Spectacular Torridon declared Scotland’s newest National Nature Reserve - NatureScot

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

NatureScot has approved an application by the National Trust for Scotland for Torridon in Wester Ross to be granted NNR status, 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.

The vast 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 iconic upland birds such as ptarmigan and golden eagle.

Together with NatureScot’s neighbouring Beinn Eighe NNR, Torridon is one of the most scenic and 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.

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. “