8.
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 1214 Munlochy Bay
Link to NatureScot webpage Link
Map of the SSSI Link
GRID REFERENCE: NH 672528
AREA: 302.01 hectares
NATURAL FEATURES
Biological
Coastlands: Mudflat
Coastlands: Saltmarsh
Birds: Greylag goose Anser anser
Birds: Wigeon Anas penelope
DESCRIPTION
This is a small sheltered estuary on the eastern side of the Black Isle close to the village of Munlochy. In spite of its small size, Munlochy Bay is one of the richest estuarine sites in the Moray Firth.
Coastlands
The site is dominated by extensive intertidal mud flats, with saltmarsh especially well developed on the south side and at the head of the bay. A rich and diverse invertebrate fauna occurs within the mud and there is a good population of eel grass Zostera spp. Extensive areas of glasswort Salicornia spp and beaked tassel weed Ruppia maritima cover the mud of the upper bay. The narrow salt marsh fringe supports characteristic plants with large populations of sea club rush Bolboschoenus maritimus and saltmarsh flat sedge Blysmus rufus.
Locally on the south side of the bay reed beds and brackish fen occur in close proximity to the saltmarsh. Although not notified natural features in their own right, they provide further habitat diversity to the more saline conditions of the bay itself. Characteristic species are common reed Phragmites australis, black bog rush Schoenus nigricans and ragged robin Lychnis flos cuculi.
Birds
The site supports large numbers of wildfowl and waders during the winter or on passage with several thousand being present in most years. Nationally significant numbers of greylag geese and wigeon occur. Wigeon feed within the Bay whereas greylag geese tend to roost in the Bay and feed on fields adjacent as well as further inland.
VISITING MUNLOCHY BAY SSSI
The entire length of Munlochy Bay is easy to study from above from either side of the bay. But if you want a shoreline walk, sections on both sides of the bay are more challenging, but feasible. There is no recognized path under Wood Hill on the north side, or along the extensive salt marsh between Drumderfit and Craigiehowe on the south side, where numerous creeks must be crossed. Higher up, on both sides of the bay, the extensive network of farm and forestry access roads provide easy walking and excellent views. There is a rewarding simple walk to the viewpoint at James’s Temple on Drumderfit following Archaeology Marker Posts. The fine sea wall at the head of Munlochy Bay can be followed on foot, but many will take the easier option of walking the dismantled railway line above the fields that slope down to the bay. For those who relish some adventure and strenuous activity you can climb Craigiehowe by a steep vegetated gully that forms an obvious line when seen from the shore of the bay.
Images
NORTH SIDE OF MUNLOCHY BAY
CORE PATH FROM BALLONE FARM TO ORMOND HILL
The farm is part of the Rosehaugh Estate owned by Broadland Properties.
by Julian Paren
The track is part of a highly popular circular route that includes Ormond Castle.
It is a Core Path of the Highland Core Path Network RC07.03 and the path is called Ormond Hill.
It is a Core Path of the Highland Core Path Network RC07.03 and the path is called Ormond Hill.
by Julian Paren
Ahead is seen the water of Munlochy Bay.
by Julian Paren
With the trees losing their leaves, Munlochy Bay is more visible from the seat that has been created here from a fallen tree.
by Julian Paren
After a dull day, some evening sunshine on the Black Isle.
by Julian Paren
A popular circuit takes the walker from Avoch to Ormond Hill and onwards by the track around Wood Hill before returning by minor roads back to Avoch. Close by here is a bench and a footpath that descends steeply towards the sea.
by Julian Paren
There are two solitary pines on Ormond Hill. The Black Isle coastline can be followed in this view to Chanonry Points.
by Julian Paren
CORE PATH FROM BALLONE FARM TO BAY FARM AND ON TOWARDS WARD HILL: EAST TO WEST
This private road is a joy to walk as the colours of autumn develop. Part of the Rosehaugh Estate.
by Julian Paren
The road is bounded by an impressive stone wall on its northern side and fine beeches to the south.
by Julian Paren
Three years since NH6853 : Road to Bay Farm in late autumn and although this may look timeless there have been changes with the verge being scraped to allow large lorries passage along the road.
