Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area

Last updated

Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area
BenNevis2005.jpg
Ben Nevis from Banavie.
Ben Nevis and Glencoe NSA.png
Location Scotland (Highland, Argyll and Bute and Perth and Kinross)
Area922.7 km2 (356.3 sq mi) [1] [2]
Established1981
Governing body NatureScot

Ben Nevis and Glen Coe is a national scenic area (NSA) covering part of the Highlands of Scotland surrounding Ben Nevis and Glen Coe, [3] in which certain forms of development are restricted. It is one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure their protection from inappropriate development. [4] The Ben Nevis and Glen Coe NSA covers 903 km2 (349 sq mi) of land, lying within the Highland, Argyll and Bute and Perth and Kinross council areas. A further 19 km2 (7.3 sq mi) of the NSA are marine, covering the sea loch of Loch Leven. [1] [2]

Contents

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. Areas with such qualities may be protected via other national and international designations that overlap with the NSA designation. [5] Glen Coe is designated as a national nature reserve, and there are several Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas within the NSA. [6] Although the national scenic area designation provides a degree of additional protection via the planning process, there are no bodies equivalent to a national park authority, [7] and whilst local authorities can produce a management strategy for each one, only the three national scenic areas within Dumfries and Galloway have current management strategies. [8]

Creation of the national scenic area

The idea that areas of wild or remote character such as Ben Nevis and Glen Coe should be designated to protect the scenic qualities of their landscapes grew in popularity throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In 1931 a commission headed by Christopher Addison first proposed the creation of a national park in Scotland. [9] Following the Second World War a committee chaired by Sir Douglas Ramsay to consider the issue proposed that five areas should receive a level of protection: Glen Coe-Ben Nevis-Black Mount was one of the areas listed. [10] In 1951, the area became one of five designated "national park direction areas", [11] in which planning decisions taken by local authorities could be reviewed by central government under certain circumstances.

A 1974 report by the Countryside Commission for Scotland (CCS) entitled A Park System for Scotland recommended that the Glen Coe-Ben Nevis-Black Mount area should be designated as one of four proposed "Special Parks", considering the area of national importance due to its natural beauty and amenity value, however this recommendation was not acted on. [12] Following a further review of landscape protection in 1978, it was suggested that additional areas, alongside the existing direction areas should receive protection, and in 1981 the direction areas were thus replaced by the 40 national scenic areas, which were based on the 1978 recommendations, and included the Ben Nevis and Glen Coe area. [13]

A further report into protection of the landscape of Scotland was published by the CCS in 1990. Entitled The Mountain Areas of Scotland - Conservation and Management, it recommended that four areas were under such pressure that they ought to be designated as national parks, each with an independent planning board, in order to retain their heritage value. The four areas identified were similar to those proposed by the Ramsay Committee, and included Glen Coe-Ben Nevis-Black Mount. [12] The government did not however choose to establish national parks and so the status of the Ben Nevis and Glen Coe area was not altered. [12] Following the passage of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000, national parks were established in the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, two of the areas identified by the Ramsay committee, however the status of the other three Ramsay areas, including Ben Nevis and Glen Coe, was again not altered. In 2013 the Scottish Campaign for National Parks proposed seven areas deemed suitable for national park status, one of which was the Ben Nevis and Glen Coe area. [12]

Landscape and scenery

Buachaille Etive Mor lies close to the head of both Glen Coe and Glen Etive, on the edge of Rannoch Moor. Buachaille Etive Mor.jpg
Buachaille Etive Mòr lies close to the head of both Glen Coe and Glen Etive, on the edge of Rannoch Moor.

Although named after Ben Nevis and Glen Coe, the national scenic area covers a much wider area of land, as detailed below. [3] Much of the northern part of the NSA lies within the Lochaber region.

