Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 17 h 24 min4:35 am – 9:59 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 9 min8:39 am – 3:48 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People2,868 residentsin the Shawhead census areaMedian age 55.61,324 households75% of homes owner-occupied54% owned outright4% social rented, 16% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting2.7% unemployment rate58% of adults are economically active, 1,406 in work, 33% retiredMain industries: health and social work 16%, farming, forestry and fishing 13%, retail and wholesale 9%Getting to work: 36% work from home, 59% go by car, 2% take public transport, 3% walk or cycle53% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages34% of adults hold a degree or higher17% have no qualifications, 9% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 99%, other languages 1%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 18°C, lows 10°CColdest month January: highs 6°C, lows 1°C1,615 mm of rain a year, 57 days with 10 mm or morewettest month December68 days of air frost, 2 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Nearby landmarksBarr Lochlake · 1.1 miCorseland Poollake · 1.5 miBarr Hillhill · under a mileLettrick Hillhill · under a mileWhite Isleheadland · 1.9 miJohn Turner Monumenthistoric site · 4.1 miMark Cleuchvalley · 1.9 miGarcrogo Forestforest · 3.6 miSources: Ordnance Survey Open Names; Overture Maps
Earthquakes41 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19708 of magnitude 3+, 1 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 4.0 on 26 Dec 197941 mi away, Longtown, CumbriaMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 24 Oct 20207 mi away, Dumfries, D & GSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 1.3 · PM2.5 4.1 · PM10 5.9 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband56% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband95% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)0.4% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)1,407 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation231 m758 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 179 to 270 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalThornhill Hospital10 miGP surgeryCairn Valley Medical Practice6.0 miPharmacyCairn Valley Medical Practice6.0 miDentistThornhill Dental Practice11 miPolice stationCastle Douglas Police Station12 miSources: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland; Overture Maps
Getting aroundAirportGlasgow Prestwick Airport PIK37 miRailway stationDumfries13 miBus stationStance 5Dumfries12 miSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the DG2 postcode district.
