Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 17 h 29 min4:32 am – 10:01 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 5 min8:41 am – 3:46 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People4,600 residentsin the Upper Nithsdale census areaMedian age 47.62,206 households52% of homes owner-occupied34% owned outright38% social rented, 9% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting4.3% unemployment rate54% of adults are economically active, 1,972 in work, 26% retiredMain industries: manufacturing 23%, health and social work 14%, retail and wholesale 10%Getting to work: 27% work from home, 54% go by car, 3% take public transport, 15% walk or cycle54% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages16% of adults hold a degree or higher29% have no qualifications, 7% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 99%, Scots 1%, other languages 1%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 17°C, lows 9°CColdest month January: highs 5°C, lows -1°C1,660 mm of rain a year, 57 days with 10 mm or morewettest month December81 days of air frost, 2 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 landmarksCraignorth Hillhill · under a milePeat Righill · under a mileBrown's Cleuchvalley · under a mileMorris' Cleuchvalley · under a mileCarcomains Poollake · 3.0 miCorsebank Woodwoodland · under a mileSoldier's Poollake · 3.7 miOrchard Glenglen · 2.9 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
Earthquakes59 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19703 of magnitude 3+, 1 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 4.0 on 26 Dec 197949 mi away, Longtown, CumbriaMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 30 May 202247 mi away, Arran, North AyrshireSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 1.2 · PM2.5 4.2 · PM10 6.0 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband53% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband99% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)Every premises can get at least 10 Mbit/s (the universal service obligation)2,316 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation248 m814 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 206 to 429 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalLady Home Cottage Hospital9.4 miGP surgeryUpper Nithsdale Group Practice4.4 miPharmacyRight Medicine Pharmacy LTD4.5 miDentistThornhill Dental Practice14 miPolice stationSanquhar Police Station4.5 miSources: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland; Overture Maps
Getting aroundAirportGlasgow Prestwick Airport PIK27 miRailway stationSanquhar4.4 miBus stationVillage RoadElvanfoot9.1 miFerryAyr Compass Pier30 miEV chargingGridserveAbington9.3 miSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the DG4 postcode district.
