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Special Areas of Conservation

Morvern Woods

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority Highlands and Islands
Centroid* NM759423
Latitude 56.51666667
Longitude -5.647222222
SAC EU Code UK0030217
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 1924.86
* 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 Morvern Woods SAC

General site character

  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (5%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (54.5%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (23.5%)
  • Inland rocks, Screes, Sands, Permanent Snow and ice (17%)

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

  • 9180 Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines  * Priority feature

    The woods in this complex of predominantly coastal sites contain important stands of Tilio-Acerion forests on basalt, representing the extreme north-western end of the range of variation of the habitat in the UK. The complex contains a variety of manifestations of the habitat, ranging from low stunted hazel Corylus avellana-dominated woods at Drimnin to extensive ash Fraxinus excelsior-dominated stands on the coastal scree and gorges at Inninmore. The lichen and bryophyte flora is outstanding with many Atlantic bryophyte species recorded, and these are the richest woods in Lochaber for vascular plants.

  • 91A0 Old sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles

    Morvern Woods complex comprises five woodland areas located on the Morvern Peninsula in the south-west Highlands. The site contains important stands of old sessile oak woods in both inland and exposed coastal locations. The woods are developed on predominantly acid soils and are dominated by oak with birch Betula spp. Ash Fraxinus excelsior, wych elm Ulmus glabra and hazel Corylus avellana are present where there are more base-rich soils. The steep sea cliffs and deeply incised ravines of Garbh Shlios are difficult to access and are largely undisturbed. The lichen and bryophyte flora of the complex is outstanding, and the vascular plant flora is also extremely rich. Several highly oceanic species, such as hay-scented buckler fern Dryopteris aemula and Tunbridge filmy fern Hymenophyllum tunbrigense, are present.

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.