds)
LOCH NAM MADADH
Blending arts and nature in one fantastic setting, Lochmaddy has great appeal no matter what your interests. Set in a beautiful mosaic of land and sea Lochmaddy looks over water studded with islets, and out towards the mighty Minch. Amongst this patchwork of islands look out for seals, otters and even the occasional harbour porpoise.
Lochmaddy is a picturesque ferry port, and from here you can catch the boat over to Skye. This is a fantastic crossing for wildlife watching as the Little Minch is part of a migration route for many species, and is also the narrowest part of the Minch to cross. This means those of you who are yet to find your sea legs won’t have too long on board!
A bit about the site
Lochmaddy is a pretty village with a hotel, arts centre and other amenities surrounding the harbour. The ferry port has good public transport links and facilities.
Getting here
Bus connections throughout the Western Isles
Ferry connections to Harris and Skye.
Accessibility
Fully accessible
Useful links
Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre
Visit Outer Hebrides - Lochmaddy Isle of North Uist
Responsible Access
Guide for Campervans
Wondrous creatures in the waters
Look out for
Harbour porpoise
Risso’s dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins
Seals
Fulmars
Gannets
Black guillimots Oystercatchers
Check out the latest sightings on HWDT Whale Track
Inlets and islets
The sheltered sea lochs and shallow inlets of Lochmaddy are an ideal habitat for harbour porpoises, as they prefer to hunt in coastal waters. Porpoises are incredible predators, eating around 500 fish an hour! Harbour porpoises use echolocation to navigate under water, a bit like bats, to find their prey. Scientists for the Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust use underwater microphones to monitor porpoises, listening to their clicks and identifying porpoises even in rough weather when they might be tough to spot.
Crafts and Culture
The arts centre, Taigh Chearsabhagh, is a hive of crafts and culture; with fantastic exhibitions, events and is even home to a group of university students studying Fine Arts. On the outside of the building is powerful art installation focused on the close relationship between Uist and the sea; a bright line of light marking predicted sea level rise due to climate change.