Fannich Hills

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 57.6929, -5.0046

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Ross and Cromarty County 28. Fisherfield - Letterewe - Fannichs Wild Land Area

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (4) Unfavourable No Change (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Moine Favourable — 2010-06-16
F2 Quaternary of Scotland Favourable — 2009-10-08
F3 Beetles Favourable — 2016-12-14
F4 Flies Favourable — 2020-03-30
F5 Upland assemblage Unfavourable No Change — 2017-07-18

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Peatland

Peat habitats store centuries of carbon and depend on a stable, waterlogged water table. Warmer, drier summers dry out peat, making it far more vulnerable to wildfire and to carbon release — a pressure that can undo years of restoration work regardless of how well the site is otherwise managed.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Habitats

Blanket bog, Lowland wet heath, Upland wet heath

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Gneiss

Landscape processes: Coastal, Glacial, Peatland / Mire, Periglacial, Volcanic / Igneous

Description

FANNICH HILLS The Fannich Hills is a large upland site which is located between the A835 and the A832 roads in the north west Highlands. It has close affinities with Beinn Dearg SSSI and together they provide representation of the upland vegetation communities of central Ross and Cromarty. The more acid geology of the Fannich Hills means that it supports a lower number of calcium-loving plants. Biological The site contains a complex mosaic of well developed and extensive upland habitats including heath and mire, montane grassland, snowbeds, summit moss heath and cliff ledges. The lower ground is dominated by extensive areas of wet heath which is characterised by the presence of heather and deer grass, although there is also much blanket bog with woolly hair-moss, and dwarf birch Betula nana on the gently sloping ground. On the higher spurs and steeper slopes dwarf shrubs become more abundant. The corries support extensive montane grassland and they have a good range of late snowbed communities. Springs and flushes give additional interest. Of particular importance are the extensive oceanic montane plant communities which occur on the higher slopes and summits, these include a good range of the more prolonged snow-bed communities and species-rich moss heaths. The flora of these is rich with abundant cushion herbs such as moss campion Silene acaulis, thrift Armeria maritima, and the nationally scarce mossy cyphel Minuartia sedoides. Where flushed areas occur communities are even more diverse and include least cinquefoil Sibbaldia procumbens and the moss Aulacomnium turgidum (both nationally scarce). On the most exposed areas ablation surfaces are dominated by Scottish rush Juncus trifidus with cushion herbs. The cliffs have a range of tall herb communities including many species uncommon in Britain. The Fannich Hills support a diverse assemblage of both beetles and flies, which includes a number of species confined to Scotland. Of particular interest is the leaf beetle Phratora polaris, which is only found at a few upland sites in the UK. Geological The Sgurr Mor area contains one of the best examples in Scotland of stepped solifluction sheets (terraces), a form of periglacial mass movement of frost weathered debris. These features are active under present day conditions, but were probably initiated towards the end of the last glaciation (around 15,000 years ago) when the mountain summits became free of glacier ice. In the Fannich area, rocks of the Glenfinnan Group of the Moine Supergroup, form the cover rocks to a basement of much older Lewisian Gneiss. These distinctive rock units have been folded and intercalated early in the tectonic history of the area during the Caledonian Orogeny, a tectonic thickening of the crust. The composite succession was thrust faulted to the WNW over Morar Group rocks of the Moine along the Sgurr Beag Thrust fault. The later asymmetrical Fannich Synform folded the earlier structures. The site is of national importance because the various rock units, folding, thrust faulting, metamorphic structures and mineralogies, link the internal part of the Caledonian Orogeny, with the nearby Moine Thrust Belt. In addition, the exposure of the Sgurr Beag Thrust is one of the northernmost and structurally simple that there is. Of note are the amphibolite units within the Moine, which represent additional interest being one of the few areas where they are thought to be pyroclastic in origin, being the result of volcanic eruption.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
leaf beetle Phratora polaris NT beetle chrysomelidae
thrift Armeria maritima CR herb plumbaginaceae
cyphel Minuartia sedoides Not listed in GB list herb carophyllaceae
sibaldia Sibbaldia procumbens NT herb rosaceae
moss campion Silene acaulis NT herb carophyllaceae
swollen threadmoss Aulacomnium turgidum LC moss bryales
three leaved rush Juncus trifidus LC rush juncaceae
dwarf birch Betula nana LC shrub betulaceae

Plant communities

H3 — Lowland dry heath, Lowland wet heath

Ulex minor-Agrostis curtisii heath

Quercus robur, Calluna vulgaris, Erica ciliaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Ulex europaeus, Ulex minor, Carex pilulifera, Schoenus nigricans, Campylopus brevipilus, Campylopus flexuosus, Leucobryum glaucum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Kurzia spp., Hypogymnia physodes, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia crispata, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia uncialis, Cuscuta epithymum, Hypericum pulchrum, Polygala serpyllifolia, Potentilla erecta, Viola lactea, Agrostis curtisii, Danthonia decumbens, Molinia caerulea, Pteridium aquilinum, Zygogonium ericetorum

H4 — Lowland dry heath, Lowland wet heath, Upland dry heath

Ulex gallii-Agrostis curtisii heath

Salix repens, Calluna vulgaris, Erica ciliaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Erica vagans, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex gallii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Carex montana, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Campylopus introflexus, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum juniperinum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Hypogymnia physodes, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia crispata, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia subcervicornis, Cladonia uncialis, Cuscuta epithymum, Lotus corniculatus, Thymus praecox, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Polygala vulgaris, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola lactea, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Pteridium aquilinum

