Site Code
Country: United Kingdom
Central coordinates: 56.79892326o [56o 47' 56" North], -5.00533932o [5o 0' 19" West]
Administrative region: Scotland West Highland (Westerness)
Area: 5095 ha
Altitude: 55 - 1208
Site Description
(From SSSI Citation)
Ben Nevis IPA is an extensive upland site centred on a massif which stretches for over 12 kilometres from Ben Nevis, the highest ground in the UK, eastwards to Stob Coire na Ceannain, and has an altitudinal range from the 650 m contour to 1344 m on the summit of Ben Nevis. Ben Nevis and its associated peaks of Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag are the only three peaks greater than 1100 m outside the Cairngorms.
The site encompasses rocks and geological features, of which the ‘Ben Nevis Complex’ is of particular significance, relating to the Caledonian mountain building period. The range in altitude and geology gives rise to a diversity of habitats including montane cliffs, semi-permanent snow beds and upland heaths and grasslands. A wide variety of plants, both vascular and non-vascular are present. The flora and altitudinal range has also affected the fauna of the site, influencing, for example, the range of bird and invertebrate species present.
The site contains an outstanding assemblage of vascular plants, in particular of rare alpine and montane calcium loving species, including several species of saxifrage, of very restricted distribution in Britain. The habitats on Aonach Beag have the most diverse flora outwith the Caenlochan – Breadalbane area. The lower plant assemblage is also particularly diverse because of the range of geology and range in altitude within the site. The acidic scree is the most extensive example of its type in the UK. Both the acidic scree and base-rich screes are important for their rich fern flora and act as refugia for a number of rare species. Ben Nevis has one of the most extensive developments of acid alpine and boreal grasslands in the UK.. Because limestone occurs up to high altitude, notably on Aonach Beag, this SSSI is also one of the richest areas outside of the Breadalbane range and Caenlochan for arctic-alpines of calcareous rocks. Ben Nevis is notable for populations of a number of very rare species which are associated with calcareous outcrops of rock faces in high gullies. Crevice communities occur extensively on acidic crags up to a very high altitude and have a diverse flora. Ben Nevis has high-altitude plant communities associated with areas of water seepage. This habitat is one of the rarest natural habitats in the UK, and is almost certainly maintained by the soil conditions and harsh climate.
Botanical Significance
Noted for lichens and bryophytes interest. Site is known for an impressive assemblage of plants, including rare alpine species,
montane species associated with base rich conditions (incl. several species of saxifrage). The moss, liverwort and lichen
flora is also exceptionally rich in the area. (From SAC site details)
With the exception of Beinn Dearg and the Loch Maree Complex in the north, Ben Nevis has the most extensive development of Siliceous alpine and boreal grassland in the western Highlands. On the summit plateau of Aonach Mór Carex bigelowii – Racomitrium lanuginosum moss-heath occurs as the highest extensive stand in the UK. The normal dominant Racomitrium lanuginosum is in part replaced on Aonach Mór by R. canescens (sensu lato), which provides affinities with the vegetation of Iceland and Jan Mayen island, Norway. The R. canescens is associated with open, wind-blown sandy areas where there is active erosion and deposition of sand caused by the exceptionally high altitude and exposure. Other wind-eroded areas among Carex – Racomitrium moss-heath may be colonised by three-leaved rush Juncus trifidus, and the national rarity curved wood-rush Luzula arcuata. Frequent arctic-alpines in the Carex – Racomitrium moss-heath include least willow Salix herbacea, spiked wood-rush Luzula spicata, J. trifidus and moss campion Silene acaulis. Nardus stricta – Carex bigelowii grass-heath is extensive and occurs mostly in corries and in hollows on ridges where snow lies late. Carex bigelowii – Polytrichum alpinum sedge-heath occurs on the higher summits where snow lies late in hollows and is more abundant on this site than on any other site in the western Highlands. These communities are associated with some of the most extensive moss-dominated late-lie snow beds (Polytrichum sexangulare – Kiaeria starkei and Salix herbacea – Racomitrium heterostichum snow-beds) outside of the Cairngorms.
