Crap Towns / Kirkwall / Parks
How many parks and playgrounds has Kirkwall got?
OS maps 5 public parks and gardens in Kirkwall (April 2026): 6.8 per 10,000 people, 2.7 times the typical town's 2.5. There are 11 play spaces, 14.9 per 10,000 people, 2.5 times the typical town's 6.0. 3.9% of its people live more than 400 metres from a park or play space, as the crow flies, 75% lower than the typical town's 15.5%.
| Measure | Here | Typical town |
|---|---|---|
| Public parks and gardens per 10,000 people | 6.8 | 2.5 |
| Play spaces per 10,000 people | 14.9 | 6.0 |
| Square metres of public park per person | 29.0 | 4.5 |
| People more than 400 metres from a park or play space | 3.9% | 15.5% |
| Town | Distance | % more than 400 metres from a park |
|---|---|---|
| Wick | 59.9 km | 24.9 |
| Nairn | 164.8 km | 20.1 |
| Buckie | 145.7 km | 11.4 |
| Fraserburgh | 154.5 km | 9.4 |
| Elgin | 150.1 km | 8.0 |
| Lerwick | 165.5 km | 6.5 |
| Alness | 162.1 km | 5.5 |
| Lossiemouth | 142.4 km | 4.0 |
| Kirkwall | – | 3.9 |
| Forres | 157.9 km | 3.2 |
| Thurso | 54.4 km | 1.8 |
| The typical town | – | 15.5 |