Torridon named Scotland’s newest national nature reserve

One of Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes has been declared as a new National Nature Reserve (NNR).

Torridon in Wester Ross has been granted NNR status by NatureScot after an application was lodged by the National Trust for Scotland.

The charity says it’s “an accolade reserved for the very best of Scotland’s landscapes, habitats and species.”

The new NNR will cover around 5,100 hectares, stretching from the seashore of Loch Torridon to the Munro summits of the celebrated mountains Beinn Alligin and Liathach.

NatureScot says the area is home to “a rich tapestry of habitats and species of national and international importance”, from native woodlands to rare plants, mosses and lichens, and upland birds such as ptarmigan and golden eagle.

Together with NatureScot’s neighbouring Beinn Eighe NNR, Torridon is one of the most popular locations for walking and mountaineering in the country, with 18 miles of well-maintained mountain and low-level paths attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year.

Liathach and part of Beinn Eighe NNR Torridon

The Trust has been custodian of Torridon since the late 1960s and has set out an ambitious long-term vision to help nature thrive there over the next 200 years, in partnership with local communities and landowners.

Philip Long OBE, Chief Executive of the National Trust for Scotland, said: “Torridon’s designation as a National Nature Reserve is a proud moment for the Trust and our dedicated team of conservation staff, and it becomes the ninth NNR within our charity’s care. An NNR designation reflects the significance of the location on both a national and international level, and there’s no question that the sublime beauty, ancient history and rich natural heritage of Torridon warrants this accolade.

“The designation of NNR is also about encouraging people to explore and discover these natural wonders for themselves. Those that don’t yet know Torridon will find it to be one of the most beautiful places in the world, with five dramatic Munros on the Trust’s part of the estate, important native woodland habitats, and breathtaking views out to the isles, all watched over by the majestic golden eagle.

“Our purpose as an organisation is to share Scotland’s nature, beauty, and heritage with everyone, and I do hope that Torridon’s new designation as an NNR encourages many more people to explore responsibly this precious landscape and learn about the vital nature conservation work taking place to protect its future.”

The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: 2afef613930cb6867e862525be623532-1785942848.jpg — The reserve area stretches from the seashore of Loch Torridon to the Munro summits of the celebrated mountains Beinn Alligin (pictured) and Liathach.

Both the Trust and NatureScot are members of the Glen Torridon Partnership, through which landowners in the area, including government agencies, non-governmental organisations and private estates, are working to restore habitats over an area of more than 30,000 hectares. Working in the heart of the community-led Wester Ross Biosphere Reserve, the Trust has consulted widely with the Torridon community in developing its management plan and aspirations for the Torridon NNR.

NatureScot Chief Executive Nick Halfhide said: “Torridon is one of our finest natural landscapes, a place of outstanding biodiversity and wildlife with boundless opportunities for people to enjoy and connect with nature. It is an extremely worthy recipient of the National Nature Reserve accolade, and we look forward to seeing the area continue to flourish.

“Protecting and restoring nature at a landscape-scale is vital if we are to meet Scotland’s targets to halt the decline in biodiversity by 2030, and see nature recover by 2045. Torridon is a great example of where NNRs can act as crucial building blocks, linking up large areas of land where nature can thrive, and working alongside private landowners, NGOs and local communities towards this common goal.

“We are therefore keen to see more nominations for NNRs now come forward from across Scotland for the benefit of nature and communities.”

Torridon is the first NNR to be declared in Scotland since 2017 when the Trust’s Glencoe and Mar Lodge Estate sites were granted the status.

To find out more about Scotland’s National Nature reserves, visit: https://www.nnr.scot/