With Beinn Dearg, Ben Nevis represents high-altitude sub-types of Alpine and subalpine calcareous grasslands in the western Scottish Highlands. The site contains moderately extensive areas of both Festuca ovina – Alchemilla alpina – Silene acaulis dwarf-herb community and Dryas octopetala – Silene acaulis ledge community. There is a moderately rich arctic-alpine flora including alpine mouse-ear Cerastium alpinum, arctic mouse-ear Cerastium arcticum, rock sedge Carex rupestris, hair sedge C. capillaris, mossy saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides and alpine meadow-rue Thalictrum alpinum. There are relatively low grazing levels on the northern slopes of Ben Nevis, enabling the high-altitude Dryas heath community to survive on the open hillside, rather than being restricted to inaccessible ledges.
Ben Nevis is representative of high altitude siliceous scree in the north-west Scottish Highlands. The site contains extensive screes of quartzite and granite, with the most extensive known development in the UK of snow-bed screes with parsley fern Cryptogramma crispa, alpine lady-fern Athyrium distentifolium and other ferns. The screes found in the site are diverse, with a range of characteristic species. There is an abundance of acid rock-loving species in high-altitude glacial troughs, corries and on summit ridges. These include a number of montane bryophytes and arctic-alpine vascular plants, such as curved wood-rush Luzula arcuata, wavy meadow-grass Poa flexuosa, hare’s-foot sedge Carex lachenalii, alpine tufted hair-grass Deschampsia alpina, starwort mouse-ear Cerastium cerastoides, alpine speedwell Veronica alpina and Highland saxifrage Saxifraga rivularis.
Within the Ben Nevis site limestone occurs up to high altitude, notably on Aonach Beag, and this is one of the richest areas outside of the Breadalbane range and Caenlochan for arctic-alpines of calcareous rocks. Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation are well-represented and Ben Nevis is notable for populations of a number of very rare species which are associated with calcareous outcrops of rock faces in high gullies. These include tufted saxifrage Saxifraga cespitosa, drooping saxifrage S. cernua and Highland saxifrage S. rivularis. Other national rarities of rock outcrops include glaucous meadow-grass Poa glauca, alpine meadow-grass Poa alpina, arctic mouse-ear Cerastium arcticum and alpine saxifrage Saxifraga nivalis. Other arctic-alpines represented include rose-root Sedum rosea, alpine scurvygrass Cochlearia pyrenaica ssp. alpina, mountain sorrel Oxyria digyna, holly fern Polystichum lonchitis, mossy saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides and purple saxifrage S. oppositifolia.
Ben Nevis is representative of high-altitude Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation (vegetation found in cracks and fissures) in north-west Scotland. Crevice communities occur extensively on acidic crags up to a very high altitude and have a diverse flora, with characteristic examples of the commoner arctic-alpine species. The site also supports a number of rare species, including hare’s-foot sedge Carex lachenalii, spiked wood-rush Luzula spicata and alpine speedwell Veronica alpina.
A survey carried out in 2006 on behalf of The John Muir Trust (‘A Lichen Survey of the Ben Nevis Plateau’ - John Douglass, 2007) recorded 72 lichen species and 3 lichenicolous fungi (fungi that live exclusively on fungi) on the Ben Nevis plateau including:
•22 Nationally scarce
•11 Nationally rare
•2 Red Data Book Near threatened
•1 Red Data Book Vulnerable
•15 closely associated with late snow-lie
•13 new for the Nevis range.
The Nationally rare Staurothele arctica and Sterecaulon tornense recorded during the survey have their British headquarters in the Nevis range. The survey confirmed a new British record for the lichenicolous fungus Endococcus fusiger on Rhizocarpon lavatum. Another possibly undescribed entity was also found with affinities to Rimularia.
Management guidance notes
IPA once named Ben Nevis, but changed to include the Grey Corries as the name better represents extent of the IPA. Core boundary includes all site above 600m altitude
Notes
None