Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 18 h 29 min3:58 am – 10:27 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 6 h 12 min9:03 am – 3:15 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People4,337 residentsin the East Mainland census areaMedian age 44.01,852 households78% of homes owner-occupied47% owned outright13% social rented, 7% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting1.5% unemployment rate69% of adults are economically active, 2,339 in work, 23% retiredMain industries: health and social work 14%, retail and wholesale 11%, construction 11%Getting to work: 27% work from home, 62% go by car, 7% walk or cycle72% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages32% of adults hold a degree or higher14% have no qualifications, 11% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 99%, Scots 1%, other languages 1%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month August: average 13°CColdest month January: average 5°C1,033 mm of rain a year, 25 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November19 days of air frost, no summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid
Nearby landmarksBay of Suckquoybay · 1.0 miSandi Sandbeach · 1.8 miSt Peter's Baybay · 1.3 miCletty Sandbeach · 1.9 miLoch of Graemeshalllake · 2.1 miLoch of Messigatelake · 2.2 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
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 197340 mi away, Fair IsleMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 2 Jul 202146 mi away, Melvich, HighlandSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 1.0 · PM2.5 3.3 · PM10 5.5 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 broadband86% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)1.5% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)2,077 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation28 m92 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from -1 to 61 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesGP surgerySkerryvore Practice5.9 miPharmacyOrcades Practice5.9 miDentistThe Balfour5.9 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 primaryPrimarySt Andrew's Primary Schoolunder a mileSource: Scottish Government, school contact details
Getting aroundAirportKirkwall Airport KOI3.6 miMajor airportAberdeen International Airport ABZ121 miBus stationTravel CentreKirkwall6.3 miFerryKirkwall Shapinsay Ferry Terminal6.3 miBus stops9 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the KW17 postcode district.