Glen Nevis

Glen Nevis (Scottish Gaelic : Gleann Nibheis) lies in the north of the national scenic area, and runs south from Fort William. [14] It is bordered to the south by the Mamore range, and to the north by the highest mountains in the British Isles: Ben Nevis (Scotland's highest mountain), Càrn Mor Dearg, Aonach Mòr, and Aonach Beag. [15] It is home to the second highest waterfall in Scotland, Steall Falls. Below the waterfall is a steeply walled and impressive gorge. [16]

Mamores

The Mamores form an east–west ridge approximately fifteen kilometres in length lying between Glen Nevis to the north and Loch Leven to the south. [14] Ten of the ranges are classified as Munros. The hills can be accessed from both Glen Nevis and the former aluminium smelting town of Kinlochleven. [15]

Glen Coe

Glen Coe (Scottish Gaelic : Gleann Comhann) [17] is a glen of volcanic origins, [18] in the heart of the national scenic area. A review of the national scenic areas by Scottish Natural Heritage in 2010 made reference to the "soaring, dramatic splendour of Glen Coe", [18] and "the suddenness of the transition between high mountain pass and the lightly wooded strath" in the lower glen. [18] It also described the journey through the glen on the main A82 road as "one of the classic Highland journeys". [18] The main settlement is the village of Glencoe located at the foot of the glen. [14] The glen is regarded as the home of Scottish mountaineering [19] and is popular with hillwalkers and climbers.

Glen Etive

Glen Etive Etive 500.jpg
Glen Etive

Glen Etive (Scottish Gaelic : Gleann Èite) lies to the south of Glen Coe. The River Etive (Scottish Gaelic : Abhainn Èite) rises on the peaks surrounding Rannoch Moor, with several tributary streams coming together at the Kings House Hotel. [20] From the Kings House, the Etive flows for about 18 km, reaching the sea loch, Loch Etive. The river and its tributaries are popular with whitewater kayakers and at high water levels it is a test piece of the area and a classic run. Glen Etive has been used as the backdrop to many movies, among them Braveheart and Skyfall . [21]

The Black Mount

The Black Mount is situated between Glen Orchy and Glen Coe, to the east of Glen Etive, forming the southernmost part of the national scenic area. Its four Munros are Stob Ghabhar, Stob a' Choire Odhair, Creise and Meall a' Bhuiridh. [22] The hills of Ben Inverveigh and Meall Tairbh are located between Black Mount and the Bridge of Orchy. [23] The Black Mount Deer Forest includes moorland, the mountain, as well as several rivers, burns, lochs, and tarns. [24]

Rannoch Moor

Much of the western part of Rannoch Moor (Scottish Gaelic : Mòinteach Raineach/Raithneach), an expanse of around 50 square miles (130 km2) of boggy moorland to the west of Loch Rannoch in Scotland, is included in the national scenic area. The A82 road crosses western Rannoch Moor on its way to Glen Coe and Fort William, as does the West Highland Line, which reaches Fort William via Glen Spean rather than Glen Coe. When the line was built across the moor, its builders had to float the tracks on a mattress of tree roots, brushwood and thousands of tons of earth and ashes. Corrour railway station, the UK's highest, and one of its most remote being 10 miles (16 km) from the nearest public road, is located on this section of the line at 1,339 feet (408 m). [25] The line takes gentle curves totalling 23 miles (37 km) across the moorland.

Beinn a'Chrulaiste Buachaille Etive Mor Buachaille Etive Beag 01.jpg
A southeastern look from the A82 at the entrance of Glen Coe, showing Buachaille Etive Mòr in the center and, to its left in the distance, Kings House Hotel and Rannoch Moor.

Conservation designations

A number of other conservation designation are defined within or overlapping with the NSA: [6] Glen Coe is designated as a both national nature reserve (NNR), and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) due to wide variety of montane habitats found within the glen. [26] [27] Glen Coe, along with most of the southwestern portion of the NSA including Glen Etive and the Black Mount, forms part of the Glen Etive and Glen Fyne Special Protection Area (SPA), which is protected due to its breeding population of golden eagles. [28]

Rannoch Moor is also designated as an SAC, and is particularly famous as being the sole British location for the Rannoch-rush, named after the moor. It also has populations of otters and freshwater pearl mussels. [29] [30] The River Tay rises on the moor within the NSA, and is designated as a separate SAC for its entire length. [31] The Ben Nevis massif is also an SAC, [32] as are the woodlands at North Ballachulish in the westernmost part of the NSA. [33] The final SAC within the NSA protects the woods on the western side of Loch Etive, in the southwestern extremity of the area. [34]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National parks of Scotland</span> Area of landscape in Scotland

The national parks of Scotland are managed areas of outstanding landscape where some forms of development are restricted to preserve the landscape and natural environment. At present, Scotland has two national parks: Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, created in 2002, and the Cairngorms National Park, created in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National nature reserve (Scotland)</span> Protected area designation in Scotland

The national nature reserves (NNRs) of Scotland are areas of land or water designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as containing habitats and species of national importance. National nature reserves can be owned by public, private, community or voluntary organisations but must be managed to conserve their important habitats and species, as well as providing opportunities for the public to enjoy and engage with nature. There are currently 43 NNRs in Scotland, which cover 154,250 hectares (1,542.5 km2), or less than 1.5% of the land area of Scotland. They range in size from Corrieshalloch Gorge at 7 ha to Mar Lodge Estate, which covers 29,324 ha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rannoch Moor</span> Boggy moorland and protected area in northern Scotland

Rannoch Moor is an expanse of around 50 square miles (130 km2) of boggy moorland to the west of Loch Rannoch in Scotland, from where it extends into westerly Perth and Kinross, northerly Lochaber, and the area of Highland Scotland toward its south-west, northern Argyll and Bute. Rannoch Moor is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation. Much of the western part of the moor lies within the Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland.

Glen Coe is a glen of volcanic origins, in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies in the north of the county of Argyll, close to the border with the historic province of Lochaber, within the modern council area of Highland. Glen Coe is regarded as the home of Scottish mountaineering and is popular with hillwalkers and climbers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Rannoch</span> Freshwater loch in Perth and Kinross, Scotland

Loch Rannoch is a freshwater loch in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is over 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) long in a west–east direction with an average width of about 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi), and is deepest at its eastern end, reaching a depth of 130 metres (440 ft). The River Tummel begins at its eastern end, where the small village of Kinloch Rannoch can be found, whilst the wild expanse of Rannoch Moor extends to the west of the loch. The area surrounding Loch Rannoch, along with Rannoch Moor itself, was formerly part of the native Caledonian Forest that stretched across much of Northern Scotland. Native forest is now largely absent from much of the area, due partly to logging, and partly to the climate becoming wetter, and Loch Rannoch is now largely surrounded by commercial forestry and open hillsides, although a small area remains at the Black Wood of Rannoch on the southern shore of the loch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Lawers</span> 1214m high mountain in Scotland

Ben Lawers is the highest mountain in the Breadalbane region of the Scottish Highlands. It lies north of Loch Tay and is the highest peak of the 'Ben Lawers group', a ridge that includes six other Munros: Beinn Ghlas, Meall Garbh, Meall Corranaich, An Stùc, Meall Greigh and Meall a' Choire Leith. It is also the highest peak in Perthshire, and the tenth highest Munro in Scotland. Ben Lawers was long thought to be over 4,000 feet in height, but accurate measurement in the 1870s showed it to be only 3,983 feet (1,214 m). It is formed of metamorphic rock, most notably calcareous mica-schists, and lower down, schistose grits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glen Etive</span> Glen in the Highlands of Scotland

Glen Etive is a glen in the Scottish Highlands. The River Etive rises on the peaks surrounding Rannoch Moor, with several tributary streams coming together at the Kings House Hotel, at the head of Glen Coe. From the Kings House, the Etive flows for about 18 km, reaching the sea loch, Loch Etive. The river and its tributaries are popular with whitewater kayakers and at high water levels it is a test piece of the area and a classic run.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings House Hotel</span>

