SSSIs and other sites of biological interest on Skye


SITE GRID REF. DESCRIPTION
Allt Grillan Gorge SSSI NG 4130 Trees include Wych Elm, Aspen, Hazel, Rowan, Holly, Birch, Willow.

A rich ground flora includes Stone Bramble, Melancholy Thistle, Ramsons, Northern Bedstraw, Woodruff, Wild Strawberry, False Brome, Wood Sedge. Ferns include Hard Shield Fern, Lady Fern, Beech Fern, Mountain Fern, Wilson's Filmy Fern, Scaly Male Fern, Brown Buckler Fern, Narrow Buckler Fern.

Lichens include Ocellularia subtilis, Conotrema homaloptropum & Pseudocyphellaria thousarsii.

Allt na Dunaiche NG 5421 Part of the Cuillins SSSI. Cuts through Durness Limestone and supports a very rich calcicolous flora, with a fine Atlantic bryophyte assemblage. On N-facing ravine walls, especially by the upper falls, there are good hepatic-rich heather communities.
Bearreraig Bay NG 5153 Part of the Rigg-Bile SSSI. Hazel wood containing 57 corticolous lichens and 25 oceanic species.
Bla Bheinn NG 5221 Part of the Cuillins SSSI. A remarkably rich flora, both of vascular plants and bryophytes, including several national rarities. A good habitat for Ring Ouzels.
Bornesketaig NG 3771 Large wintering population of White-fronted Geese.
Broadford Bay NG 6523 The mudflats support a large wintering population of White-fronted Geese.
Camas Malag NG 5819 Part of the Strath SSSI. A well-developed limestone pavement extends down to the shore in places and interesting maritime limestone crevice communities occur.
Coille Dalavil SSSI NG 5905 Mixed woodland on Torridonian sandstone, supporting a nationally important lichen flora.
Coille Gaireallach NG 6019 Part of the Strath SSSI. Best example of a Birch/Hazel wood developed on Durness limestone. Situated on a gentle north-facing slope, a rich limestone ground flora alternates with acid heath and flushes, with open areas and sink holes.
Coille Thogabhaig SSSI NG 6112 Ash/Oak woodland with a rich and varied flora and fauna, including probably the finest woodland bird community on Skye. The Atlantic lichen and bryophyte communities are among the richest in Britain. Beetles include Rhizophagus nitidulus and Barynotus moerens.
Coire Uaigneich NG 5321 Part of the Cuillins SSSI. Jurassic limestone cliffs with luxuriant vegetation. The north-west-facing cliffs support rich, ungrazed, tall herb communities with numerous rare mosses and liverworts. The lower slopes are covered by a range of bog and fen communities.
Cuillins SSSI NG 42 Above c.400m well drained slopes support either Agrostis-Festuca grasslands, with Alpine Lady's Mantle and other montane herbs, or species-poor Calluna heaths. There is a high density of breeding birds of prey. A rare Carabid beetle occurs on the N tops.

The higher gabbro cliffs support a sparse but interesting flora, including the rarities: Arctic Mouse-ear, Rock Whitlowgrass, Alpine Meadow Grass, Glaucous Meadow Grass, Alpine Saxifrage and Alpine Rock Cress. Alpine Hair Grass grows on the summits.

