Loch Arkaig Pinewood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 56.9683, -5.2390

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Also within

Inverness County 18. Kinlochhourn - Knoydart - Morar Wild Land Area

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1) Unfavourable No Change (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Bryophyte assemblage Favourable — 2016-11-16
F2 Native pinewood Unfavourable No Change — 2022-05-17

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.

Habitats

Caledonian forest

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Peatland / Mire

Description

Loch Arkaig Pinewood Loch Arkaig pinewood, on the south west shore of Loch Arkaig, is the largest example of native Scots pine woodland in North Lochaber. It is a major component of a south western group of pinewood remnants identified as genetically distinct from the five main native Scots pine regions. It has been suggested that these woods may have survived the last ice age. The conservation of Loch Arkaig pinewood is therefore of local and national importance. The wood is on a north-facing slope and rises from the loch shore to a maximum altitude of 300 m above sea level. The eastern end is dominated by Scots pine with a small component of birch Betula spp., rowan, holly and oak Quercus spp. This broadleaf element increases at the western end where the pines disappear altogether. Alder and willows Salix spp. occur on wetter soils and in places along the shoreline. The ground flora is characteristic of western pinewoods, being dominated by heather and blaeberry and Sphagnum mosses, with tormentil, heath bedstraw and cow-wheat. Lesser twayblade Neottia cordata and the nationally scarce creeping lady’s-tresses Goodyera repens, both species typically associated with native pinewoods, are also present The birch dominated section at the western end of the site is rich in Atlantic bryophytes – mosses and liverworts found in highly oceanic conditions. The assemblage of 40 such species includes several which are nationally scarce and is nationally important.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
creeping lady's tresses Goodyera repens LC herb orchidaceae
lesser twayblade Neottia cordata LC herb orchidaceae

Plant communities

W18 — Caledonian forest, Wet woodland

Pinus sylvestris-Hylocomium splendens woodland

Matches 2 species from the description above: Goodyera repens, Neottia cordata

Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Larix decidua, Picea abies, Picea sitchensis, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aucuparia, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Juniperus communis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Aulacomnium palustre, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum russowii, Anastrepta orcadensis, Barbilophozia floerkei, Bazzania trilobata, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Diplophyllum albicans, Lepidozia reptans, Lophocolea bidentata, Scapania gracilis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia cornuta, Cladonia digitata, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia macilenta, Cladonia pyxidata, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Goodyera repens, Neottia cordata, Oxalis acetosella, Trientalis europaea, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum

W17 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Dicranum majus woodland

Matches 1 species from the description above: Goodyera repens

Hedera helix, Salix caprea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Juniperus communis, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Crataegus monogyna, Carex pilulifera, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Andreaea rupestris, Mnium hornum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranodontium denudatum, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Dicranum scottianum, Leucobryum glaucum, Ptychomitrium polyphyllum, Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium heterostichum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Eurhynchium striatum, Heterocladium heteropterum, Hylocomiastrum umbratum, Hylocomium armoricum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sematophyllum demissum, Sematophyllum micans, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum subnitens, Tetraphis pellucida, Adelanthus decipiens, Anastrepta orcadensis, Barbilophozia attenuata, Barbilophozia floerkei, Bazzania tricrenata, Bazzania trilobata, Blepharostoma trichophyllum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Frullania tamarisci, Fuscocephaloziopsis lunulifolia, Harpanthus scutatus, Jamesoniella autumnalis, Jungermannia gracillima, Lepidozia pearsonii, Lepidozia reptans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Lophozia ventricosa, Marsupella emarginata, Microlejeunea ulicina, Mylia taylorii, Nowellia curvifolia, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila atlantica, Plagiochila killarniensis, Plagiochila porelloides, Plagiochila punctata, Plagiochila spinulosa, Ptilidium ciliare, Saccogyna viticulosa, Scapania gracilis, Scapania nemorea, Scapania umbrosa, Tritomaria exsectiformis, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia digitata, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia polydactyla, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia squamules, Cladonia subcervicornis, Parmelia saxatilis, Sphaerophorus fragilis, Sphaerophorus globosus, Solidago virgaurea, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cornus suecica, Hypericum pulchrum, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Goodyera repens, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa nemoralis, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris aemula, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Hymenophyllum tunbrigense, Hymenophyllum wilsonii, Polypodium vulgare, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

W19 — Caledonian forest

Juniperus communis ssp. communis-Oxalis acetosella woodland

Matches 1 species from the description above: Neottia cordata

Betula pubescens, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Juniperus communis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Rubus saxatilis, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Carex pilulifera, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium rostratum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Cirriphyllum piliferum, Hylocomiastrum umbratum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Isothecium alopecuroides, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium succulentum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Barbilophozia barbata, Barbilophozia hatcheri, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Plagiochila porelloides, Scapania gracilis, Cladonia pyxidata, Adoxa moschatellina, Cardamine flexuosa, Campanula rotundifolia, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria holostea, Pyrola media, Pyrola minor, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Mercurialis perennis, Lathyrus montanus, Geranium sylvaticum, Epilobium montanum, Neottia cordata, Oxalis acetosella, Veronica officinalis, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Fragaria vesca, Geum rivale, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla sterilis, Rubus idaeus, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Galium verum, Melanpyrum pratense, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Phegopteris connectilis, Thelypteris limbosperma, Gymnocarpium dryopteris

W11 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Oxalis acetosella woodland

Acer campestre, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix decidua, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Juniperus communis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Cytisus scoparius, Crataegus monogyna, Rubus saxatilis, Carex pilulifera, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium undulatum, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Cirriphyllum piliferum, Eurhynchium striatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum longisetum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila spinulosa, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Campanula rotundifolia, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria holostea, Pyrola minor, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Lathyrus montanus, Geranium robertianum, Hypericum pulchrum, Ajuga reptans, Teucrium scorodonia, Convallaria majalis, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Primula vulgaris, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina