UK area code
01556 area code — Castle Douglas
01556 is Ofcom’s Castle Douglas numbering area, in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. 80 phone companies hold its 99 allocated number blocks. Its numbers are written like 01556 234 567. The nearest other codes are 01557 Kirkcudbright (14 km) and 01644 New Galloway (20 km).
01556 at a glance
- Ofcom area name
- Castle Douglas
- Council area
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Country
- Scotland
- Number format
- 01556 234 567 (4+6)
- Local calls
- Full number recommended
- Current code since
- 1995 (previously 0556)
- Allocated blocks
- 99 of 406 (24%) across 80 providers
- Newest block
- 26 January 2026 (1 in the last 12 months)
Sources: Ofcom numbering data (weekly) and area-code list, Ofcom Numbering Plan, ONS geography.
If a 01556 number called you
No clear pattern in reports for these numbers yet. If a call worried you:
- 1
Call back on a number you trust
If a caller says they're your bank, HMRC, a courier or a council, hang up and ring the organisation on the number from its website or your statement, never the number that called you. Caller ID can be faked.
- 2
Forward it to 7726
On a mobile, copy the caller's number from your recent calls and text it to 7726 (it spells SPAM). Scam texts can be forwarded to 7726 as they are. It's free, and your network uses the reports to investigate and block numbers.
- 3
Stop sales calls
Register your landline and mobile free with the Telephone Preference Service (0345 070 0707). Legitimate UK marketers must check it; calls should drop within 28 days. It won't stop scammers.
- 4
If you lost money or shared details
Call your bank on the number on your card (or 159 to reach most UK banks safely), then report it to Police Scotland on 101. In Scotland fraud goes to Police Scotland rather than Report Fraud.
01556 history and number format
Number format: Numbers on 01556 use Ofcom's 4+6 format: the 5-digit code (including the leading 0) followed by a 6-digit local number — written like 01556 234 567.
Before 1995: 01556 took its current form at PhONEday on 16 April 1995, when a "1" was inserted into every UK geographic code — before that the area dialled 0556.
Local dialling: Traditionally not from another 01556 landline, but it now depends on your provider: Ofcom stopped requiring providers to offer local (code-free) dialling on 11 March 2022. Dialling 01556 first always works, and mobiles always need it.
Allocation record: the oldest number block still visible on 01556 was allocated on 15 July 1994, and the most recent on 26 January 2026. 1 block was allocated in the last 12 months — newly-activated ranges with no call history, which is worth knowing when an unfamiliar 01556 number rings (see the weekly numbering changelog for every new allocation.)
Phone companies holding 01556 numbers
Every Ofcom range holder with blocks on 01556, by allocated blocks. The holder is the company Ofcom allocated the block to; a number can since have been ported to another provider (see range holder vs current provider).
| Range holder | Allocated | All blocks | First block | Latest block |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BT | 13 | 13 | 15 July 1994 | 21 February 2025 |
| Digital Space Group Limited | 2 | 2 | 14 May 2008 | 15 March 2016 |
| Digitech Solutions Global Limited | 2 | 2 | 27 April 2010 | 22 June 2012 |
| Fuse 2 Communications Ltd | 2 | 2 | 3 July 2017 | 22 January 2024 |
| I.T Communications Limited | 2 | 2 | 25 April 2017 | 10 September 2019 |
| Sky UK Limited | 2 | 2 | 2 July 2013 | 9 January 2025 |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 2 | 2 | 20 January 2012 | 20 January 2012 |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 2 | 2 | 5 September 2013 | 10 November 2021 |
| (AQ) LIMITED | 1 | 1 | 19 October 2011 | 19 October 2011 |
| 24 Seven Cloud Communications Ltd | 1 | 1 | 17 January 2020 | 17 January 2020 |
| 8x8 Communications UK Limited | 1 | 1 | 30 March 2012 | 30 March 2012 |
| AQL Wholesale Ltd | 1 | 1 | 3 January 2008 | 3 January 2008 |
| Adepteo Limited | 1 | 1 | 13 December 2016 | 13 December 2016 |
| Andrews & Arnold (Numbers) Ltd | 1 | 1 | 19 March 2009 | 19 March 2009 |
| Atomstream Limited | 1 | 1 | 12 May 2010 | 12 May 2010 |
| Barritel Limited | 1 | 1 | 15 August 2006 | 15 August 2006 |
| Belgacom International Carrier Services SA | 1 | 1 | 14 October 2019 | 14 October 2019 |
| Bink Networks Ltd | 1 | 1 | 29 March 2023 | 29 March 2023 |
| CFL Communications Ltd | 1 | 1 | 13 July 2009 | 13 July 2009 |
| Calltracks Limited | 1 | 1 | 31 January 2014 | 31 January 2014 |
| Colt Technology Services | 1 | 1 | 20 June 2016 | 20 June 2016 |
| Content Guru Limited | 1 | 1 | 12 October 2012 | 12 October 2012 |
| Convergence Group (wireless) Networks Limited | 1 | 1 | 21 May 2019 | 21 May 2019 |
| DIDWW Ireland Limited | 1 | 1 | 27 January 2020 | 27 January 2020 |
| Dial 9 Communications Limited | 1 | 1 | 10 December 2019 | 10 December 2019 |
| EVE CONNECT LTD | 1 | 1 | 15 June 2022 | 15 June 2022 |
| Flextel Limited | 1 | 1 | 24 October 2005 | 24 October 2005 |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 1 | 1 | 22 December 2023 | 22 December 2023 |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 1 | 1 | 12 April 2005 | 12 April 2005 |
| Hello Telecom (UK) Limited | 1 | 1 | 11 November 2011 | 11 November 2011 |
Showing the 30 largest of 80 holders.
All number blocks on 01556first 200 of 406, by prefix
| Prefix | Status | Range holder |
|---|---|---|
| +44 155600 | Protected | — |
| +44 155601 | Protected | — |
| +44 155602 | Protected | — |
| +44 155603 | Protected | — |
| +44 155604 | Protected | — |
| +44 155605 | Protected | — |
| +44 155606 | Protected | — |
| +44 155607 | Protected | — |
| +44 155608 | Protected | — |
| +44 155609 | Protected | — |
| +44 155610 | Protected | — |
| +44 155611 | Protected | — |
| +44 155612 | Protected | — |
| +44 155613 | Protected | — |
| +44 155614 | Protected | — |
| +44 155615 | Protected | — |
| +44 155616 | Protected | — |
| +44 155617 | Protected | — |
| +44 155618 | Protected | — |
| +44 155619 | Protected | — |
| +44 155620 | Allocated | TelNG Limited |
| +44 155621 | Allocated | Voiceflex Limited |
| +44 155622 | Allocated | Redcentric Solutions Limited |
| +44 155623 | Allocated | VoIP-Un Limited |
| +44 155624 | Protected | — |
| +44 155625 | Allocated | AQL Wholesale Ltd |
| +44 155626 | Allocated | Localphone Limited |
| +44 1556270 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556271 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556272 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556273 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556274 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556275 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556276 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556277 | Allocated | Digital Space Group Limited |
| +44 1556278 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556279 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556280 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556281 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556282 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556283 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556284 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556285 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556286 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556287 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556288 | Allocated | TalkTalk Communications Limited |
| +44 1556289 | Allocated | TalkTalk Communications Limited |
| +44 155629 | Allocated | Telecom2 Limited |
| +44 155630 | Allocated | Digital Space Group Limited |
| +44 155631 | Allocated | Nodemax Limited |
| +44 1556320 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556321 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556322 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556323 | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
