Inverfarigaig

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 57.2817, -4.4398

Also within

Inverness County

Condition (NatureScot)

Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Upland mixed ash woodland Unfavourable Declining 2015-07-28

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Rock Type: Sandstone

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

INVERFARIGAIG Inverfarigaig lies 26 km south west of Inverness, on the eastern shore of Loch Ness. Two arms of mixed broadleaved woodland stretch north east and south east from the loch. These run through steep-sided, narrow valleys, cut through Old Red Sandstone rock. The site is one of the best examples of gorge woodland in the Inverness area. Varying proportions of ash, wych elm, alder and oak make up the canopy of the woodland with birch dominating the higher slopes and some aspen. There is a locally abundant hazel under-storey. The rich associated ground flora is matched by a luxuriant growth of ferns, mosses, liverworts and lichens growing on the trees themselves. Inverfarigaig is an important site for a nationally scarce lichen Fuscopannaria ignobilis and some of the mosses and liverworts are normally found in areas with a more oceanic climate.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
caledonian pannaria Fuscopannaria ignobilis VU lichen no common name