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Lochmaddy Sheriff Court

A court in the Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highland and Islands

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Lochmaddy Sheriff Court is only open for two days every four weeks when a court is sitting. All mail must be sent to the Sheriff Clerk’s Office, Somerled Square, Portree, Isle of Skye, IV51 9EH and all phone queries must be directed to the same office on 01478 612191. You can also contact the court by email, at lochmaddy@scotcourts.gov.uk 

About the court

Lochmaddy Sheriff Court is situated in the village of Lochmaddy in the Isle of North Uist in the Western Isles. The court jurisdiction covers the islands of North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, Barra, Vatersay and Berneray.

image of Lochmaddy Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Lochmaddy Sheriff Court
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Hearings continue to call at Lochmaddy Sheriff Court

Jury trials which would otherwise call at Lochmaddy Sheriff Court were transferred to Inverness from July this year, due to the ongoing staffing challenges being faced by GEOAmey. 

We would like to make it clear that all other hearings, including summary trials and civil hearings will still call at Lochmaddy Sheriff Court. Please only attend Inverness Sheriff Court if you have received a citation requiring you to do so.  

The Order published in July requires new jury trials which would have called at Stornoway, Lerwick, Kirkwall, Portree and Lochmaddy Sheriff Courts to call at Inverness, Aberdeen or Peterhead Sheriff Courts instead.

Sheriff Principal Pyle has this order under constant review and is consulting with justice partners with a view to returning jury trials to island courts when practically possible.

Contact the court

Location address

Sheriff Court House
Lochmaddy
Isle of North Uist
HS6 5AE

Postal address

All mail should be posted to:

Sheriff Clerk’s Office
Sheriff Courthouse
Somerled Square
Portree
Isle of Skye
IV51 9EH

Main contact

Stewart Retsis

Phone

  • Portree Sheriff Court - 01478 612191
  • Lochmaddy Sheriff Court - 01876 500340

Fax

01478 613203

Email

lochmaddy@scotcourts.gov.uk

Jury helpline

01876 500340 (recorded message)

Difficulty using the phone

Phone interpreter

A phone interpreter service is available when you contact a court by phone or attend in person. To access this service ask for phone interpreter and the language required.

The phone interpreter service is not available during actual court proceedings.

Text relay service

If you are deaf, have hearing loss or are speech impaired you can contact us for free with Relay UK.

British Sign Language (BSL)

If you use British Sign Language (BSL) and wish to phone us using a sign language interpreter, you can use the online video relay interpreting service. For more information see the Contact Scotland BSL website.

Opening times

Every fourth Wednesday:

  • from 09:00 to 13:00
  • then 14:00 to 16:00

Every fourth Thursday:

  • 09:00 to 11:00

At other times contact the Sheriff Clerk's office in Portree Sheriff Court on 01478 612191 or email lochmaddy@scotcourts.gov.uk.

Public holidays

2024

  • January 1, 2
  • March 29
  • April 1
  • May 6
  • June 3
  • August 12
  • September 9
  • December 2, 25, 26

Paying a fine

To pay a fine or for information please go to paying a fine.

Paying a fine

Directions

Public transport to the court is very limited. Use journey planner for public transportation information.

Please visit CycleStreets for details of the nearest cycle parking options.

There is no direct bus service to the court.

There is no public car park at the court. There are parking places at the local community hall next to the court.

The closest airport is at Balivanich on the Isle of Benbecula. Flights are operated by Loganair to Stornoway, Inverness and Glasgow. Please contact Loganair on 0344 800 2855 for further information.

Lochmaddy ferry terminal is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the courthouse. Caledonian MacBrayne operate sailings from Lochmaddy to Uig on Skye and Tarbert on Harris.

Caledonian MacBrayne also operate sailings from Berneray to Leverburgh on Harris and from Eriskay to Ardmhor on Barra for those attending court from those islands. There are further services to Oban and Mallaig on the mainland from Lochboisdale on South Uist, and from Castlebay on Barra to Oban. Find out more on the Caledonian MacBrayne website or phone 08000 665000.

On arrival

On arrival please report to the Sheriff Clerk's office. You will be directed from there to where you need to go in the building.

Jurors on a jury

If you are sitting on a jury, lunch and refreshments will be provided for you if the court sits into the afternoon.

Facilities

There are a small number of cafes and hotels near to the court building where meals and snacks can be purchased. There are no refreshment facilities at the court.

Accessibility

Accessible hearing

A loop induction service is available in all courtrooms for people who have hearing difficulties. Please contact 01876 500340 if you require to use this facility.

Accessible access

There is disabled access at the side of the building. If you have any specific access requirements please contact 01478 612191.

Sheriffdom orders

Find out about the sheriffdom guidance, information and practice notes that apply to the courts in the Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highland and Islands.

Please also refer to the:

Sheriffdom orders