Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 18 h 30 min3:58 am – 10:28 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 6 h 11 min9:04 am – 3:15 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People3,739 residentsin the West Kirkwall census areaMedian age 45.82,017 households57% of homes owner-occupied33% owned outright25% social rented, 15% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting2.5% unemployment rate63% of adults are economically active, 1,967 in work, 26% retiredMain industries: health and social work 17%, retail and wholesale 12%, construction 9%Getting to work: 22% work from home, 47% go by car, 1% take public transport, 27% walk or cycle90% 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 higher19% have no qualifications, 9% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 98%, Scots 1%, other languages 2%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month July: average 14°CColdest month February: average 4°C1,072 mm of rain a year, 25 days with 10 mm or morewettest month January24 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 Weylandbay · under a mileBay of Kirkwallbay · 1.0 miSand of Gilliesbeach · 1.6 miCrow Nessheadland · under a mileLoch of Carnesslake · 1.9 miPeerie Seawater · under a mileSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
Parks and green spacesBrandyquoy Parkpark · under a milePapdale East Parkpark · under a mile · 3 haOrkney Golf Clubgolf course · under a mile · 29 haThe Pickaquoy Centresports ground · under a mile · 13 haBignold Parkplaying field · under a mile · 5 haKeeliquoy Allotmentsallotments · under a mileSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes5 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 9 Feb 197339 mi away, Fair IsleMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 2 Jul 202145 mi away, Melvich, HighlandSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 4.4 · PM2.5 3.7 · PM10 5.8 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband6.3% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband100% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)Every premises can get at least 10 Mbit/s (the universal service obligation)2,225 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation3 m10 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from -1 to 49 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesGP surgerySkerryvore Practice4 surgeries within 2 milesunder a mileSource: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland
SchoolsWithin 2 mi3 schools2 primary, 1 secondaryPrimaryGlaitness Schoolunder a milePrimaryPapdale Primary Schoolunder a mileSecondaryKirkwall Grammar Schoolunder a mileSource: Scottish Government, school contact details
Getting aroundAirportKirkwall Airport KOI2.8 miMajor airportAberdeen International Airport ABZ126 miBus stationTravel CentreKirkwallunder a mileFerryKirkwall Shapinsay Ferry Terminalunder a mileBus stops89 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the KW15 postcode district.
