Local servicesHospitalRoyal Edinburgh Hospital27 miGP surgeryBraeside Medical Practice5 surgeries within 2 miles1.7 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland
Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 17 h 32 min4:27 am – 9:58 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 2 min8:38 am – 3:40 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People4,017 residentsin the Gala Water Valley and Earlston Area census areaMedian age 49.61,827 households69% of homes owner-occupied42% owned outright13% social rented, 15% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting2.9% unemployment rate64% of adults are economically active, 2,088 in work, 26% retiredMain industries: health and social work 16%, construction 9%, retail and wholesale 9%Getting to work: 36% work from home, 55% go by car, 4% take public transport, 5% walk or cycle41% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages38% of adults hold a degree or higher14% have no qualifications, 7% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 98%, other languages 2%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 19°C, lows 10°CColdest month December: highs 6°C, lows 0°C994 mm of rain a year, 25 days with 10 mm or morewettest month December63 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 landmarksOak Poollake · 1.4 miBridgend Poollake · 1.4 miDarling's Hillhill · under a milePicts' Hillhill · under a mileHaughead Streamriver · 1.6 miQuarry Streamriver · 1.6 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
Parks and green spacesGalashiels Golf Coursegolf course · 1.1 mi · 31 haTweedbank Parkpark · 1.8 mi · 15 haGala Parkpark · 1.8 mi · 3 haLadhope Recreation Groundplaying field · 1.0 mi · 7 haScott Parkpark · 2.0 mi · 3 haQueens Leisure Centresports ground · 1.6 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes53 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19705 of magnitude 3+, 1 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 4.0 on 26 Dec 197943 mi away, Longtown, CumbriaMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 26 Jul 202121 mi away, Penicuik, MidlothianSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 1.8 · PM2.5 4.3 · PM10 6.8 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband32% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband98% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)0.5% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)2,011 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation184 m604 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 124 to 308 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
