East Caithness Cliffs

The name East Caithness Cliffs refers to weathered sandstone cliffs on the east coast of Caithness in Scotland. The cliffs, which rise to 150 m at Berriedale, provide ideal nesting conditions for breeding seabirds,[3] and are protected by several overlapping conservation designations:

East Caithness Cliffs SPA
The cliffs at Mid Clyth.
Location and extent of the East Caithness Cliff SPA in northern Scotland
LocationCaithness, Scotland
Area11,696.38 ha (45.1600 sq mi)[1]
Established1996[2]
Governing bodyScottish Natural Heritage (SNH)

The area is also protected by six separate Sites of Special Scientific Interest SSSI, which overlap wholly or partly with the other designations:[6]

  • Castle of Old Wick to Craig Hammel SSSI
  • Craig Hammel to Sgaps Geo SSSI
  • Dunbeath to Sgaps Geo SSSI
  • Berriedale Cliffs SSSI,
  • Ousdale Burn SSSI
  • Helmsdale Coast SSSI

The cliffs are of particular importance for seabirds, hosting up to 300,000 individuals during the breeding season. This is the most important area on the east coast of Scotland for black guillemot, with over 1,500 individuals breeding here each year.[3] There are also important populations of common guillemot, razorbill, herring gull, black-legged kittiwake, shag, great black-backed gull, cormorant and northern fulmar.[6]

The cliffs are also important for the plant species they support. The cliffs provide a range of habitats that are typical of northern Scotland, although lacking the extreme exposure of Cape Wrath or island locations. Species of note found on the East Caithness Cliffs include roseroot and Scots lovage, whilst meadowsweet is found in more sheltered areas. There are two small areas of saltmarsh in which can be found saltmarsh rush, and herb species are plentiful in ungrazed grassland and heathland areas on the cliff tops. In the southern parts of the area the climate is more moderate, and scrub has developed in gullies. Here can be found tree species such as willow, juniper, hazel, hawthorn and aspen.[7]

Scottish Natural Heritage's management strategy for the cliffs encourages light grazing of the grass and heathland in order to enables plants to flower and set seed whilst preventing bracken from becoming established. Muirburn is strongly discouraged.[8][9]

References
  1. "East Caithness Cliffs SPA". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  2. "East Caithness Cliffs in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". Protected Planet. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  3. "East Caithness Cliffs Marine Protected Area". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  4. "East Caithness Cliffs SAC". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  5. "East Caithness Cliffs MPA(NC)". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  6. "Citation for Special Protection Area (SPA) East Caithness Cliffs". Scottish Natural Heritage. March 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  7. "East Caithness Cliffs Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  8. "Craig Hammel to Sgaps Geo SSSI Site Management Statement". Scottish Natural Heritage. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  9. "Castle of Old Wick to Craig Hammel SSSI Site Management Statement". Scottish Natural Heritage. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
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