Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 18 h 14 min4:09 am – 10:23 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 6 h 26 min8:59 am – 3:25 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People4,060 residentsin the Sutherland East census areaMedian age 55.42,091 households68% of homes owner-occupied49% owned outright20% social rented, 8% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting3.3% unemployment rate53% of adults are economically active, 1,785 in work, 35% retiredMain industries: health and social work 16%, construction 13%, hospitality 10%Getting to work: 29% work from home, 54% go by car, 1% take public transport, 14% walk or cycle55% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages25% of adults hold a degree or higher20% have no qualifications, 12% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 99%, other languages 1%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 17°C, lows 9°CColdest month December: highs 5°C, lows 0°C1,219 mm of rain a year, 22 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November61 days of air frost, 1 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)
Parks and green spacesHelmsdale Golf Clubgolf course · under a mile · 11 haCouper Parkplaying field · 1.3 mi · 3 haHelmsdale Kitchen Gardenallotments · 1.1 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes11 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 11 Jun 197850 mi away, Nr Kinlochewe, Wester RoMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 2 Jul 202130 mi away, Melvich, HighlandSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 0.8 · PM2.5 3.7 · PM10 5.8 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband83% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband86% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)1.1% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)2,363 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation52 m171 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 5 to 260 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalLawson Memorial Hospital16 miGP surgeryHelmsdale/Brora Med Practice11 miPharmacyWeb Pharmacy LTD11 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland
Getting aroundAirportWick John O'Groats Airport WIC31 miMajor airportAberdeen International Airport ABZ84 miRailway stationHelmsdale1.2 miSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the KW8 postcode district.