| +44 1556324 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556325 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556326 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556327 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556328 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556329 | Protected | — |
| +44 155633 | Allocated | Net-Work Internet Ltd |
| +44 155634 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556350 | Allocated | Voxbone SA |
| +44 1556351 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556352 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556353 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556354 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556355 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556356 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556357 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556358 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556359 | Protected | — |
| +44 155636 | Protected | — |
| +44 155637 | Allocated | Solutios Limited |
| +44 155638 | Allocated | Mars Communications Limited |
| +44 155639 | Quarantined | — |
| +44 155640 | Allocated | Andrews & Arnold (Numbers) Ltd |
| +44 155641 | Allocated | Nexus Telecommunications Limited |
| +44 155642 | Quarantined | — |
| +44 155643 | Allocated | CFL Communications Ltd |
| +44 155644 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556450 | Allocated | Digitech Solutions Global Limited |
| +44 1556451 | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
| +44 1556452 | Allocated | Calltracks Limited |
| +44 1556453 | Allocated | VoiceHost Limited |
| +44 1556454 | Allocated | Suretec Systems Ltd |
| +44 1556455 | Allocated | Atomstream Limited |
| +44 1556456 | Allocated | Windsor Telecom Limited |
| +44 1556457 | Allocated | Inet Telecoms Ltd (Voipfone) |
| +44 1556458 | Allocated | GCI Network Solutions Limited |
| +44 1556459 | Allocated | Telephone Box Limited |
| +44 155646 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556470 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556471 | Allocated | Phone Co-Op Numbering Limited |
| +44 1556472 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556473 | Allocated | Invosys Limited |
| +44 1556474 | Allocated | Sky UK Limited |
| +44 1556475 | Allocated | INTELLIGENT EXCHANGES LIMITED |
| +44 1556476 | Allocated | Nexbridge Communications Limited |
| +44 1556477 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556478 | Allocated | Convergence Group (wireless) Networks Limited |
| +44 1556479 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556480 | Allocated | Invoco Ltd |
| +44 1556481 | Allocated | Orbtalk Limited |
| +44 1556482 | Allocated | Hello Telecom (UK) Limited |
| +44 1556483 | Allocated | Internexus Networks Limited |
| +44 1556484 | Allocated | Simwood eSMS Limited |
| +44 1556485 | Allocated | 8x8 Communications UK Limited |
| +44 1556486 | Allocated | ICC Networks Ltd |
| +44 1556487 | Allocated | IOVOX Limited |
| +44 1556488 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556489 | Allocated | Ziron Limited |
| +44 1556490 | Allocated | Minotaur Telecom Limited |
| +44 1556491 | Allocated | Media Hawk Ltd |
| +44 1556492 | Allocated | Kalnet4U Ltd |
| +44 1556493 | Allocated | Nuso Cloud UK Limited |
| +44 1556494 | Allocated | Content Guru Limited |
| +44 1556495 | Allocated | Fuse 2 Communications Ltd |
| +44 1556496 | Allocated | Redwood Technologies Ltd |
| +44 1556497 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556498 | Allocated | XoverX Ltd |
| +44 1556499 | Protected | — |
| +44 155650 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 155651 | Allocated | Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited |
| +44 155652 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 1556530 | Allocated | Linear Telecoms Limited |
| +44 1556531 | Allocated | DIDWW Ireland Limited |
| +44 1556532 | Allocated | ICUK Computing Services Limited |
| +44 1556533 | Allocated | EVE CONNECT LTD |
| +44 1556534 | Allocated | I.T Communications Limited |
| +44 1556535 | Allocated | Dial 9 Communications Limited |
| +44 1556536 | Allocated | 24 Seven Cloud Communications Ltd |
| +44 1556537 | Allocated | SiPalto Ltd |
| +44 1556538 | Allocated | Belgacom International Carrier Services SA |
| +44 1556539 | Allocated | Mi Telecom Limited |
| +44 1556540 | Allocated | VOXYONDER NETWORK SERVICES UK LTD |
| +44 1556541 | Allocated | Bink Networks Ltd |
| +44 1556542 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 1556543 | Allocated | Sky UK Limited |
| +44 1556544 | Allocated | KCOM Group Ltd |
| +44 1556545 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1556546 | Free | — |
| +44 1556547 | Free | — |
| +44 1556548 | Free | — |
| +44 1556549 | Free | — |
| +44 155655 | Allocated | Served Up Limited |
| +44 155656 | Allocated | Magrathea Telecommunications Limited |
| +44 155657 | Allocated | Flextel Limited |
| +44 155658 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556590 | Allocated | Digitech Solutions Global Limited |
| +44 1556591 | Free | — |
| +44 1556592 | Free | — |
| +44 1556593 | Free | — |
| +44 1556594 | Free | — |
