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...The Heart of The West Highlands

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Upland

Buzzards soaring highLochaber (including Moidart, Ardnamurchan, Morvern, Morar and Arisaig) is an internationally important region for upland habitats, and includes heaths (wet, dry and montane), calcareous grassland, montane scrub, rock and scree, and summit vegetation.  The dry heath supports heather (Calluna vulgaris), bell heather (Erica cinerea), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), western gorse (Ulex europaeus) with tormentil (Potentilla tormentilla) and grasses. The more common wet heath vegetation comprises of heather, bell heather, cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix), bilberry, deergrass (Trichophorum cespitosum) and purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea) with Sphagnum mosses. 

Montane heath consists of moss heath, dwarf shrubs and Artic-Alpine communities and it confined to north-west Scotland.  Hardy alpines and arctic flora are found in the higher mountains, epitomised by the magnificent Ben Nevis range,  and include alpine saxifrage (Saxifraga nivalis), the rare drooping saxifrage (Saxifraga cernua), northern rock-cress (Arabidopsis petraea), diapensia (Diapensia lapponica), mountain avens (Dryas octopetala), moss campion (Silene acaulis), parsley fern (Cryptogramma crispa) and alpine lady-fern (Athyrium distentifolium), as well as specialist ferns, bryophytes and lichens, including the northern holly fern (Polystichum lonchitis).  In addition, mountain willow (Salix arbuscula) is restricted to Ben Nevis in Lochaber and arctic sandwort (Arenaria norvegica) grows on basaltic screes in Morvern and the Small Isle. 

Look out for mountain ringlet, slow worm, adder, mountain hare, ptarmigan, red deer, red grouse, snipe, golden plover, greenshank, ring ouzel, raven, and a range of raptors, including merlin, peregrine falcon, hen harrier and golden eagle.  A great habitat to spot wildlife.

Wildlife

  • Wildlife Habitats
    • Woodland
    • Grassland
    • Upland
    • Bog
    • Freshwater
    • Maritime

Things To Do

  • Activities
    • Activity Providers (on Wild About Lochaber)
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Willdife Sites

  • Allt Mhuic Nature Reserve
  • Aonach Mor
  • Ardnamurchan Point
  • Ardtornish Wildlife Hide
  • Ariundle Oakwood
  • Camusdarach Beaches
  • Claish Moss
  • Cul na Croise
  • Garbh Eilean Wildlife Hide
  • Glen Beasdale SAC
  • Glencripesdale
  • Isle of Eigg
  • Isle of Rum
  • Kentra Moss
  • Rahoy Hills
  • RSPB Glenborrodale
  • Sanna Bay
  • Treshnish Isles

Willdife Experiences

  • Crannog Cruise on Loch Linnhe
  • Isle of Eigg
  • Isle of Mull Sea Eagle Adventure
  • Isle of Rum
  • Loch Shiel Wildlife Cruise
  • Loch Sunart Wildlife Ferry to Tobermory
  • Mull Eagle Watch
  • RSPB Glenborrodale Wildlife Walk
  • Treshnish Isles and Fingal's Cave
  • Whale and Dolphin Wildlife Cruise from Mallaig

Information Links

  • British Bryological Society
  • British Lichen Society
  • Butterfly Conservation Highland
  • Scottish Plants from Coast to Summit-RBGE
  • Montane scrub
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