Loch Cleat
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Quaternary of Scotland | Favourable | — | 2009-01-09 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Quaternary · Rock Type: Basalt
Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous
Description
Loch Cleat Loch Cleat Site of Special Scientific interest (SSSI) lies near the northern tip of the Trotternish peninsula on the Isle of Skye. It is one of several key pollen sites on the island which together provide an important contribution to the reconstruction and understanding of the Holocene vegetation history of western Scotland. Loch Cleat is particularly significant in providing the most detailed and dated record of the vegetation history of the basalt areas of northern Skye. The history compares closely with that at sites in the “predominant birch forest” zone on the mainland to the north, but contrasts markedly with southern and eastern Skye. Together with other key pollen sites at Loch Meodal and Loch Ashaig, Loch Cleat illustrates the considerable variation in the Holocene vegetation history and forest composition of Skye. Nowhere else in Scotland or north-west Europe can such a range of variation be found in such a small area.