H5 — Lowland wet heath

Erica vagans-Schoenus nigricans heath

Salix repens, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Erica vagans, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex flacca, Carex hostiana, Carex panicea, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Eleocharis multicaulis, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus maritimus, Fissidens adianthoides, Kindbergia praelonga, Scorpidium scorpioides, Calypogeia fissa, Riccardia multifida, Angelica sylvestris, Eupatorium cannabinum, Serratula tinctoria, Succisa pratensis, Drosera rotundifolia, Genista anglica, Hypericum pulchrum, Scutellaria minor, Thymus praecox, Pinguicula lusitanica, Linum catharticum, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Dactylorhiza maculata, Gymnadenia conopsea, Platanthera bifolia, Pedicularis sylvatica, Plantago maritima, Polygala vulgaris, Anagallis tenella, Potentilla erecta, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis vinealis, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Molinia caerulea, Phragmites australis, Chara curta

M1 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Sphagnum auriculatum bog pool community

Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Carex limosa, Eriophorum angustifolium, Rhynchospora alba, Rhynchospora fusca, Trichophorum cespitosum, Eleocharis multicaulis, Juncus bulbosus, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum subnitens, Cladopodiella fluitans, Gymnocolea inflata, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Drosera anglica, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Utricularia intermedia, Utricularia minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Scheuchzeria palustris, Molinia caerulea

M2 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Valley mire

Sphagnum cuspidatum/recurvum bog pool community

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Andromeda polifolia, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Carex canescens, Carex magellanica, Carex rostrata, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Aulacomnium palustre, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum tenellum, Cephalozia connivens, Cephalozia lunulifolia, Gymnocolea inflata, Mylia anomala, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Drosera anglica, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Agrostis canina, Deschampsia flexuosa, Molinia caerulea

M3 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Eriophorum angustifolium bog pool community

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Erica tetralix, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Campylopus brevipilus, Drepanocladus fluitans, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum papillosum, Gymnocolea inflata, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Drosera rotundifolia, Agrostis canina, Molinia caerulea

M14 — Lowland dry heath, Upland wet heath

Schoenus nigricans-Narthecium ossifragum mire

Pinus sylvestris, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Ulex gallii, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Rhynchospora alba, Schoenus nigricans, Eleocharis multicaulis, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus bulbosus, Ctenidium molluscum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Scorpidium revolvens, Scorpidium scorpioides, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Kurzia pauciflora, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Aneura pinguis, Riccardia multifida, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Pinguicula lusitanica, Narthecium ossifragum, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Anagallis tenella, Potentilla erecta, Molinia caerulea

M15 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Upland wet heath

Scirpus cespitosus-Erica tetralix wet heath

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex demissa, Carex dioica, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Schoenus nigricans, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bulbosus, Juncus conglomeratus, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus atrovirens, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Scorpidium revolvens, Scorpidium scorpioides, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophozia ventricosa, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Pleurozia purpurea, Aneura pinguis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Succisa pratensis, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Hypericum pulchrum, Triglochin palustre, Pinguicula vulgaris, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Dactylorhiza maculata, Euphrasia officinalis, Pedicularis palustris, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Trientalis europaea, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum

M17 — Blanket bog

Scirpus cespitosus-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex demissa, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Schoenus nigricans, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Huperzia selago, Aulacomnium palustre, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus atrovirens, Campylopus flexuosus, Campylopus setifolius, Campylopus shawii, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum imbricatum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum strictum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Diplophyllum albicans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Mylia taylorii, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Pleurozia purpurea, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania gracilis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Pinguicula vulgaris, Narthecium ossifragum, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Agrostis canina, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta

M18 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Erica tetralix-Sphagnum papillosum raised and blanket mire

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Andromeda polifolia, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Cephalozia connivens, Cladopodiella fluitans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Hypogymnia physodes, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Narthecium ossifragum, Rubus chamaemorus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Molinia caerulea

M19 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Calluna vulgaris-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire

Empetrum nigrum, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Betula nana, Arctostaphylos alpinus, Vaccinium microcarpum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex nigra, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Mylia taylorii, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Ptilidium ciliare, Hypogymnia physodes, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia bellidiflora, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia tenuis, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Cornus suecica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Pinguicula vulgaris, Narthecium ossifragum, Neottia cordata, Potentilla erecta, Rubus chamaemorus, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant

M20 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Valley mire

Eriophorum vaginatum blanket and raised mire

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex bigelowii, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Drepanocladus fluitans, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum papillosum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Cephaloziella hampeana, Diplophyllum albicans, Gymnocolea inflata, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia taylorii, Ptilidium ciliare, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Rubus chamaemorus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina

M25 — Blanket bog, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture, Upland acid grassland

Molinia caerulea-Potentilla erecta mire

Salix cinerea, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex echinata, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Calliergon giganteum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Angelica sylvestris, Carum verticillatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Serratula tinctoria, Cardamine pratensis, Lobelia urens, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Hypericum pulchrum, Hypericum tetrapterum, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Epilobium palustre, Dactylorhiza maculata, Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Phragmites australis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Osmunda regalis