Bellochantuy and Tangy Gorges

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 55.4879, -5.7068

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Also within

Argyll and Bute County

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Quaternary of Scotland Favourable — 2010-11-17

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Quaternary · Rock Type: Glacial Till

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

BELLOCHANTUY AND TANGY GORGES Bellochantuy and Tangy Gorges SSSI is a tripartite site, located approximately 11 km north west of Campbeltown. The site is of special interest for Quaternary deposits, in particular the presence of clays containing marine shells at relatively high elevations above present sea level. The three stream valleys are important for providing sections in the famous high-level, shelly clays of Kintyre. These fossiliferous marine sediments, which occur at around 50 m above present sea-level, were first recorded during the 19th century and have since generated much debate concerning their age, origin and possible relationships with several other contentious shelly deposits in Scotland. Although they are overlain by glacial till, it is unclear whether the Kintyre deposits occur in situ and reflect a former high stand in sea-level or were transported onshore from the bed of the sea to their present position by glacier ice. The locality is of considerable importance for demonstrating both the stratigraphy of the deposits and their fossil shell and microfauna contents which include both Arctic and Boreal species. It has considerable research potential for elucidating a longstanding problem in Scottish Quaternary studies, one that has a significant bearing on the interpretation of former sea-levels.

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