Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 17 h 20 min4:39 am – 9:59 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 13 min8:39 am – 3:52 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People4,849 residentsin the Machars South census areaMedian age 57.02,474 households66% of homes owner-occupied52% owned outright17% social rented, 13% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting2.7% unemployment rate49% of adults are economically active, 1,992 in work, 38% retiredMain industries: farming, forestry and fishing 22%, health and social work 12%, retail and wholesale 11%Getting to work: 38% work from home, 52% go by car, 1% take public transport, 6% walk or cycle43% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages28% of adults hold a degree or higher24% have no qualifications, 7% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 98%, Scots 1%, other languages 1%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 19°C, lows 11°CColdest month January: highs 7°C, lows 2°C1,154 mm of rain a year, 36 days with 10 mm or morewettest month December41 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 landmarksBlair Hillhill · under a mileThe Forestforest · 1.5 miBar Hillhill · under a mileGalloway House Gardenshistoric site · 2.7 miGalloway Househistoric site · 2.7 miWhite Lochlake · 2.8 miOuton Lochlake · 2.9 miGarlieston Baybay · 2.8 miSources: Ordnance Survey Open Names; Overture Maps
Parks and green spacesGalloway House Gardenspark · 2.6 mi · 24 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes20 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19703 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 28 Feb 201845 mi away, Cockermouth, CumbriaMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 24 Oct 202034 mi away, Dumfries, D & GSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 1.4 · PM2.5 3.9 · PM10 6.5 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband33% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband98% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)0.2% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)2,771 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation31 m102 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 15 to 64 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalNewton Stewart Hospital11 miGP surgeryCairnsmore Medical Practice12 miPharmacySouthern Machars Practice3.8 miDentist2 Princes Street12 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland
Getting aroundAirportGlasgow Prestwick Airport PIK49 miRailway stationStranraer25 miFerryStranraer Ferry Terminal25 miBus stops6 within a mileEV chargingbp PulseCastle Douglas7.1 miSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the DG8 postcode district.