Baosbheinn

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 57.6466, -5.5958

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Also within

Ross and Cromarty County Wester Ross Scenic Area 27. Flowerdale - Shieldaig - Torridon Wild Land Area

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Quaternary of Scotland Favourable — 2014-09-19

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Sandstone

Landscape processes: Periglacial

Description

BAOSBHEINN Baosbheinn Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is situated on the north west face of Baosbheinn, 3km south of Loch Bad an Sgalaig at the head of the River Kerry. It encompasses the best example of a fossil protalus rampart in Britain. This Ice Age rockslide comprises huge boulders which accumulated at the foot of a snowpatch under periglacial conditions during the last stage of the Ice Age in Scotland, referred to as the Loch Lomond Stadial. The rampart comprises two arcuate or bow-shaped ridges of Torridonian sandstone boulders. It measures 1km in length and up to 55m in height – a large example by world standards and possibly the largest protalus rampart described anywhere. Baosbheinn is an important reference site for understanding periglacial geomorphology and the processes which lead to the formation of these landforms and provides valuable information on climatic conditions and rates of bedrock erosion during the Loch Lomond Stadial.

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