by Julian Paren
A very quiet road that provides access for cars to Bay Farm. The track continues beyond the farm as an unmetalled road and passes woods of a similar character, seen here in the winter NH6753 : Approach to Bay Farm. The tracks make for very enjoyable walking at any season of the year.
by Julian Paren
This is an estate track but also used by visitors renting one of the Bay Farm Cottages.
by Julian Paren
This is part of the Rosehaugh Estate.
by Julian Paren
These are two cottages available as holiday lets from the Rosehaugh Estate, which are ideal for bird watchers. The cottages give a direct view over Munlochy Bay.
by Julian Paren
The track provides excellent walking year round.
by Julian Paren
A delightful track at any season. Part of a circular walk from Avoch.
by Julian Paren
One of the most delightful walks on the Black Isle.
by Julian Paren
Low tide, cattle in the field, and an absence of sunshine. A view captured on a brisk walk with our dog along my favourite Core Path on the Black Isle
by Julian Paren
This track is a Core Path of the Highland Core Path Network, designated as RC33.04 Bayhead Track, a farm track 2.1km long. This is a popular place for me to photograph my wife and dog. See NH6753 : Bay Wood track - Highland Core Path RC 07.04
by Julian Paren
A favourite path for a dog walk. Looking good on a late Spring afternoon and little chance of rain!
by Julian Paren
SHORELINE FROM WARD HILL TO HEAD OF MUNLOCHY BAY: EAST TO WEST
After a dull day, some evening sunshine on the Black Isle.
by Julian Paren
The fields beside Munlochy Bay are backed by a belt of woodland on the scarp between the sea and a prominent raised beach.
by Julian Paren
A narrow strip of fields lies beneath the woodland of Munlochy Bay. Soggy in November, the fields are more productive than the land at the southern edge of Munlochy Bay.
by Julian Paren
Below the belt of trees is a set of fields well suited for grazing cattle in the wintertime. The tree line reflects the limits of a low raised beach (according to the Soil Survey of Scotland's Publication - The Soils of the Black Isle). There is a display board on the A832 illustrating the raised beaches of Munlochy Bay.
by Julian Paren
Fields backed by woodland line the northern shore of Munlochy Bay. One tree draws attention by the shore. Seen earlier NH6853 : Fields beside Munlochy Bay. At the lowest tide Munlochy Bay becomes a sea of mud!
by Julian Paren
Munlochy Bay is very shallow at high water and channels would have been dredged when the harbour was used to export quarried stone to Fort George.
by Julian Paren
Stone from the quarry was sent by sea from the inlet to Fort George where it was used in its construction. A boat is kept here far away from preying eyes.
by Julian Paren
The feature has also been known as Bay Inlet. Beyond the distant headland is the Moray Firth.
by Julian Paren
The state of Munlochy Bay at low neap tide. Gravels lead to seaweed which leads to mud and then shallow water.
by Julian Paren
Recent archaeological observations have identified the remains of 15 boats. Local information suggest that these craft are Zulus from nearby Avoch.
by Julian Paren
A low tide so the posts are rather prominent. Plantations of Christmas Trees lie across the bay.
by Julian Paren
This is not an area protected by a sea wall.
by Julian Paren
A vague path used by wildfowlers emerges on the shoreline of Munlochy Bay below a derelict cottage in a wood of snowdrops. A visit to the shore was curtailed by the ever advancing sunset.
by Julian Paren
For a period of two weeks or so in 2021 heavy earth moving equipment was deployed at this site. On my first visit since then I am a little unclear whether the wall has been heightened. It may appear to be wider. The east end of the wall has been extended but the reinforcement covers a far longer section of the original wall.
by Julian Paren
The sea defences are to protect the fields of the owner of Roskill Mains, and were reputedly constructed at his behest.
by Julian Paren
An excursion to see how far the sea rose along the sea wall on a day of High Spring Tide.
by Julian Paren
I suspect the river beds change their positions so that they are not accurately recorded on the OS maps.
by Julian Paren
A proposal to site a cycleway along the top of the sea wall prompted this visit at the time of a High Spring Tide.
by Julian Paren
At mid- to low-tide with plenty of salt-marsh exposed.
by Julian Paren
Walls constructed years ago stop the encroachment of the sea into the alluvial plain that leads down into Munlochy Bay. The wall on the left of the view marks that dividing line, while this curious structure must be related to the course of the drain that emerges here into Munlochy Bay. The visit was made near low tide.
