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Special Areas of Conservation

Lismore Lochs

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority Highlands and Islands
Centroid* NM828396
Latitude 56.49861111
Longitude -5.529166667
SAC EU Code UK0012977
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 107.61
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of Lismore Lochs SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (30%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (10%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (20%)
  • Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (40%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • 3140 Hard oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of Chara spp.

    This series of marl lochs (Loch Baile a’Ghoibbainn, Kilchernan Loch and Loch Fiart) is situated on metamorphic Dalradian limestone on the island of Lismore in Argyll. They represent lakes on a limestone substrate and are one of the few high-quality occurrences of this habitat type in Scotland. The component lakes have very clear water and are low in nutrients but with high alkalinity. The clarity of the water is reflected in the occurrence of long-stalked pondweed Potamogeton praelongus in Loch Baile a’Ghoibbainn at unusual depths – in excess of 6 m. The rare stoneworts Chara rudis and C. curtis, as well as the scarce C. pedunculata, have been recorded.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

  • Not Applicable

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.