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Wild About Lochaber

Wild About Lochaber

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Wildlife in Lochaber

Pine MartenWelcome to Wild Lochaber.  Lochaber in the West Highlands of Scotland, is one of the most geological and biological diverse regions in Scotland, supporting a rich fauna and flora, with many species and habitats of national and international importance. The region, over 5000 square kilometres, contains 35 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), 13 Sites of Conservation Importance and seven Special Protection Areas within the area.   Lochaber also has three Marine Protected Areas.

A complex geology , with  sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks dating from the Pre-Cambrian, major geological faults and upheavals, volcanic activity (including major granite intrusions, sills, and surface eruptions), inundation and  major glaciations events with prolonged periods of weathering, erosion and deposition by ice and water have resulted in a stunningly beautiful,  dramatic, wild landscape characterised by ancient mountain ranges, plateaus,  hills, steep-sided ravines, wooded glens, fast flowing river, inland ‘ribbon’ and coastal lochs, and an extensive coastline encompassing sheltered sandy beaches and exposed rocky shores. Such a diversity of landscape, sculptured by fire, ice and water, supports a range of habitat types including heather moorland, montane, blanket bog, alluvial forest, Caledonian pine forest, Atlantic oak woodland, birch woods, ash and hazel woods, grassland, salt marsh, machair, sand dune and coastal shingle. There is also a myriad of habitats associated with the freshwater and saltwater lochs, rivers and streams, tidal channels, seabed, as well as the open sea.

Stone chatLochaber is renowned for the diversity of its wildlife and includes slow worm, red squirrel, pine marten, wild cat, red deer, mountain hare, pipstrelle bat (common and soprano), brown long-eared bat, Daubenton’s bat, water vole, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle raven, ptarmigan, black grouse, corncrake, crested tit, hen harrier and peregrine falcon on land; otter, common and grey seals, osprey, divers (red-throated, black throated and great northern), common scoter Atlantic salmon, brown and sea trout, Arctic char, freshwater pearl mussels, associated with freshwater rivers and lochs; and bottlenose dolphin, Risso’ dolphin common dolphin, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, white-beaked dolphin, harbour porpoise, basking shark, hump-backed whale, minke whale, northern bottlenose whale, northern right whale and orca in the seas.  The coast and surrounding islands support large breeding colonies of puffins, guillemots, razorbills, gannets and Manx shearwaters.

Source

Lochaber Biodiversity Group, 2004.  Living Lochaber: The Lochaber Biodiversity Action Plan.

Please contact us for further information or if you would like to contribute to these pages.

Information Links

  • Lochaber Natural History Society
  • Scottish Natural Heritage
  • Scottish Wildlife Trust
  • RSPB
  • The Mammal Society
  • Lochaber Biodiversity Action Plan
  • West Highland Flora
  • Scottish Geology
  • Natural History Museum Flora for Fauna
  • Plantlife's Important Plant Areas (pdf)

Glencoe

Discover Glencoe

Glencoe and Loch Leven

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Walking

Walking

Take a Walk on The Wild Side...

with over 100 wildlife focused walks across Lochaber, you'll be spoilt for choice

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Fort William

Fort William

Fort William, The Outdoor Capital

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Wildlife

wildlife

Wildlife

Home to Scotland's Big Five, red deer, golden eagle, otter, red squirrel, seals and so much more. A Wildlife Adventure Awaits.

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Ardnamurchan

West Highland Peninsulas

Ardnamurchan and The West Highland Peninsulas

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Activities

Activities

Activities

kayaking, wildlife watching, cruising, cycling, golfing, climbing, skiing, slow adventures and many more things to do

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Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

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Day Trips

Day trips

Day Trps

Take off for the day to see the puffins on The Treshnish Isles, A Day trip to Mull, Skye, The Small Isles, The Most westerly point on the mainland and many more local ideas for a day out

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