Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 18 h 27 min4:00 am – 10:27 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 6 h 14 min9:03 am – 3:17 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People4,156 residentsin the Isles census areaMedian age 54.92,080 households76% of homes owner-occupied59% owned outright11% social rented, 9% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting3.3% unemployment rate58% of adults are economically active, 1,987 in work, 32% retiredMain industries: farming, forestry and fishing 21%, health and social work 12%, education 9%Getting to work: 41% work from home, 45% go by car, 2% take public transport, 6% walk or cycle52% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages34% of adults hold a degree or higher21% have no qualifications, 7% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 98%, Scots 1%, other languages 1%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month August: highs 16°C, lows 10°CColdest month February: highs 6°C, lows 2°C1,001 mm of rain a year, 17 days with 10 mm or morewettest month December18 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)
Nearby landmarksKirk Baybay · under a mileScat Wickbay · under a mileFlottaisland · under a mileWeddelbeach · 1.4 miRotten Gutterbeach · 1.5 miHackness Martello Tower and Batteryhistoric site · 2.1 miCrockness Martello towerhistoric site · 2.1 miHead of Banksheadland · under a mileSources: Ordnance Survey Open Names; Overture Maps
Earthquakes5 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 2.0 on 2 Jul 202135 mi away, Melvich, HighlandMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 2 Jul 202135 mi away, Melvich, HighlandSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 1.2 · PM2.5 3.4 · PM10 5.4 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband38% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband57% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)8.4% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)2,627 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation22 m72 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from -1 to 59 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalDunbar Hospital23 miGP surgeryDaisy Villa5.2 miPharmacyDaisy Villa5.2 miDentistThe Balfour11 miPolice stationKirkwall Police Station12 miSources: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland; Overture Maps
Getting aroundAirportKirkwall Airport KOI12 miMajor airportAberdeen International Airport ABZ117 miRailway stationThurso22 miBus stationTravel CentreStromness12 miFerryFlotta Orkney Ferry Terminal1.1 miCar parkHoxa Head Car ParkSouth Ronaldsay2.9 miSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the KW16 postcode district.
