Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 17 h 54 min4:30 am – 10:24 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 6 h 42 min9:02 am – 3:45 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People4,819 residentsin the Lochaber West census areaMedian age 51.92,291 households68% of homes owner-occupied47% owned outright16% social rented, 12% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting2.6% unemployment rate64% of adults are economically active, 2,614 in work, 26% retiredMain industries: hospitality 14%, health and social work 11%, farming, forestry and fishing 11%Getting to work: 38% work from home, 47% go by car, 2% take public transport, 12% walk or cycle58% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages37% of adults hold a degree or higher15% have no qualifications, 7% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 97%, Gaelic 1%, other languages 3%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month August: average 14°CColdest month February: average 6°C2,571 mm of rain a year, 89 days with 10 mm or morewettest month January14 days of air frost, no summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid
Earthquakes120 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 197026 of magnitude 3+, 2 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 4.0 on 4 Aug 201728 mi away, Moidart, HighlandMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 17 Jul 202644 mi away, Lochcarron, HighlandSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 0.7 · PM2.5 2.9 · PM10 4.5 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband13% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband54% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)7.8% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)2,961 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation13 m43 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from -2 to 44 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
