Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 18 h 16 min4:09 am – 10:26 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 6 h 23 min9:02 am – 3:25 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People3,229 residentsin the Sutherland North and West census areaMedian age 55.71,673 households71% of homes owner-occupied55% owned outright16% social rented, 8% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting2.5% unemployment rate58% of adults are economically active, 1,627 in work, 30% retiredMain industries: hospitality 13%, farming, forestry and fishing 11%, health and social work 11%Getting to work: 40% work from home, 46% go by car, 2% take public transport, 10% walk or cycle43% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages32% of adults hold a degree or higher17% have no qualifications, 9% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 97%, other languages 2%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 18°C, lows 9°CColdest month December: highs 6°C, lows -1°C1,047 mm of rain a year, 19 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October86 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)
Earthquakes25 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 11 Jun 197835 mi away, Nr Kinlochewe, Wester RoMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 1 Jan 202234 mi away, Durness, HighlandSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 0.8 · PM2.5 3.8 · PM10 5.6 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband15% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband49% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)8.0% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)2,350 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation126 m413 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 116 to 237 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalLawson Memorial Hospital21 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland
Getting aroundAirportWick John O'Groats Airport WIC37 miMajor airportAberdeen International Airport ABZ101 miRailway stationKinbrace4.5 miFerryScrabster Ferry Terminal30 miSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the KW11 postcode district.
