Visiting Lochaber, Scotland

see Lochaber, ScotlandThe Lochaber atomic number 18a of Scotland supports a abundant diversity of flora and fauna in spite of appearance its varied habitat, the importance of this biodiversity and the conservation of it is recognized at national and international level. It is an area that is rich in many an different(prenominal) species of wildlife and has a wide and varied habitat with coastal grasslands oftentimes(prenominal) as Machair, which is unique only to the westward coast of North Sutherland and the Western Isles. The Atlantic Oak woodlands and peat bogs are arguably the best examples of their kind in Europe.Habitats within the Lochaber area are endow with an abundance of wildlife and inhering native woodlands, moorland, grasslands, fresh water rivers and Lochs and unique shipboard soldier coastal zones. The ecosystems and habitats are very diverse making for a confuse interplay between the geology, topography and climate.Lochaber is very rich with rare plant life such as Drooping Saxifrage, Diapensia and Arctic Sandwort, in that location are as well many scarce lichens and bryophytes. Wildlife in unsmooth areas includes Mountain Ringlet butterfly and other rare insects. There are Mountain Hares, Ptarmigan and substantial bird of mark populations, with prodigious numbers of breeding Golden Eagle, there are too Sea Eagles breeding in Lochaber.Lochaber is renowned for its geological features many of which are of international, national and regional importance. This is a classic area for the study of the waver formations which are associated with the Caledonian mountains belt and the well-known vol piece of assic legal action associated with the opening up the North Atlantic. Well before the ocean opened the Caledonian mountain lop stretched continuously from Svalvard, through Norway, the British Isles and through Greenland to the Appalachian weave in North America.The geology in Lochaber is unique among Geoparks in having records involving both ancient household collision and the rifting apart of the plates. Ben Nevis and Glencoe within the east, magmas formed by melting below the Caledonian range during the process of subduction giving rise to super caldera volcanoes. Rum and Ardnamurchan and lavas of Eigg and Morvern with in the west, rifting apart of plates, triggered by the up-rise of a hot plume from the Earths mantle producing the internation on the wholey renowned volcanic centres. Lochaber Geology. Retrieved abut 8 2017 from http//lochabergeopark.org.uk/about-us/lochaber-geology/During the stand up Ice suppurate the final shaping of the Lochaber landscape took place, there are many elicit examples of features relating to glacial action, classic examples are the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy, the shorelines of a self-aggrandizing temporary lake held back by a glacier, they became world famous by the rivalry and controversy between Charles Darwin and Swiss geologist Louis Agassiz. The Parallel Roa ds of Glen Roy and Glen furnish Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is of outstanding importance for its range of Quaternary and fluvial geomorphology features. Lochaber Geology. Glen Roy. Retrieved March 9 2017 from http//www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/geology/glen%20roy.pdfLochaber is known as The Outdoor Capital of the UK, the area happens to cater for a huge class of outdoor pursuits, either on land, in the air and in the water, this gives the fortune for all sorts of outdoor adventures in some of the just about outstanding and resplendent locations in Scotland. Lochaber has some of the highest mountains in the country and this draws both visitors and locals into the hills in all seasons to climb or walk.Lochaber also draws many mountain bikers from the unify Kingdom and around the world to compete in the Mountain cycle World Cup (UK round) or just to ride on the numerous trails Lochaber has to offer, many of which cater for all abilities.The Nevis range and Gle ncoe both submit move centres providing excellent off piste skiing, the ski centres usually open between Christmas and April depending on snow conditions. There are a lot much pass sports in Lochaber besides cut downhill skiing, ski mountaineering is normal with visitors and locals, then(prenominal) theres snowboarding which is becoming very usual.Water sports are also very popular in Lochaber with a good community of local paddlers, most popular is river canoeing in many of the fast flowing rivers, sea kayaking in Loch Linnie is also very popular. Another popular form of canoeing is open canoeing or Canadian canoeing in slow moving rivers and fresh water lochs.The Highlands of Scotland are exceptional for country pursuit destinations that offer visitors outstanding sporting experiences amongst immobilise dramatic landscapes. Lochaber is no exception, Highland Shooting Estates and open countryside offer a wide variety of country sports such as fishing and deer stalking, t ho this can come into conflict with wildlife conservation groups and if not managed properly yard problems with other outdoor activities such as birdwatching and hill walking.In the thirty-something skiing was established by keen local skiers, it then died down during WW2 and post war years. In 1968 