Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 18 h 31 min3:59 am – 10:30 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 6 h 11 min9:05 am – 3:16 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People2,960 residentsin the Stromness, Sandwick and Stenness census areaMedian age 51.81,482 households69% of homes owner-occupied47% owned outright20% social rented, 10% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting1.8% unemployment rate61% of adults are economically active, 1,523 in work, 28% retiredMain industries: health and social work 13%, retail and wholesale 11%, farming, forestry and fishing 9%Getting to work: 31% work from home, 50% go by car, 3% take public transport, 13% walk or cycle51% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages36% of adults hold a degree or higher18% have no qualifications, 8% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 98%, other languages 1%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 17°C, lows 10°CColdest month January: highs 7°C, lows 2°C1,104 mm of rain a year, 26 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November31 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 landmarksBig Bushanisland · under a milePeedie Bushanisland · under a mileWhilliastanebay · under a mileLoch of Harraylake · 1.2 miLoch of Clumlylake · 1.5 miComet Stonehistoric site · 2.1 miUnstan Chambered Cairnhistoric site · 2.8 miLinga Fioldhill · 1.1 miSources: Ordnance Survey Open Names; Overture Maps
Parks and green spacesMarket Greenpark · 3.0 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes4 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 9 Feb 197345 mi away, Fair IsleMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 2 Jul 202140 mi away, Melvich, HighlandSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 1.0 · PM2.5 3.4 · PM10 6.2 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband25% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband94% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)0.6% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)1,702 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation17 m56 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 0 to 37 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesGP surgeryDounby Surgery2.9 miPharmacyNorsepharm LTD3.0 miDentistOrkney Dental4.5 miPolice stationKirkwall Police Station11 miCash machineAsda (C) Dounby PFS, A986 Dounby3.0 miSources: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland; Overture Maps
Getting aroundAirportKirkwall Airport KOI13 miMajor airportAberdeen International Airport ABZ132 miBus stationTravel CentreStromness4.5 miFerryStromness Orkney Ferry Terminal4.5 miBus stops6 within a mileCar parkCar ParkNr Stromness1.8 miSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the KW16 postcode district.
