Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan National Scenic Area
Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan National Scenic Area | |
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Highland, Scotland | |
Coordinates | 56°47′N 5°45′W / 56.78°N 05.75°W |
Area | 369.6 km2 (142.7 sq mi)[1] |
Established | 1981 |
Governing body | NatureScot |
Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan is a
National scenic areas are primarily designated due to the scenic qualities of an area, however NSAs may well have other special qualities, for example related to culture, history, archaeology, geology or wildlife.[4] Areas with such qualities may be protected via other national and international designations that overlap with the NSA designation. Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan includes several Natura 2000 sites within the designated area of the NSA.[5]
Creation of the national scenic area
Following the
Although the national scenic area designation provides a degree of additional protection via the planning process, there are no bodies equivalent to a
Landscape and scenery
The original 1978 report that led to the area being designated as a national scenic area noted:
The area exhibits a coastal landscape of great diversity and interest, in places enhanced by the mountain background, although it is the coastal fringe that is considered to be outstanding. This coastal fringe is made up of four main subsidiary areas each with a character of its own, but complementing the others and all linked together by views of the enhancing offshore islands of the Small Isles.
— Scottish Natural Heritage (1978)[11]
Much of the area, including the Arisaig and Ardnish peninsulas, as well as much of the coastline and the mountainous interior, cannot be accessed by road. Additionally, the north coast of Ardnamurchan can only be reached by
Conservations designations
A small area of the NSA is included within the Moidart and Ardgour Special Protection Area, an area is protected under the Natura 2000 programme due to its importance for breeding golden eagles.[12]
There are six Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), within or overlapping with the NSA:
- The Ardnamurchan Burns SAC protects several burns on the Ardnamurchan peninsula that host colonies of freshwater pearl mussels.[13]
- the Loch Moidart and otters.[14]
- The sandbanks.[15]
- saltmarsh.[11]
- Glen Beasdale SAC lies at the northern end of the NSA and is protected due to the presence of freshwater pearl mussels, otters and acidic oak woodland.[17]
- The outer sea areas of the NSA are protected as the Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC due to their importance for harbour porpoises.[18]
The grounds of Arisaig House, Kinlochmoidart and Eilean Shona are all listed in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.[11]
References
- ^ a b "National Scenic Areas - Maps". Scottish Natural Heritage. 2010-12-20. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
- ^ "Map: Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan National Scenic Area" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. December 2010. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
- ^ "National Scenic Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 2010. p. 2. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ "Sitelink - Map Search". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ "History Leading to the Cairngorms National Park". Cairngorms National Park Authority. Archived from the original on 2018-01-15. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
- ^ "National Scenic Areas Review" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
- ^ "National Scenic Areas: background, guidance and policy". NatureScot. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Development management and National Scenic Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "National Scenic Areas (NSAs)". Dumfries and Galloway council. 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ a b c d "The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 2010. pp. 207–215. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
- ^ "Moidart and Ardgour SPA". NatureScot. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "Ardnamurchan Burns SAC". NatureScot. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Loch Moidart and Loch Shiel Woods SAC". NatureScot. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Sound of Arisaig SAC". NatureScot. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Claish Moss and Kentra Moss SAC". NatureScot. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Glen Beasdale SAC". NatureScot. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Inner Hebrides and the Minches Candidate SAC". NatureScot. Retrieved 5 October 2020.