Beinn Shiantaidh
Also within
Argyll and Bute County Jura Scenic Area 05. Jura, Scarba Lunga and Garvellachs Wild Land Area
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Quaternary of Scotland | Favourable | — | 2014-01-22 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Quartzite
Landscape processes: Glacial, Periglacial
Description
BEINN SHIANTAIDH The SSSI occupies the north eastern slopes of Beinn Shiantaidh, on the island of Jura. It is the best example in Scotland of a fossil lobate rock glacier -an arcuate -shaped accumulation of rock debris that moved downslope through the deformation of ice within the rock debris. It comprises poorly sorted quartzite boulders aligned in a series of arcuate ridges and furrows. The large volume of rock debris probably accumulated through a combination of rockfall from intense frost weathering of the bedrock and large-scale rock slope failure under severe periglacial (cold-climate) conditions during Loch Lomond Stadial (12,900 to 11,500 years ago). In its morphology and inferred flow rates, the fossil feature is comparable to currently active examples in polar and alpine areas of the world. It provides significant evidence of past climate conditions and geomorphological processes on the western seaboard of Scotland.
Plant communities
CG12 — Alpine and subalpine calcareous grassland, High montane heath and snow bed
Festuca ovina-Alchemilla alpina-Silene acaulis dwarf-herb community
Show 125 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Kalmia procumbens, Vaccinium myrtillus, Salix herbacea, Carex bigelowii, Carex demissa, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Juncus trifidus, Juncus triglumis, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula spicata, Luzula sylvatica, Diphasiastrum alpinum, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Andreaea alpina, Aulacomnium turgidum, Bartramia ithyphylla, Breutelia chrysocoma, Mnium hornum, Dicranum scoparium, Ditrichum flexicaule, Racomitrium canescens sens.lat., Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum hamulosum, Lescuraea incurvata, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Pogonatum urnigerum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Tortella tortuosa, Barbilophozia hatcheri, Barbilophozia lycopodioides, Diplophyllum albicans, Frullania tamarisci, Nardia scalaris, Plagiochila asplenioides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania subalpina, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia uncialis, Peltigera canina, Achillea millefolium, Antennaria dioica, Gnaphalium supinum, Hieraclium spp., Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Solidago virgaurea, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis alpestris, Cardamine pratensis, Draba norvegica, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium alpinum, Cerastium fontanum, Minuartia sedoides, Sagina saginoides, Silene acaulis, Sedum rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Linum catharticum, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Euphrasia frigida, Euphrasia officinalis, Oxalis acetosella, Plantago maritima, Veronica alpina, Veronica officinalis, Veronica serpyllifolia, Armeria maritima, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla filicaulis, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Potentilla crantzii, Potentilla erecta, Sibbaldia procumbens, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga nivalis, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola lutea, Viola palustris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Festuca vivipara, Nardus stricta, Poa pratensis, Botrychium lunaria
U7 — High montane heath and snow bed
Nardus stricta-Carex bigelowii grass-heath
Show 74 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Salix herbacea, Carex bigelowii, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Juncus trifidus, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Diphasiastrum alpinum, Huperzia selago, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum scoparium, Kiaeria starkei, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum piliferum, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Anastrepta orcadensis, Anastrophyllum donianum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Barbilophozia hatcheri, Bazzania tricrenata, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophozia sudetica, Pleurozia purpurea, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania gracilis, Scapania nemorea, Cetraria delisei, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia bellidiflora, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia leucophaea, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia rangiferina, Cladonia tenuis, Cladonia uncialis, Gnaphalium supinum, Solidago virgaurea, Cornus suecica, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Narthecium ossifragum, Rumex acetosa, Alchemilla alpina, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola palustris, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Nardus stricta
U8 — High montane heath and snow bed
Carex bigelowii-Polytrichum alpinum sedge-heath
Show 39 indicator speciesVaccinium myrtillus, Salix herbacea, Carex bigelowii, Juncus trifidus, Luzula spicata, Huperzia selago, Pohlia nutans, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium canescens sens.lat., Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, Sanionia uncinata, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum compactum, Ptilidium ciliare, Cetraria delisei, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia bellidiflora, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia macrophylla, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia rangiferina, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Ochrolechia frigida, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga stellaris, Agrostis capillaris, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Nardus stricta
U9 — High montane heath and snow bed
Juncus trifidus-Racomitrium lanuginosum rush-heath
Show 47 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum, Kalmia procumbens, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Salix herbacea, Carex bigelowii, Carex pilulifera, Juncus trifidus, Luzula spicata, Diphasiastrum alpinum, Huperzia selago, Dicranum fuscescens, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Pleurozium schreberi, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum piliferum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Diplophyllum albicans, Ptilidium ciliare, Cetraria delisei, Cetraria islandica, Cetraria nivalis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia bellidiflora, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia crispata, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia rangiferina, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Ochrolechia frigida, Sphaerophorus globosus, Stereocaulon vesuvianum, Thamnolia vermicularis, Silene acaulis, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Armeria maritima, Polygonum viviparum, Alchemilla alpina, Galium saxatile, Agrostis capillaris, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Nardus stricta, Nitella flexilis