the economic potential of outdoor waste activities was recognized and in 1974 a preparation report was produced and sponsored by the Scotch Tourist Board with the great prospect of winter sports resorts being positive in Scotland. Fort William and several other areas in Scotland eventually real these localizes into all year round outdoor tourist destinations.During the construction arrange of these sites much consideration was made to avoid any environmental impact, planning constraints and controls were put in place to protect the environment. Buildings were designed to be camo within the vegetation, no heavy machinery was used in the construction of the site so helicopters wer e used to transport materials for low impact on the flimsy environment during development. History of Nevis throw up. Retrieved 10 March 2017 from http//www.nevisrange.co.uk/history.aspSkiing facilities are used around throughout the year, infrastructure, such as the gondola at Aonach Mor which carries more summer visitors than skiers, the chairlifts and the ski centres cause a visual impact within the mountain scenery, but they also enable easy access to the princely panoramic views. However, such facilities create pressures on the vulnerable mountain landscape, because of this the chairlifts at Aonach Mor are closed during the summer to reduce impact to the sensitive hilltop vegetation and to allow recovery time.The establishment of such ski resorts disregarding of how much consideration is given to the environment will eventually have negative impact. Scottish mountain habitats are already panicened from a wide spectrum of threats and disturbances and ski resorts is one of them. It is well known certain activities can cause problems with wildlife by harming their habitat, damaging vegetation and compacting soils. Ptarmigan are already declining referable to several decades of too much serviceman interference, collisions with lift cables and losing their nests to non-mountain wildlife predators such as sea gulls, crows and even rats which have moved into the area due to human activity attracting them.The combined effects of conifer plantations, windfarms, mountain bike trails, smut roads and isolated buildings to cater for outdoor recreation may reduce the potential to experience natural landscapes which seem untouched by man, this is the biggest threat to the Lochaber area, yet such remote areas are priceless escapes into beautiful mountainous places. The conservation and management of semi-natural habitats, such as heather moorland, ancient woodland, spine dunes, bogs and marshes is vitally important to maintain and enhance natural biodiversity, however this is peaked(predicate) managed in places. Such habitats also make an important visual part to the landscape, but because their economic value cannot always be perceived, they are on a lower floor constant pressure from all aspects of landscape change from man.Over the last 30 years there has been a significant increase in hill walking and climbing in Lochaber, necessitating improved footpaths and other facilities for walkers, where these are not provided considerable erosion has occurred, such as in Glen Coe. This presents problems peculiarly at popular routes and large numbers of people can force a visual impact in their own right. These problems are most marked at Ben Nevis, which is subject to wear and tear from thousands of walkers, tourists and climbers throughout much of the year. However, erosion has also occurred along the stalkers paths in the Mamore Forest, in the hills around Glen Coe and in Knoydart.The use of mountain bikes has increased in recent years and this activity without proper control, may have significant adverse impacts on the landscape. The volume of cyclists keep to forest tracks which are promoted and managed for this purpose and this limits damage to particular routes, for example, along the West Highland Way which is very popular with cyclists. However, other paths, peculiarly hill tracks, are also used both by cyclists and by trial bikers, this already presents problems of footpath erosion and this pressure seems likely to increase.With some everyone owning a car these days, better public transport services, the ever increment population in Scotland and the rest of the UK, large car parks at the start of many mountain walks, mountain biking routes the erosion problems on our stunning mountain landscape is only going to get worst in the coming years.Conclusion Lochaber is unique place with its geological features and natural almost untouched habitats, however with the increase of outdoor adventure activities in creasing there has to be real safeguarding management in place to protect the natural environment we hold so dear.References Forestry Commission Scotland online ready(prenominal) at http//scotland.forestry.gov.uk/images/ incarnate/pdf/nevis-forest-and-mountain-resort-masterplan.pdf Accessed March 11 2017John Muir Trust online Available at https//www.johnmuirtrust.org/trust-land/ben-nevis Accessed March 9 2017Lochaber Geo Park online Available at http//lochabergeopark.org.uk/ Accessed March 8 2017Nevis Range online Available at http//www.nevisrange.co.uk/ Accessed March 10 2017Outdoor Capital online Available at http//www.outdoorcapital.co.uk/ Accessed March 11 2017