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Special Areas of Conservation

Berriedale and Langwell Waters

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority Highlands and Islands
Centroid* ND107238
Latitude 58.19444444
Longitude -3.519444444
SAC EU Code UK0030088
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 58.25
* 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 Berriedale and Langwell Waters SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (85%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (3%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (7%)
  • Inland rocks, Screes, Sands, Permanent Snow and ice (5%)

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

  • Not Applicable

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

  • 1106 Atlantic salmon Salmo salar

    The Berriedale and Langwell Waters on the north-east coast of Scotland support small, but high-quality salmon Salmo salar populations. The rivers have two separate catchments, but share a short length of river just before they meet the sea. Both rivers are oligotrophic, draining the southern edge of the Caithness and Sutherland peatlands, and show only limited ecological variation along their length. Whilst they are comparatively small rivers and support only a small proportion of the Scottish salmon resource, their long history of low management intervention means that they score highly for naturalness. Recent records indicate that the full range of Atlantic salmon life-history types return to the river, with grilse, spring and summer salmon all being caught.

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.