Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 18 h 21 min4:03 am – 10:24 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 6 h 19 min9:01 am – 3:20 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People3,679 residentsin the Caithness North East census areaMedian age 52.51,723 households80% of homes owner-occupied56% owned outright11% social rented, 7% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting3.1% unemployment rate58% of adults are economically active, 1,781 in work, 30% retiredMain industries: health and social work 11%, retail and wholesale 10%, farming, forestry and fishing 9%Getting to work: 33% work from home, 59% go by car, 3% take public transport, 4% walk or cycle27% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages27% of adults hold a degree or higher19% have no qualifications, 11% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 99%, other languages 1%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month August: highs 17°C, lows 10°CColdest month January: highs 6°C, lows 1°C857 mm of rain a year, 17 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October47 days of air frost, no 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)
Earthquakes6 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 2.0 on 2 Jul 202128 mi away, Melvich, HighlandMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 2 Jul 202128 mi away, Melvich, HighlandSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 0.9 · PM2.5 3.5 · PM10 5.8 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband29% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband65% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)6.0% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)1,895 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation17 m56 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from -1 to 29 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalCaithness General Hospital6.1 miGP surgeryNorth Highland Chp Ooh6.1 miPharmacyBoots The Chemists LTD6.0 miDentistWick Dental Practice4.9 miPolice stationThurso Police Station15 miSources: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland; Overture Maps
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 primaryPrimaryKeiss Primary Schoolunder a mileSource: Scottish Government, school contact details
Getting aroundAirportWick John O'Groats Airport WIC5.0 miMajor airportAberdeen International Airport ABZ98 miRailway stationWick6.1 miFerryGills Bay Ferry Terminal7.8 miBus stops6 within a mileEV chargingOsprey Charging StationWick6.7 miSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the KW1 postcode district.
