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Special Areas of Conservation

Coyles of Muick

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority North Eastern Scotland
Centroid* NO327913
Latitude 57.00833333
Longitude -3.108333333
SAC EU Code UK0030122
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 134.18
* 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 Coyles of Muick SAC

General site character

  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (5%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (70%)
  • Dry grassland, Steppes (18.4%)
  • Coniferous woodland (0.1%)
  • Inland rocks, Screes, Sands, Permanent Snow and ice (6.5%)

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

  • 6130 Calaminarian grasslands of the Violetalia calaminariae

    Coyles of Muick represents the second-largest extent of near-natural, open serpentine debris with Calaminarian vegetation in Scotland. The habitat occurs at high altitude (450-600 m), exceeded in altitude only by Meikle Kilrannoch on Caenlochan. The serpentine here is more calcareous and less toxic than on other serpentine sites in north-east Scotland, perhaps favouring certain species that do not normally occur on serpentine. The Calaminarian community occurs in open serpentine debris on the summit and upper slopes, and is unusual in including alpine mouse-ear Cerastium alpinum (but not spring sandwort Minuartia verna). Other species include northern rock-cress Arabis petraea, mossy saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides, yellow mountain saxifrage S. aizoides, thrift Armeria maritima, field gentian Gentianella campestris and sea campion Silene uniflora. There are transitions to grassland and fen habitats, and dry heath dominates the lower slopes of the site.

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.