A HIGHLAND landscape has joined the country’s top tier of protected sites as a new National Nature Reserve (NNR).
Torridon in Wester Ross has been granted NNR status by NatureScot following an application from the National Trust for Scotland.
The charity described the designation as “an accolade reserved for the very best of Scotland’s landscapes, habitats and species".
The new reserve covers around 5100 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”, ranging from native woodlands to rare plants, mosses and lichens, as well as upland birds such as ptarmigan and golden eagles.
Together with NatureScot’s neighbouring Beinn Eighe NNR, Torridon is already one of the country’s most popular destinations for walking and mountaineering. There are 18 miles of mountain and low‑level paths, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year.
The National Trust for Scotland has been custodian of Torridon since the late 1960s and has set out a long‑term vision to help nature thrive there over the next 200 years, working with local communities and landowners.
Philip Long, 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.”
Both the trust and NatureScot are members of the Glen Torridon Partnership, which brings together landowners in the area – including government agencies, non‑governmental organisations and private estates – to restore habitats across more than 30,000 hectares.
Working within the community‑led Wester Ross Biosphere Reserve, the trust has consulted widely with the Torridon community while developing its management plan and aspirations for the new 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 to link 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.