Elgol coast SSSI NG 5113 Jurassic limestone cliffs with Hazel, Sessile Oak, Wych Elm, Hawthorn and Aspen. The field layer includes Wood Vetch, Northern Bedstraw and Melacholy Thistle. Bryophytic species of note include Gymnostomum calcareum, Metzgeria pubescens and Leiocola badensis.
Geary Ravine SSSI NG 2663 A coastal wooded ravine cut through calcareous basalts. Supports a rich and diverse flora of both vascular plants and bryophytes, reflecting some maritime influence.
Glen Meadhonach NG 6005 North slopes support Oak woods with Birch and Rowan on acid soils. The field layer is dominated by Wavy Hair Grass, Bilberry, Wood Sorrel and Hard Fern. South slopes support Birch/Hazel woods with Rowan. Notable species include Tutsan, Stone Bramble and Globe Flower.
Glen Sligachan NG 4927 An impressive example of peatland little disturbed by man. Along the broad valley bottom are a series of mesotrophic Schoenus flushes, rich Phragmites dominated fens, Molinia floodplain mires and blanket bog.
Leac nan Craobh NG 5720 Part of the Strath SSSI. A particularly fine exposure of limestone pavement.
Loch a Ghlinne NG 5905 Part of the Dalavil SSSI. Ten species of dragonflies have been recorded here. Frequented by ducks and Whooper swans in winter..
Loch Cill Chriosd NG 6120 Part of the Strath SSSI. Calcareous loch with extensive fen at its western end. 34 species of mollusc have been recorded here. Frequented by Whooper swans and ducks in winter, including Goldeneye.
Loch Cuithir NG 4759 A Common haunt of Pochard in winter.
Loch Duagrich NG 3939 Frequented by ducks and Whooper swans in winter.
Loch Dunvegan NG 2547 Mudflats suitable for wildfowl.
Loch Husabost NG 2052 Frequented by ducks and Whooper swans in winter.
Loch Mealt NG 5065 Frequented by ducks and Whooper swans in winter.
Loch Mor NG 1448 Frequented by Whooper swans and ducks in winter, including Goldeneye.
Loch na Dal NG 7015 Fine Birch/Oak and Hazel/Ash woods on Torridonian sandstone, with a very rich bryophyte flora, especially epiphytes, with Atlantic species well represented. Ravines contain rare Atlantic cryptograms. Sallow carrs occur beside the loch.
Loch na h-Airde NG 3916 Frequented by ducks and Whooper swans in winter.
Loch Portree NG 4842 Mudflats suitable for wildfowl.
Loch Snizort Beag NG 4049 Mudflats suitable for wildfowl.
Loch Suardal NG 2350 Frequented by ducks and Whooper swans in winter.
Preshal Mor NG 3329 Part of the Talisker SSSI. The basalt cliffs support a rich flora, with Roseroot, Hoary Whitlow Grass, Mossy Saxifrage, Mountain Sorrel, Alpine Sawwort, Moonwort and Alpine Meadow Rue. The north-facing cliffs support a rich bryophyte flora.
Rigg-Bile SSSI NG 54 & NG 55 Jurassic limestone cliffs support Hazel, Alder, Grey Willow, Goat Willow, Rowan, Wych Elm, Birch, Aspen, and Holly with an interesting flora including Mountain Avens, Hairy Rock Cress, Moss Campion, False Brome and Melancholy Thistle. Sand Fescue occurs on the shore. Bird species include Raven, Willow Warbler and Stonechat.
Rubha Hunish SSSI NG 4076 North-facing basalt cliff with a varied flora including Moss Campion, Roseroot, Hoary Whitlow Grass, Scots Lovage, Stone Bramble and Sea Spleenwort.
Rubha na h-Airde Glaise NG 5145 Part of the Rigg-Bile SSSI. On the dry exposed cliffs there is a good assemblage of rupestral bryophytes including Grimmia apocarpa (var. homodictyon), Ulota americana and Antitrichia curtipendula.
Sligachan lochs SSSI NG 4730 A group of small shallow lochans set in acid peat moorland. The rich aquatic flora includes Water Lobelia and Pipewort. Greenshank nest in the vicinity. Surrounding the lochs is a complex of bog and fen with Bog Orchid, Broad-leaved Cotton Grass, Bog Sedge, Dioecious Sedge, Few-flowered Sedge, Bog Hair Grass and the mosses Sphagnum strictum, Sphagnum umbricatum, Acrocladium trifarium and Campylopus shawii. White Beak Sedge abounds.
Stockval NG 3529 Part of the Talisker SSSI. The basalt cliffs support a rich flora, with Roseroot, Hoary Whitlow Grass, Mossy Saxifrage, Mountain Sorrel, Alpine Sawwort, Moonwort and Alpine Meadow Rue. The north-facing cliffs support a rich bryophyte flora.
Storr lochs NG 5050 Frequented by ducks and Whooper swans in winter.
Strath SSSI NG 51, NG 52, NG 61, NG 62 The site is one of great ecological diversity, with fine examples of limestone pavement, limestone grassland, open gravel flushes, a ravine, two lime-enriched lochs with adjoining soligenous mire systems and Birch/Hazel and Ash/Hazel woodland. The Durness limestone exposures are the most extensive in Britain, although much of the bedrock is covered with acidic drift. The site supports a number of rare plants including Mountain Avens, Alpine Cinqefoil, Dark Red Helleborine, Rock Sedge and Herb Paris.
Talisker SSSI NG 32, NG 33 The site supports a high population of breeding birds of prey. The maritime grassland of the coastal cliffs supports rare day-flying moth populations.
Torrin woods NG 5820 Part of the Strath SSSI. A fine example of Ash/Hazel woodland on Durness limstone with strong Hawthorn and emergent Ash components.
Trotternish Ridge SSSI Contains one of the most outstanding assemblages of montane plants in the Hebrides. The bryophyte flora is unique to north-west Scotland, with several rare species, as well as many Atlantic species. Provides a good habitat for Ring Ouzels.
Ulfhart Woods NG 4617 Part of the Cuillins SSSI. Has an interesting lepidopteran fauna.