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Special Areas of Conservation

Muir of Dinnet

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority North Eastern Scotland
Centroid* NJ459015
Latitude 57.10138889
Longitude -2.893055556
SAC EU Code UK0019959
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 417.76
* 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 Muir of Dinnet SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (24%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (13%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (57%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (3%)
  • Coniferous woodland (3%)

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

  • 3130 Oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of the Littorelletea uniflorae and/or of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea

    This site in the Dee valley, Grampian, Scotland includes two lochs, Kinord and Davan, in a complex area of morainic landforms and granite hills that supports a wide variety of habitats. Lochs Kinord and Davan represent high quality oligotrophic to mesotrophic freshwater habitats, and a rich aquatic flora. This includes species such as shoreweed Littorella uniflora, quillwort Isoetes lacustris and water lobelia Lobelia dortmanna, along with the white water-lily Nymphaea alba. Various pondweeds Potamogeton spp. are also present. In transitions from open water, the lochs also support a wide range of swamp and fen communities, dominated by common club-rush Scirpus lacustris, common reed Phragmites australis or bottle sedge Carex rostrata. Bog myrtle Myrica gale is a prominent feature of much of the adjacent fen. Fen carr characterised by willows Salix spp. is also present, along with other woodland habitats.

  • 4030 European dry heaths

    This site in the Dee valley, Scotland, is set in a complex area of morainic landforms and granite hills that supports a wide variety of habitats, including extensive European dry heaths. The heath community is mainly H16 Calluna vulgaris – Arctostaphylos uva-ursi heath, which is largely confined to north-east Scotland. The local, species-rich type, H16a Pyrola media – Lathyrus montanus sub-community is well-represented, with species such as intermediate wintergreen Pyrola intermedia, petty whin Genista anglica and bitter vetch Lathyrus linifolius. Mountain everlasting Antennaria dioica and stone bramble Rubus saxatilis also occur. Small areas of wet heath are also present around the margins of kettle holes, which support 7120 Degraded raised bog and fen vegetation.

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

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

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