Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the Black Isle
Contents
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the Black Isle
- Site 1377 Roskill
- Images
- Site 1531 The Dens
- Images
- Site 540 Drummondreach Wood
- Images
- Site 494 Dam Wood
- Images
- Site 253 Braelangwell Wood
- Images
- Site 1179 Monadh Mòr
- Images
- Site 1214 Munlochy Bay
- Images
- Site 1376 Rosemarkie to Shandwick Coast
- Images
- Site 159 Beauly Firth
- Images
- Site 467 Cromarty Firth
- Images
- Final words
Site 253 Braelangwell Wood
Link to NatureScot webpage Link
Map of the SSSI Link
GRID REFERENCE: NH 688632
AREA: 67.57 hectares
NATURAL FEATURES
Woodlands: Upland birch woodland
Fens: Springs (including flushes)
Invertebrates: Flies
Invertebrates: Molluscs
DESCRIPTION
Braelangwell Wood, lying 3.5km south west of Balblair is one of the few surviving areas of semi-natural woodland on the Black Isle. Unmodified calcareous springs emerge within the woodland and drain across the site.
The woodland is dominated by a mixture of birch and Scots pine but alder is abundant locally. Willow, bird cherry and juniper are also present. The ground flora reflects this diversity with dwarf shrubs dominating under Scots Pine where the soils are acid. Herb-rich grassland has developed under the birch and supports woodland plants of restricted distribution in East Ross.
The calcium-rich springs have enabled a series of flushes to develop and these are dominated by a rich flora of lime-seeking plants. The main flush lines are stony with sparse vegetation cover while adjacent areas are rich in sedges. These areas have many plants uncommon in Easter Ross, some of which, like globe flower Trollius europaeus and alpine bistort Polygonum viviporum, are more characteristic of upland areas.
The open wet muds associated with the calcium-rich springs are important for nationally rare invertebrate species including the soldier fly Stratiomys chamaeleon and two species of whorl snail Vertigo genesii and V. geyeri.
VISITING BRAELANGWELL WOOD SSSI
There are two options for exploring the wood. One is the mapped track from Wood of Brae to Agnes Hill which borders the SSSI. The track to Agnes Hill can get very muddy especially in the vicinity of the crucial gate to the more substantial track from Agnes Hill to the Mulbuie. The other option is to enter the wood itself, and a gate at the extreme east side of the wood provides minor paths that stay at the woodland edge or descend to the stream. There are minor hazards in just wandering through the wood, but you will have to jump the Allt a’ Mhadaidh Burn if you want to explore from west to east.
Images
ENTRANCE TO THE SSSI
Such a simple way to enter a SSSI. You feel welcome!
by Julian Paren
EASTERN BOUNDARY OF THE SSSI
Minor footpaths pass along the steep edge of the wood between the burn and the stone wall. Braelangwell Wood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
by Julian Paren
A stone wall lies at the boundary of Braelangwell Wood SSSI. The woodland shown adjacent to the wall on the 1:25,000 OS map is no more. It is correctly shown on the 1:50,000 map.
by Julian Paren
The immediate view on entering the Braelangwell Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest.
by Julian Paren
There are faint paths through the bracken following the line of the wall.
by Julian Paren
BY THE BANKS OF THE ALLT A' MHADAIDH
A long stone wall crosses the wood with a wooden fence as well to mark the boundary. This is the point where the minor burn passes under the wall.
by Julian Paren
The open nature of the wood makes walking through it easy, irrespective of paths or animal tracks.
Braelangwell Wood SSSI is important for the mosaic of woodland and flush habitats. The presence of calcareous springs and their associated vegetation and fauna in such an unmodified form and extent is unusual in Easter Ross and Cromarty.
The site is an intimate mixture of woodland and flush over soils derived from Old Red Sandstone rocks. The site is notified for woodland, springs, flies and snails. The latter interest was not fully recognised when the site was notified in 1985.
Braelangwell Wood SSSI is important for the mosaic of woodland and flush habitats. The presence of calcareous springs and their associated vegetation and fauna in such an unmodified form and extent is unusual in Easter Ross and Cromarty.
The site is an intimate mixture of woodland and flush over soils derived from Old Red Sandstone rocks. The site is notified for woodland, springs, flies and snails. The latter interest was not fully recognised when the site was notified in 1985.
by Julian Paren
A sketchy path of follows a line between the stream and the wall at the eastern side of the wood and ends at a stone wall that divides the SSSI into two parts. The path is accessed by a gate which can easily be opened.
This site is important for the mosaic of woodland and flush habitats. The presence of calcareous springs and their associated vegetation and fauna in such an unmodified form and extent is unusual in Easter Ross and Cromarty. The site is an intimate mixture of woodland and flush over soils derived from Old Red Sandstone rocks. The site is notified for woodland, springs, flies and snails. The latter interest was not fully recognised when the site was notified in 1985.
This site is important for the mosaic of woodland and flush habitats. The presence of calcareous springs and their associated vegetation and fauna in such an unmodified form and extent is unusual in Easter Ross and Cromarty. The site is an intimate mixture of woodland and flush over soils derived from Old Red Sandstone rocks. The site is notified for woodland, springs, flies and snails. The latter interest was not fully recognised when the site was notified in 1985.
by Julian Paren
SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OF THE SSSI BY THE PATH FROM WOOD OF BRAE TO AGNES HILL
Braelangwell Wood is one of the few surviving areas of semi-natural woodland on the Black Isle. Unmodified calcerous springs emerge within the woodland and drain across the 67 hectare site.
by Julian Paren
A view from an open section of the Wood of Brae to Agneshill track with the Cromarty Firth visible in the background.
by Julian Paren
Geograph's OS map marks "Ford" on a ridge between two streams. I think it fair to say that much of the path is waterlogged, and individual streams were hardly apparent on the ground
by Julian Paren
A wide part of the track, elsewhere it has become a mere footpath between encroaching vegetation.
by Julian Paren
The track deteriorates in places to become an indistinct footpath, but quite assuredly leads from Wood of Brae to the nearest neighbours at Agnes Hill South. The northern edge of the track is the limit of Braelangwell SSSI.
by Julian Paren
The path to Agnes Hill widens to track width once through the gate, but later becomes narrow and muddy in places, despite the ground generally being exceptionally dry from drought.
by Julian Paren
A track that here has a wall beside it that later becomes poorly defined. The path is seldom used and mainly grassy and passes through woodland of which the northern side of the track is part of Braelangwell SSSI.
by Julian Paren
SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OF THE SSSI BY THE ACCESS ROAD TO WOOD OF BRAE
The bracken is starting to change colour. There are few paths in the wood, and the gate was fastened by a rope. Braelangwell Wood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
by Julian Paren
The management document for the owners of the SSSI states that some form of grazing is essential to maintain the flushes open, for which the wood is designated as a SSSI.
by Julian Paren
If the GPS is to be believed (and why not!) the field/woodland boundary is no longer where it is mapped to be on the 1:25,000 map. The 1:50,000 map better reflects the current situation.
by Julian Paren
THE INTERIOR OF THE SSSI
Immediately to the west of the minor burn which passes through Braelangwell Wood is a flatter area of damp moorland with Scots Pine predominant. The whole wood is a Site of Special Scientific Importance (SSSI).
by Julian Paren
To the north of the stone wall that lies East-West across the wood, the character of the woodland changes. Seen from the wall, a large are of birch is apparent. The wall provided a barrier to further exploration with a dog.
by Julian Paren
OTHERS
The branch was lying on the ground.
by Julian Paren
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