Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 18 h 20 min4:04 am – 10:24 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 6 h 20 min9:00 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 July: highs 17°C, lows 10°CColdest month January: highs 6°C, lows 1°C862 mm of rain a year, 14 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October63 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)
Nearby landmarksLoch of Winlesslake · under a mileLoch of Killimsterlake · 1.5 miGreen Hillhill · 1.0 miHill of Harlandhill · 1.6 miCastle Havenbay · 3.4 miRed Kilnsbeach · 4.2 miDuncansby Head Lighthousehistoric site · 4.8 miByreburnfoot Bridgebridge · 3.1 miSources: Ordnance Survey Open Names; Overture Maps
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 202126 mi away, Melvich, HighlandMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 2 Jul 202126 mi away, Melvich, HighlandSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 1.0 · PM2.5 3.7 · PM10 7.1 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
Elevation5 m16 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 3 to 24 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalCaithness General Hospital4.2 miGP surgeryNorth Highland Chp Ooh4.2 miPharmacyBoots The Chemists LTD4.3 miDentistWick Dental Practice3.5 miPolice stationThurso Police Station15 miCash machineThe Cooperative Food Wick, Thurso Road4.1 miSources: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland; Overture Maps
Getting aroundAirportWick John O'Groats Airport WIC4.0 miMajor airportAberdeen International Airport ABZ95 miRailway stationWick4.2 miFerryGills Bay Ferry Terminal12 miEV chargingOsprey Charging StationWick4.5 miSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the KW1 postcode district.