by Julian Paren
SHORELINE FROM HEAD OF MUNLOCHY BAY TO CRAIGIEHOWE: W$ST TO EAST
Bayhead is seen on the skyline. This road forms part of the John o' Groats Trail.
by Julian Paren
Highland Core Path RC 33.04 follows this line into the water of Munlochy Bay at times of high tide. As the route forms part of the John o' Groats Trail, a parallel route was cut higher on the former glacial cliff to bypass this wet section. 30 minutes earlier the water was higher and the Core Path was even less inviting.
by Julian Paren
This image is taken close to high tide. At low tide a lot of mud would have been visible. The village of Munlochy is seen at the head of the bay.
by Julian Paren
The original Core Path, RC31.04, along the southern shore of Munlochy Bay is now saturated at all states of the tide, and a new path has been cut higher up which is nevertheless quite hazardous. The new path was cut by volunteers to provide a valuable section of the John o' Groats Trail. The photo was taken by the original path in a very wet area adjacent to the river, at a time close to high tide in the bay.
Across Munlochy Bay is the wooded Ord Hill, half of whose upper part has been clear cut.
Across Munlochy Bay is the wooded Ord Hill, half of whose upper part has been clear cut.
by Julian Paren
This is a tidal section at the very head of Munlochy Bay. The river flows under the Littlemill Bridge.
by Julian Paren
Looking along the axis of the bay towards Ord Hill.
by Julian Paren
A sloping grass field lies below the woodland by Bayhead Farm. A level path passes along the upper side of the field, and it may once have been a sea level stand at times of glacier melt and tectonic movements akin to a raised beach. Beyond the gorse and grass is Munlochy Bay that at low tide is chiefly wet mud. Cockles were collected and made a good hors d'oeuvre before the haggis course at suppertime.
by Julian Paren
The geese took to flight after noises from the dogs in our party. This image was taken while the geese were on the ground.
by Julian Paren
The path in this section is excellent, but parts of the John o'Groats Trail nearer Munlochy are unfortunately overgrown.
by Julian Paren
A view of the bay from a rather wet and muddy John o'Groats Trail.
by Julian Paren
There s no shortage of this crop, but few would eat it being worried about pollution on this coast
by Julian Paren
The trail is routed to the seaward side of the fence, but there is a signed option to cross a field at times of High Tide and avoid the path right by the coast. My wife and I chose an exceptionally high Spring Tide to see how much the path became flooded. High tide was some time between 1330 and 1350, and the image was taken at 1402.
by Julian Paren
Little pools but full of life. A contrast to the farmed landscape visible beyond the northern shore of Munlochy Bay.
by Julian Paren
An unmapped footbridge gives the walker easy passage over Drynie Burn allowing an uninterrupted walk along the southern shore of Munlochy Bay. Across the bay, the buildings at Bay Farm and the surrounding fields are well seen from this viewpoint.
by Julian Paren
Munlochy Bay is enclosed and the water rises and falls with the tide silently but surely.
by Julian Paren
The ground drops away very steeply at Craigiehowe down to the shoreline of Munlochy Bay. This tree stands on the very edge of the precipice. Wood Hill is the hill across the entrance of Munlochy Bay, seen from this viewpoint.
by Julian Paren
VIEWS OF MUNLOCHY BAY FROM ABOVE: EAST TO WEST
The ground drops away very steeply at Craigiehowe down to the shoreline of Munlochy Bay. This tree stands on the very edge of the precipice. Wood Hill is the hill across the entrance of Munlochy Bay, seen from this viewpoint.
by Julian Paren
Munlochy Bay with the tide out and a lot of mud exposed. This spot seemed to provide the least interrupted view of the bay. Below the hill are fields upon fields of Christmas Trees - the Black Isle being one of the major areas for growing such trees.
by Julian Paren
The Black Isle landscape is lowland with farms, firths and forestry. Beyond it lies the true Highlands - with Ben Wyvis the dominant feature in the distance. An arm of the sea intrudes the view with Munlochy Bay
by Julian Paren
A view over a cleared area of woodland from the side of Drumderfit Hill.
by Julian Paren
Seen from a forestry track on the side of Drumderfit Hill.
by Julian Paren
A view from a track over a cleared area of woodland.
by Julian Paren
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