Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 18 h 22 min4:06 am – 10:27 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 6 h 19 min9:03 am – 3:22 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People4,940 residentsin the Caithness North West census areaMedian age 49.32,312 households76% of homes owner-occupied49% owned outright12% social rented, 9% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting2.2% unemployment rate63% of adults are economically active, 2,556 in work, 26% retiredMain industries: health and social work 10%, water and waste 9%, retail and wholesale 8%Getting to work: 33% work from home, 58% go by car, 3% take public transport, 4% walk or cycle44% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages26% of adults hold a degree or higher17% have no qualifications, 11% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 99%, other languages 1%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 17°C, lows 10°CColdest month February: highs 7°C, lows 1°C1,028 mm of rain a year, 20 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October46 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)
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 197849 mi away, Nr Kinlochewe, Wester RoMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 1 Jan 202237 mi away, Durness, HighlandSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 0.9 · PM2.5 3.7 · PM10 5.7 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband32% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband66% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)2.9% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)2,436 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation20 m66 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from -2 to 59 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalDunbar Hospital8.7 miGP surgeryThurso & Halkirk Medical Practice9.3 miPharmacyThurso & Halkirk Medical Practice9.3 miDentistDunbar Dental Clinic8.7 miPolice stationThurso Police Station9.5 miSources: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland; Overture Maps
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 primaryPrimaryReay Primary Schoolunder a mileSource: Scottish Government, school contact details
Getting aroundAirportWick John O'Groats Airport WIC26 miMajor airportAberdeen International Airport ABZ110 miRailway stationThurso9.2 miFerryScrabster Ferry Terminal9.1 miBus stops13 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the KW14 postcode district.