The Kings House Hotel is a remote inn at the eastern end of Glen Coe in the Scottish Highlands. The inn, which is in an isolated position about 2 km east of Glen Etive, stands on the edge of Rannoch Moor. It faces Buachaille Etive Mor which makes it a popular hostelry with rock climbers. In 2019 the hotel was reopened after a substantial modern redevelopment which involved the demolition of a large 1960s extension. Only the original 18th-century coaching inn was retained and incorporated into the new building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Tummel</span> Freshwater loch in Perth and Kinross, Scotland

Loch Tummel is a long, narrow loch, seven kilometres northwest of Pitlochry in the council area of Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is fed and drained by the River Tummel, which flows into the River Tay about 13 km (8 mi) south-east of the Clunie Dam at the loch's eastern end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meall a' Bhùiridh</span> Mountain in Scotland

Meall a' Bhùiridh (IPA:[ˈmauɫ̪ˈaˈvuːɾʲɪʝ]) is a mountain on the edge of Rannoch Moor in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies near the top of Glen Coe and Glen Etive, overlooking the Kings House Hotel inn and the A82 road. The Glencoe Ski area is located on the northern slopes of the peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glen Strathfarrar</span> Valley in Scotland

Glen Strathfarrar is a glen in the Highland region of Scotland, near Loch Ness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area</span>

South Lewis, Harris and North Uist is a large national scenic area (NSA) in the Western Isles of Scotland. It is one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development. The designated area covers 202,388 ha in total, of which 112,301 ha is on land, with a further 90,087 ha being marine, making it the largest of the NSAs in both total and marine area. The designated area includes the mountainous south west of Lewis, all of Harris, the Sound of Harris and the northern part of North Uist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Mount</span> Mountain range in Scotland

Black Mount is a mountain range located in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is situated between Glen Orchy and Glen Coe. Its four Munros include Stob Ghabhar, Stob a' Choire Odhair, Creise and Meall a' Bhuiridh. The hills of Ben Inverveigh and Meall Tairbh are located between Black Mount and the Bridge of Orchy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National scenic area (Scotland)</span> Conservation designation used in Scotland

National scenic area (NSA) is a conservation designation used in Scotland, and administered by NatureScot on behalf of the Scottish Government. The designation's purpose is to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to protect them from inappropriate development. There are currently 40 national scenic areas (NSAs) in Scotland, covering 13% of the land area of Scotland. The areas protected by the designation are considered to represent the type of scenic beauty "popularly associated with Scotland and for which it is renowned". As such they tend to be mainly found in remote and mountainous areas, with a review in 1997 noting a potential weakness of national scenic areas was that the original selection placed undue emphasis on mountainous parts of the country. National scenic areas do however also cover seascapes, with approximately 26% of the total area protected by the designation being marine. The designation is primarily concerned with scenic qualities, although designated national scenic areas may well have other special qualities, for example related to culture, history, archaeology, geology or wildlife. Areas with such qualities may be protected by other designations that overlap with the NSA designation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoy and West Mainland National Scenic Area</span>

Hoy and West Mainland is a national scenic area (NSA) covering parts of the islands of Hoy and Mainland in the Orkney Islands of Scotland, as well as parts of the surrounding sea. It is one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection by restricting certain forms of development. The Hoy and West Mainland NSA covers 24,407 ha in total, consisting of 16,479 ha of land with a further 7928 ha being marine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Rannoch and Glen Lyon National Scenic Area</span>

The Loch Rannoch and Glen Lyon National Scenic Area is a national scenic area (NSA) covering the area surrounding Loch Rannoch, Glen Lyon, and the Ben Lawers ranges of mountains in Scotland. It is one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development by restricting certain forms of development. The Loch Rannoch and Glen Lyon NSA covers 48,625 ha, most of which lies in the council area of Perth and Kinross, with a small portion lying in Stirling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan National Scenic Area</span> National scenic area in Scotland

Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan is a national scenic area (NSA) covering the coastal scenery of three peninsulas in the western Highlands of Scotland: Ardnamurchan, Moidart and Morar. It is one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development by restricting certain forms of development. The Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan NSA covers 36,956 ha in total, consisting of 17,220 ha of land with a further 19,736 ha being marine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North West Sutherland National Scenic Area</span>

North West Sutherland is a national scenic area (NSA) covering the mountains and coastal scenery of the northwestern part of the county of Sutherland in the highlands of Scotland. The designated area covers the mountains of Foinaven, Arkle and Ben Stack as well as the coastal scenery surrounding Loch Laxford and Handa Island. It is one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection by restricting certain forms of development. The North West Sutherland NSA covers 26,565 ha in total, consisting of 23,415 ha of land with a further 3,151 ha being marine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarba, Lunga and the Garvellachs National Scenic Area</span>

Scarba, Lunga and the Garvellachs is the name of one of the 40 national scenic areas of Scotland. The designated area covers the islands of Scarba, Lunga, and the Garvellachs, all of which lie in the Firth of Lorn, along with much of the surrounding seascape. The national scenic areas are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection by restricting certain forms of development, and are considered to represent the type of scenic beauty "popularly associated with Scotland and for which it is renowned". The Scarba, Lunga and the Garvellachs NSA covers 6,542 ha in total, consisting of 2,139 ha of land with a further 4,402 ha being marine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Tweeddale National Scenic Area</span>

The Upper Tweeddale National Scenic Area lies in the Borders region of Scotland. It is one of 40 national scenic areas (NSA) in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure their protection from inappropriate development. The designated area covers 12,770 ha of countryside surrounding the upper reaches of the River Tweed between Broughton and Peebles.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Scenic Areas - Maps". SNH. 20 December 2010. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Ben Nevis and Glen Coe". Protected Planet. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Map: Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. December 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "National Scenic Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 2010. p. 2. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "Development management and National Scenic Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "National Scenic Areas (NSAs)". Dumfries and Galloway council. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Brief History of National Parks Proposals". SNH. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "History Leading to the Cairngorms National Park". Cairngorms National Park Authority. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "National Parks". NatureScot. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Unfinished Business a national parks strategy for scotland" (PDF). Scottish Campaign for National Parks. March 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "national scenic areas review" (PDF). SNH. 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  13. 1 2 3 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50000, Sheet 41
  14. 1 2 D. Bennet & R. Anderson. The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club Hillwalkers Guide, pp. 60-71. Published 2016.
  15. ↑ "Steall Falls – A Glen Nevis Adventue". Lochaber Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  16. ↑ "Glencoe". Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba . Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 2010. pp. 145–152. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  18. ↑ "Glencoe National Nature Reserve". Scottish Natural Heritage. 21 August 2017. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  19. ↑ "Glen Etive". Gazetteer for Scotland . Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  20. ↑ Skyfall location despolied by fly tippers The Guardian 18 July 2014
  21. ↑ "The Black Mount from Bridge of Orchy". visitscotland.com. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  22. ↑ Anderson, Rab (28 November 2011). "The walk: Ben Inverveigh and Meall Tairbh". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  23. ↑ Fishery Board for Scotland (1889). Annual Report of the Fishery Board of Scotland (Public domain ed.). pp. 5–. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  24. ↑ Corrour couple make plea over Trainspotting station Herald Scotland
  25. ↑ "Glencoe NNR". NatureScot. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  26. ↑ "Glen Coe SAC". NatureScot. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  27. ↑ "Glen Etive and Glen Fyne SPA". NatureScot. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  28. ↑ "Rannoch Moor Special Area of Conservation". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  29. ↑ "Rannoch Moor SAC". NatureScot. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  30. ↑ "River Tay SAC". NatureScot. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  31. ↑ "Ben Nevis SAC". NatureScot. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  32. ↑ "North Ballachulish SAC". NatureScot. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  33. ↑ "Loch Etive Woods SAC". NatureScot. Retrieved 29 September 2020.

56°36′N5°00′W / 56.6°N 5.0°W / 56.6; -5.0

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.