View source for Lochmaddy

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name                    = Lochmaddy
| gaelic_name                      = Loch nam Madadh
| static_image_name                = Loch nam Madadh - geograph.org.uk - 1343318.jpg
| static_image_caption             = Lochmaddy viewed from the south
| language                         = [[Scottish Gaelic]]
| language1                        = [[English language|English]]
| coordinates                      = {{coord|57.602|-7.164|display=inline,title}}
| country                          = Scotland
| os_grid_reference                = NF915686
| post_town                        = ISLE OF NORTH UIST
| postcode_area                    = HS
| postcode_district                = HS6
| dial_code                        = 01876
| civil_parish                     = [[North Uist]]
| constituency_westminster         = [[Na h-Eileanan an Iar (UK Parliament constituency)|Na h-Eileanan an Iar]]
| unitary_scotland                 = [[Outer Hebrides|Na h-Eileanan Siar]]
| lieutenancy_scotland             = [[Outer Hebrides|Western Isles]]
| constituency_scottish_parliament = [[Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Na h-Eileanan an Iar]]
}}

'''Lochmaddy''' ({{langx|gd|Loch nam Madadh}} {{IPA|gd|l̪ˠɔx nə ˈmat̪əɣ|}}, "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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish-places.info/towns/towndetails601.html|title=Details of Lochmaddy|publisher=Scottish Places|accessdate=22 December 2014}}</ref>

==Geography==
Lochmaddy lies on the sea loch of that name and, due to the rocky nature of the coast, is the only settlement of any size on the east coast. Most of the island's settlements are on the west coast. Lochmaddy is at the eastern end of the [[A865 road (Great Britain)|A865]] and close to the eastern end of the A867; these are the only two main roads on the island.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=A865|title=A865|publisher=Sabre|accessdate=22 December 2014}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=uplxEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT161   |title=Riddoch on the Outer Hebrides|first=Lesley|last= Riddoch |year=2022|publisher=Luath Press|isbn=978-1804250372}}</ref> The coves and inlets 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 [[Charles I of England|King Charles]] it was the site of a Royal Fishing Station.<ref name="note1">{{cite web| url=http://www.leverburgh.co.uk/johnknox.htm| title=An account of Harris by John Knox| year=1787| publisher=leverburgh.co.uk| accessdate=2008-10-04| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529150351/http://www.leverburgh.co.uk/johnknox.htm| archive-date=29 May 2008| url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Lochmaddy Sheriff Court]] was completed in 1875.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB17575|desc= Lochmaddy Sheriff Court, Lochmaddy, North Uist |cat=C|access-date=2 October 2024}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{CalMac Mallaig ferries|collapse=yes}}
Nowadays, the same good harbour makes Lochmaddy the ferry port for the island, with the [[MV Hebrides|MV ''Hebrides'']] plying the route to [[Isle of Skye|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 [[Uist and Barra Hospital|Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh (Uist and Barra Hospital)]] in Balivanich, [[Benbecula]].

The current laird of North Uist, [[Fergus Leveson-Gower, 6th Earl Granville|Fergus Granville]],<ref name=DP>David Profumo, [https://www.countrylife.co.uk/luxury/art-and-antiques/in-focus-fergus-granville-the-driftwood-sculptor-inspired-by-north-uist-222134 In Focus: Fergus Granville, the driftwood sculptor inspired by North Uist], ''Country Life'', 5 February 2021, accessed 25 January 2023</ref> lives at Callernish House, near Lochmaddy.

==Ferry service==
{{s-rail-start|noclear=yes}}
{{s-rail|title=Ferry}}
{{rail line |previous=|next=[[Uig, Snizort|Uig]]|route=[[Caledonian MacBrayne]]<br><small>[[North Uist]] Ferry</small> |col={{CalMac color}} }}
{{s-end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Lochmaddy}}
*[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/northuist/lochmaddy/ Undiscovered Scotland - Lochmaddy]

{{Na h-Eileanan Siar places}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Villages on North Uist]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Scotland]]


{{WesternIsles-geo-stub}}