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 1179 Monadh Mòr
Link to NatureScot webpage Link
Map of the SSSI Link
GRID REFERENCE: NH 581537
AREA: 155.27 hectares
NATURAL FEATURES
Biological: Woodlands: Native pinewood
DESCRIPTION
Monadh Mòr Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) lies between the A9 and A835 roads to the north-west of Tore on the Black Isle.
The site comprises a complex area of ridges and hollows which were formed through glacial deposition. The site is of particular importance for the wet pinewood habitats which occur on peat in the hollows. These habitats are very unusual in Scotland and the site has many affinities with Scandinavian bog woodlands.
The native pinewood is dominated by Scots pine Pinus sylvestris and much of it is managed plantation. Drier ridges on the site support mainly Scots pine and downy birch Betula pubescens with an understorey of cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix, heather Calluna vulgaris, crowberry Empetrum nigrum subsp. nigrum and juniper Juniperus communis. Mosses and lichens are abundant. The more extensive flat areas support a range of mire communities on peat with abundant, often stunted, self-sown Scots pines. These wooded mires contain a high proportion of lichen and a variety of Sphagnum mosses as well as white beak-sedge Rhynchospora alba and small cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos.
The main areas of open water such as the Black Loch are nutrient poor with a floating swamp of bog mosses Sphagnum spp, bottle sedge, Carex rostrata, bogbean Menyanthes trifoliata and marsh cinquefoil Potentilla palustris around the edges. The margins of these water bodies also support wet willow, birch and pine woodland.
Monadh Mòr SSSI is also part of Monadh Mòr Special Area of Conservation (SAC) designated for the European habitats listed below:
Habitats: Bog woodland
Very wet mires often identified by an unstable 'quaking' surface
VISITING MONADH MÒR SSSI
This extensive SSSI includes just a few hectares of the Forestry and Land Scotland holdings at Monadh Mòr. The often visited Simon’s Loch lies outside the area of the SSSI. Few visit the SSSI itself. The larger area has a range of minor paths that need great care to follow as the waterlogged nature of the ground cannot be predicted easily. In general the paths follow the higher ground. Approaching the lochans and bogs should be done slowly and with real care. On one occasion the only route back to dry ground I dared to try was through following my GPS track in reverse. So, visiting Monadh Mòr requires usually waterproof footwear and a mobile phone with the free app GPX Tracker installed. The Visitor Map of the Black Isle, jointly published by Transition Black Isle and Black Isle Tourism, shows the minor paths in Monadh Mòr. Alongside the tracks is a box stating Avoid these paths after wet weather.
Images
PATHS IN THE SSSI
Found by chance in a wish to enter the heartland of the Monadh Mòr SSSI. The general public visit Monadh Mòr along tracks maintained by the Forestry Commission and believe they have witnessed this unique UK bog forest, while the best area is outside the Forestry Commission Access Land and not inaccessible although no paths are shown on maps.
by Julian Paren
Such paths escape mapping by OS, but appear on the Black Isle Visitor Map that I produce. See Link
by Julian Paren
A clear and obvious path through the bog forest of Monadh Mòr
by Julian Paren
DRIER AREAS OF MONADH MÒR
Some fine non-plantation trees in this section of the Monadh Mòr Site of Special Scientific Interest.
by Julian Paren
The higher ground gives firm walking and a feeling of security compared to the swampy margins of the lochans.
by Julian Paren
These raised areas of pine forest are easier to walk through and slightly drier than the areas around the many lochans in the bog forest.
by valenta
Heather and lichens on a drier raised part of the bog forest.
by Julian Paren
Raised areas of Monadh Mòr provide easy walking on dry ground. The skill is to choose routes that do not cross the lower boggy areas.
by Julian Paren
An old dry stone wall and fence line mark the present boundary between The Forestry Commission land on the far side of the wall and privately owned forestry land on the side where the picture was taken. The area is within the Monadh Mòr bog forest.
