Allt Coire Chailein

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 56.4639, -4.7317

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Also within

Argyll and Bute County

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Fluvial Geomorphology of Scotland Favourable — 2009-06-02

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Geological Period: Quaternary · Rock Type: Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Fluvial, Glacial

Description

ALLT COIRE CHAILEIN Allt Coire Chailein SSSI occupies one of the headwaters of the River Orchy lying approximately 4km north of Tyndrum and is crossed by the A82 trunk road. It is an excellent example of a compact, integrated system of river processes and landforms controlled by the legacy of past glaciation. The site comprises of three main features: gullies deeply incised into a thick glacial till unit within the source area for the fan; a bedrock controlled slot gorge; and a complex fan of early to late Holocene age. The fan is noteworthy since it is composed of three separate elements; namely the present day active channel, an extensive area of coarse fluvial deposits indicating former channel alignments, and a central part which does not appear to be fluvial in origin. Organic lenses within the undercut base of the fan at the periphery of the disused channel provide potential for dating the former occupation of the channels on this part of the fan.

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea