Craigellachie National Nature Reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Craigellachie National Nature Reserve |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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Lochan and woodland at Craigellachie
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 Craigellachie National Nature Reserve
Location in Badenoch and Strathspey
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| Location | Near Aviemore, Scotland |
| Area | 257 ha (640 acres) |
| Established | 1961 |
| Governing body | NatureScot |
| Craigellachie National Nature Reserve | |
Craigellachie is a beautiful hill located near the village of Aviemore in the Highlands of Scotland. Its name in Scottish Gaelic is Chreag Eileachaidh.
This special place became a National Nature Reserve (NNR) in 1961. It is looked after by NatureScot. The reserve covers about 257 hectares, which is like 635 football fields! It sits on the eastern slopes of the Monadhliath hills.
Craigellachie is famous for its large birch woodlands. It also has rocky areas, small lochs (lakes), and open heathland with blaeberry plants. Many different kinds of moths live here, making it a very important place for nature.
Long ago, Craigellachie was important to Clan Grant. They used it as a lookout spot and lit signal fires there to call their clan together. The hill even appears on the clan's crest, and their motto is "Stand fast Craig Elachie!".
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What Animals and Plants Live Here?
Amazing Trees and Plants
The birch woodland at Craigellachie is very old. It has been around since before the 1700s! Most of the birch trees are about 100 years old. They are mostly silver birch, but you can also find downy birch in wetter spots.
Other trees you might see include aspen, rowan, hazel, bird cherry, and even Scots pine and juniper.
The reserve has over 385 types of flowering plants! Some are quite rare, like the least waterlily and dwarf birch. Because of the birchwoods, there are also many types of fungi and lichens.
Incredible Insects
Craigellachie is a perfect home for many insects. It's especially known for its important moth species. There are 13 types of moths here that are part of the UK's plan to protect wildlife.
Two special moths are the Kentish glory and the Rannoch sprawler. Their caterpillars love to eat young birch trees. You might also spot butterflies like the Scotch argus, orange tip, and the pearl-bordered fritillary.
Birds and Mammals
Around 50 different kinds of birds live at Craigellachie. Some of these are also protected species, like the spotted flycatcher, song thrush, and bullfinch.
A pair of peregrine falcons nest on the rocky cliffs. You can sometimes see them through a special webcam at the Aviemore Youth Hostel visitor centre.
You might also see mammals like red and roe deer, tiny pipistrelle bats, and sometimes even a pine marten.
Visiting Craigellachie
About 8,500 people visit Craigellachie every year. You can get to the reserve from Aviemore through an underpass under the A9 road.
There are four marked walking trails for visitors. Three of them are circular routes, between 0.7 and 1.8 kilometers long. The fourth trail is longer, at 4.4 kilometers, and goes all the way up to the top of Craigellachie hill.
In 2007, a cool system called ‘Mobitour’ was tested here. Visitors could use their mobile phones to get information about different parts of the reserve. It was very popular and now covers all four trails!
Other Important Facts
Craigellachie National Nature Reserve is part of a larger area called the Craigellachie Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This SSSI covers 380 hectares.
The entire reserve is located inside the beautiful Cairngorms National Park. It is also recognized as a Category IV protected area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