The letter C marked on the boundary stone probably denoting ownership by the Contin Estate
The letter C marked on the boundary stone probably denoting ownership by the Contin Estate
by valenta
The network of paths stays on the higher ground. Mnadh Mòr is a SSSI for its bog-forest habitats.
by Julian Paren
A more open section of the forest that lets the light into the woodland floor.
by Julian Paren
To the north and west a bog forest. South and east a (still attractive) state owned forest.
by Richard Webb
A run of higher ground in kame and kettle country allows a dryshod visit to some of the marshes and lochans in this extremely rare, for Scotland, terrain type. No doubt, looking like a typical Scandinavian forest, it will have some of their beasties too, but it was too early for the mosquitoes.
by Richard Webb
Monadh Mòr is a bog forest. In summer tracks mostly made by animals may be followed with care into the area. In winter after rain it is better to exercise discretion unless the ground is frozen solid. The area is not without its features - the slightly higher better drained ground which is where the "paths" are to be found. This series of pictures were taken after a dry spell and without meeting any hazards.
by Julian Paren
Monadh Mòr is a bog forest. In summer tracks mostly made by animals may be followed with care into the area. In winter after rain it is better to exercise discretion unless the ground is frozen solid. The area is not without its features - the slightly higher better drained ground which is where the "paths" are to be found. This series of pictures were taken after a dry spell and without meeting any hazards.
by Julian Paren
LOW LYING WET AREAS OF MONADH MÒR
A flat open expanse within the forest that is boggy.
by Julian Paren
This clearing in the wood is nothing but a swamp!
by Julian Paren
I expect each bump hides the roots of a tree long dead.
by Julian Paren
The largest of the Monadh Mòr SSI bog forest lochs. About as far as I felt safe to approach the SW corner of the loch due to the ever wetter bog the nearer one approached the loch
by valenta
Deep in the Monadh Mòr bog-forest the OS map shows a small lochan should be here. All that was visible on the day was a boggy area in the left of the picture
by valenta
The bog became ever softer and uncertain as I attempted to get close to the stunted trees from a drier area of Monadh Mòr.
by Julian Paren
The green mossy area is very wet and you sink in a good way and can fear losing your wellington boots! The heather area is dry. Entering this part of the forest is rather like penetrating a maze because you have to leave by the route you came in by. Retracing the GPS track provided the security to proceed.
by Julian Paren
Stunted Scots pine on the boggy margin by one of the unnamed lochans in the Monadh Mòr SSSI bog-forest
by valenta
Much of the terrain is firm but the whole landscape is waterlogged.
by Julian Paren
An out-and-back path takes the curious to the part of the Monadh Mòr SSSI which is truly bog forest. This view is of the trackless margin of the waterlogged area and being careful, progress could be made through the terrain. There is no marked path forwards from here on OS Mapping.
by Julian Paren
The Monadh Mòr SSSI contains true bog forest but most is hidden from those who just walk the surfaced forestry roads through the Forest and Land Scotland estate. One mapped track heads towards the wilderness and terminates when the ground level drops and the bog proper begins. This image is taken from the end of the prepared track.
by Julian Paren
An esker provides the curious with a dry route to the very edge of a large boggy area.
by Julian Paren
This area adjoins a loch in the quieter part of the bog-forest where you feel like a real explorer when either forcing a route or finding minor paths and animal tracks. Monadh Mòr is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
by Julian Paren
Tread carefully or else you could lose a boot!
by Julian Paren
An off-piste walk on Monadh Mòr can bring surprises like a ditch too wide to jump or disguised wet areas. It makes for the enjoyment if you are in no hurry and just want to explore! Monadh Mòr is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
by Julian Paren
Black Loch lies in the quietest part of the bog-forest where you feel like a real explorer when either forcing a route or finding minor paths and animal tracks. Monadh Mòr is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is a long way to the mapped edge of the loch, but ahead is a no-go area.
by Julian Paren
This area is marked as a lake and will look different after heavy rain.
by Julian Paren
The whole area squelched and the longer you stood the deeper your shoes progressed with wet feet as the result. Monadh Mòr is the UK's best example of a bog forest.
by Julian Paren
I went nearer the loch but quickly got wet feet. And this after a very dry period. It is best to stay on the paths that do exist on the higher and drier ground.
by Julian Paren
The changing colours of the year.
by Julian Paren
The map marks some water as a lochan, but here from the edge of a slightly elevated section all ahead is swamp.
by Julian Paren
When you see the stumps in a Highland bog, this is what it would have looked like when those trees were alive. Very familiar in Scandinavia, but a rare landform in Scotland.
by Richard Webb
LOCHANS IN MONADH MÒR
Monadh Mòr is a SSSI and is the UK's best example of a bog forest. Within the complex of eskers (where some have footpaths) and bog are a few larger lochans. They are nameless and seldom visited I am sure. Snow lingered by the lochan which was partly frozen.
by Julian Paren
A small lochan beside the footpath that traverses Monadh Mòr.
by Julian Paren
A lochan beside the path through Monadh Mòr.
by Julian Paren
Monadh Mòr is a Site of Special Scientific Interest as one of the finest examples of a bog-forest in the UK. If you venture into the area you need to keep an eye out for the animal tracks to find a route that avoids the lower boggy areas. In the dry Spring of 2017 you could get around easily.
by Julian Paren
Quite off the beaten track is this structure from the past.
by Julian Paren
A strange place. Trees looking dead at the edge of the Monadh Mòr swamp.
by Julian Paren
Swampy ground and dead trees - quite eerie - the Dead Marshes from Lord of the Rings film comes to mind.
by Julian Paren
A lochan at the edge of the bog-forest. Few venture here, so no name, even on the 25 inch to the mile maps from the 1860s when the area was used as a place to collect peat.
by Julian Paren
A view towards another unnamed loch.
by Julian Paren
Occupying the lower ground and surrounded by swamp, the lochs are not so accessible.
by Julian Paren
Approaching with care the edge of the loch, but not getting too close for fear of losing ones wellington boots!
by Julian Paren
A long narrow finger of water with a swampy margin.
by Julian Paren
The largest of the lochs in the Monadh Mor bog-forest. Approach to the loch best attempted from the NW side, even then it is still a risky process as once clear of the tree line the bog becomes more hazardous. Only to be considered after a prolonged dry spell
by valenta
One of many unnamed lochs on the Monadh Mòr SSSi bog wood. The yellow tide mark in the loch is a build up of pollen blown against the bank of the loch.
by valenta
One of the many lochs and lochans in the SSSI Monadh Mòr bog-forest. The loch margin was alive with dragon flies and insects on this hot June day
by valenta
The ground becomes ever wetter and unstable the close you get to the water's edge. The orange moss was best avoided.
by Julian Paren
One of the many lochs and lochans in the SSSI Monadh Mòr bog-forest.
by valenta
Boggy margin by one of the many unnamed lochs in the Monadh Mòr SSSI bog-forest
by valenta
This is a large feature on Monadh Mòr so it is a surprise it has no name on current mapping.
by Julian Paren
I got wet feet as a result of claiming this image.
by Julian Paren
There is a path alongside the loch but you have to be used to such terrain to follow it.
by Julian Paren
A return visit after a month. NH5853 : Lochan in Monadh Mòr SSSI. The colours are now slightly different.
by Julian Paren
On my last visit the osprey was circling, but today all was quiet and no bird was seen.
by Julian Paren
The whole area squelched and the longer you stood the deeper your shoes progressed with wet feet as the result. Monadh Mòr is the UK's best example of a bog forest.
by Julian Paren
It was wet underfoot close to the lochan and I feared I would lose a wellington boot. The terrain did not look that deceptive.
by Julian Paren
Cotton grass beside the water and many dead trees.
by Julian Paren
This loch lies in the quieter part of the bog-forest where you feel like a real explorer when either forcing a route or finding minor paths and animal tracks. Monadh Mòr is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
by Julian Paren
This loch lies in the quieter part of the bog-forest where you feel like a real explorer when either forcing a route or finding minor paths and animal tracks. Monadh Mòr is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
by Julian Paren
This loch lies in the quieter part of the bog-forest where you feel like a real explorer when either forcing a route or finding minor paths and animal tracks. Monadh Mòr is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
by Julian Paren
Unnamed loch with a very soft edge even after dry weather. I got wet feet approaching the waterline. Monadh Mòr is a bog forest and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
by Julian Paren
Unnamed loch with a very soft edge even after dry weather. I got wet feet approaching the waterline. Monadh Mòr is a bog forest and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
by Julian Paren
Unnamed by the mapmakers but still a significant feature in the bog-forest.
by Julian Paren
Unnamed by the OS, this is still a significant feature in the landscape of the bog-forest.
by Julian Paren
An accessible site, with a dry path in. One of the many pools in the bog forest.
by Richard Webb
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