Skip to Content

Special Areas of Conservation

Loch Ruthven

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority Highlands and Islands
Centroid* NH628291
Latitude 57.33166667
Longitude -4.28
SAC EU Code UK0030195
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 200.84
* 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 Loch Ruthven SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (82%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (0.5%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (2%)
  • Improved grassland (0.5%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (10%)
  • Coniferous woodland (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

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

    Loch Ruthven in the north central Scottish Highlands is a high-quality representative of an oligotrophic loch with vegetation of the Littorelletea uniflorae and/or of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea. Water quality data shows that Loch Ruthven is a moderately rich oligotrophic water tending towards the mesotrophic end of the spectrum, and supports a variety of flora including quillwort Isoetes lacustris, shoreweed Littorella uniflora and water lobelia Lobelia dortmanna. Potamogeton species are well represented and include red pondweed P. alpinus, curled pondweed P. crispus, broad-leaved pondweed P. natans, perfoliate pondweed P. perfoliatus and bog pondweed P. polygonifolius. A comparison with historic conditions has shown that the loch has changed little in recent years. In common with many oligotrophic and mesotrophic lochs it has a variety of shoreline features which range from open shore to fen areas, and which include a succession of habitat types from semi-natural birch woodland to open water.

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

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