| +44 1556595 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556596 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556597 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556598 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556599 | Protected | — |
| +44 155660 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 155661 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 155662 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 155663 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 155664 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 155665 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 155666 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 155667 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 155668 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 155669 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 1556700 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556701 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556702 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556703 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556704 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556705 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556706 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556707 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556708 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556709 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556710 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556711 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556712 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556713 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556714 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556715 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556716 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556717 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556718 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556719 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556720 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556721 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556722 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556723 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556724 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556725 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556726 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556727 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556728 | Protected | — |
| +44 1556729 | Protected | — |
| +44 155673 | Allocated | (AQ) LIMITED |
Related lookups
- 01557 Kirkcudbright14 km away
- 01644 New Galloway20 km away
- 01387 Dumfries25 km away
- 01988 Wigtown34 km away
- BT13 allocated blocks on 01556
- Digital Space Group Limited2 allocated blocks on 01556
- Digitech Solutions Global Limited2 allocated blocks on 01556
- All UK towns A–ZDialling codes by town
- More Scotland codesSame region
- All UK area codesBrowse every 01/02 dialling code
- Lookup any UK numberFree reverse phone lookup
- UK area codes explainedCornerstone guide
- 020 London numbers explainedCornerstone guide
- 0330 numbers explainedCornerstone guide
- How Ofcom allocates UK phone numbersCornerstone guide
FAQs about 01556
Where is area code 01556?
01556 is Ofcom's Castle Douglas numbering area, in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Its exchange town is in Dumfries and Galloway. From abroad, drop the 0 and dial +44 1556.
Do I need to dial 01556 for a local call?
Traditionally not from another 01556 landline, but it now depends on your provider: Ofcom stopped requiring providers to offer local (code-free) dialling on 11 March 2022. Dialling 01556 first always works, and mobiles always need it.
How are 01556 numbers written?
Numbers on 01556 use Ofcom's 4+6 format: the 5-digit code (including the leading 0) followed by a 6-digit local number — written like 01556 234 567. From abroad the leading zero is dropped: +44 1556 then the local number.
What was the 01556 area code before?
01556 took its current form at PhONEday on 16 April 1995, when a "1" was inserted into every UK geographic code — before that the area dialled 0556. Old signage or stationery showing 0556 refers to the same Castle Douglas numbers.
Which phone companies hold 01556 numbers?
Ofcom lists 80 providers with allocated blocks on 01556. The largest are BT with 13 of the 99 allocated blocks, Digital Space Group Limited with 2 of the 99 allocated blocks and Digitech Solutions Global Limited with 2 of the 99 allocated blocks. Numbers can be ported, so a number's current provider may differ from the block's holder.
Which area codes are next to 01556?
By distance between exchange towns, the nearest other codes are 01557 Kirkcudbright (14 km), 01644 New Galloway (20 km), 01387 Dumfries (25 km) and 01988 Wigtown (34 km).
How do I report a scam call from a 01556 number?
On a mobile, text the caller's number to 7726 (free). If you lost money or shared details, call your bank and report it to Police Scotland on 101. Unwanted sales calls go to the ICO after registering with the Telephone Preference Service.