Randolph's Leap

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 57.5263, -3.6711

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Also within

Moray County

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Fluvial Geomorphology of Scotland Favourable — 2011-05-13

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Rock Type: Schist

Landscape processes: Fluvial, Glacial

Description

Randolph's Leap Randolph’s Leap is located on the River Findhorn, about 10 km south of Forres. The site is an impressive meltwater slot gorge cut through schist bedrock, which locally confines the present day planform of the river. It provides excellent examples of bedrock spurs which are exposed at lower flows. The complex and highly irregular forms of these spurs owe their origin to the lines of weakness within the schist which run almost perpendicular to the direction of flow. There are also several potholes, exceptional in both their size and depth. This site is also important since the maximum flood stages are marked for the catastrophic flood of 4 August 1829, when the river rose 16m above normal level. Flood deposits of exceptionally large boulders at the entrance to the gorge can also be attributed to the same event.

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