U10 — High montane heath and snow bed, Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland dry heath
Carex bigelowii-Racomitrium lanuginosum moss-heath
Show 82 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum, Kalmia procumbens, Vaccinium myrtillus, Salix herbacea, Carex bigelowii, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Juncus squarrosus, Juncus trifidus, Luzula spicata, Diphasiastrum alpinum, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Andreaea alpina, Aulacomnium turgidum, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum scoparium, Kiaeria starkei, Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium heterostichum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum hamulosum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Sanionia uncinata, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum longisetum, Polytrichum piliferum, Polytrichum strictum, Anastrepta orcadensis, Diplophyllum albicans, Nardia scalaris, Ptilidium ciliare, Alectoria nigricans, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia cervicornis, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia crispata, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia rangiferina, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Ochrolechia frigida, Peltigera canina, Sphaerophorus globosus, Thamnolia vermicularis, Achillea millefolium, Antennaria dioica, Gnaphalium supinum, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Minuartia sedoides, Silene acaulis, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Armeria maritima, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Alchemilla alpina, Potentilla erecta, Sibbaldia procumbens, Galium saxatile, Viola palustris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Nardus stricta
U11 — High montane heath and snow bed, Lowland dry acid grassland, Upland dry heath
Polytrichum sexangulare-Kiaeria starkei snow-bed
Show 49 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum, Salix herbacea, Carex bigelowii, Juncus trifidus, Huperzia selago, Conostomum tetragonum, Pohlia drummondii, Pohlia ludwigii, Pohlia nutans, Dicranum fuscescens, Kiaeria falcata, Kiaeria starkei, Racomitrium canescens sens.lat., Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium heterostichum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Oligotrichum hercynicum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichastrum sexangulare, Anthelia juratzkana, Barbilophozia floerkei, Lophozia sudetica, Marsupella emarginata, Moerckia blyttii, Nardia scalaris, Pleurocladula albescens, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia bellidiflora, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia uncialis, Solorina crocea, Gnaphalium supinum, Cerastium cerastoides, Silene acaulis, Alchemilla alpina, Sibbaldia procumbens, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola palustris, Agrostis capillaris, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca vivipara, Nardus stricta, Cryptogramma crispa, Blechnum spicant, Athyrium distentifolium
U12 — High montane heath and snow bed, Upland dry heath
Salix herbacea-Racomitrium heterostichum snow-bed
Show 42 indicator speciesSalix herbacea, Carex bigelowii, Juncus trifidus, Luzula spicata, Huperzia selago, Andreaea rupestris, Conostomum tetragonum, Pohlia nutans, Dicranum scoparium, Kiaeria starkei, Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium heterostichum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Oligotrichum hercynicum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichastrum sexangulare, Polytrichum piliferum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Diplophyllum albicans, Gymnomitrion concinnatum, Gymnomitrion corallioides, Lophozia sudetica, Marsupella brevissima, Nardia scalaris, Cetraria delisei, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia bellidiflora, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Ochrolechia frigida, Gnaphalium supinum, Silene acaulis, Alchemilla alpina, Galium saxatile, Agrostis canina, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Nardus stricta
U13 — High montane heath and snow bed, Upland dry heath
Deschampsia cespitosa-Galium saxatile grassland
Show 69 indicator speciesVaccinium myrtillus, Salix herbacea, Carex bigelowii, Carex pilulifera, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Diphasiastrum alpinum, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Pohlia nutans, Kiaeria starkei, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum russowii, Anastrepta orcadensis, Barbilophozia floerkei, Barbilophozia lycopodioides, Nardia scalaris, Ptilidium ciliare, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia gracilis, Peltigera canina, Achillea millefolium, Gnaphalium supinum, Saussurea alpina, Campanula rotundifolia, Cerastium alpinum, Cerastium fontanum, Minuartia sedoides, Silene acaulis, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Euphrasia frigida, Oxalis acetosella, Armeria maritima, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus acris, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla filicaulis, Alchemilla glabra, Potentilla erecta, Sibbaldia procumbens, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola palustris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris dilatata
U14 — High montane heath and snow bed, Upland dry heath
Alchemilla alpina-Sibbaldia procumbens dwarf-herb community
Show 76 indicator speciesVaccinium myrtillus, Salix herbacea, Carex bigelowii, Carex pilulifera, Juncus trifidus, Luzula multiflora, Luzula spicata, Diphasiastrum alpinum, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Andreaea alpina, Pohlia nutans, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium aquaticum, Racomitrium canescens sens.lat., Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium heterostichum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Oligotrichum hercynicum, Pogonatum urnigerum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum piliferum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophozia sudetica, Nardia scalaris, Ptilidium ciliare, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia bellidiflora, Cladonia pyxidata, Achillea millefolium, Gnaphalium supinum, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Cerastium alpinum, Cerastium fontanum, Minuartia sedoides, Sagina saginoides, Silene acaulis, Thymus praecox, Euphrasia officinalis, Armeria maritima, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Trollius europaeus, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla filicaulis, Alchemilla glabra, Potentilla erecta, Sibbaldia procumbens, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Botrychium lunaria