Beinn Eighe Biosphere Reserve
The Beinn Eighe Biosphere Reserve is on the west coast of Scotland near the village of Kinlochewe. The biosphere reserve contains internationally important pinewoods and rare mosses, liverwort and lichens. The terrain ranges from woodland to montane, between the heights of 12m to 1000m above sea level. The Scottish crossbill and northern emerald dragonfly make their home in the ancient pinewoods, whilst otters and black throated divers can be seen where the biosphere reserve meets the waters of Loch Maree
What goes on there?
The biosphere reserve caters for outdoor sports such as hill walking and mountain biking. There are several mountain trails along steep and rough routes which attract serious hikers. There is also a basic camp site. A visitor centre is located half a mile from Kinlochewe village which is at the biosphere reserve boundary. There are also efforts to conserve the native woodland in the biosphere reserve.
The biosphere reserve also conducts research into long-term monitoring of environmental change at the open air laboratory, The Anancaun Field Station, with full laboratory facilities for up to 14 people. This plays an important role in attracting scientists and in the coordination of field data recording. The area is also frequently used for education purposes, particularly for undergraduate field courses which can be accommodated in the field station.
What makes it unique?
The area has stunning scenery over a large range of different terrains from massive, challenging mountains down to steep scree and heather moor to wet grassland, peat bogs and some of best ancient pinewoods in the UK, three quarters of which are over 150m high and some trees are over 400 years old. The rugged slopes also support one of the UK’s best tracts of prostrate juniper and moss heath. Rare mosses, liverwort and lichens can be found in the biosphere reserve and there are two species of shrubs that are nationally important, a dwarf shrub heath and a western variant of moss heath.
Where is it?
The biosphere reserve is on the west coast of Scotland near the village of Kinlochewe. The biosphere reserve has the same boundaries as the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve.
Location: West coast of Scotland near the village of Kinlochewe
Ecosystems: Mixed mountain and highland systems
Terrain and habitats: Open heathland, bare rock, scree, heather moor, wet grassland, peat bogs, woodlands
Vegetation: The woodland, which is found below 300m close to Loch Maree and in various isolated gorges, includes the best remaining examples of western pinewood in Britain, and also contains birch, holly, ivy, rowan, oak and juniper. Rare lichens, liverworts and mosses flourish, from the mild, damp woodlands up to the highest peak.
Wildlife: Below the tree line, pine marten, Scottish crossbill and northern emerald dragonfly make their home in the ancient pinewoods, whilst otters and black throated divers can be seen where the Reserve meets the waters of Loch Maree.
History
Protection Classifications