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Special Areas of Conservation

Altnaharra

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority Highlands and Islands
Centroid* NC578354
Latitude 58.28472222
Longitude -4.425
SAC EU Code UK0030077
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 68.68
* 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 Altnaharra SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (20%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (41%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (36%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous 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

  • Although relatively small, this floodplain site in northern Scotland supports a wide range of communities including M4 Carex rostrataSphagnum recurvum mire, M9 Carex rostrataCalliergon cuspidatum/giganteum mire and S27 Carex rostrataPotentilla palustris tall-herb fen. Altnaharra is also one of only two sites in the UK to support the rare string sedge Carex chordorrhiza.

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.