Cawdor Wood

Also within

Nairn County

Condition (NatureScot)

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Sandstone, Schist

Landscape processes: Glacial

Description

CAWDOR WOOD Cawdor Wood is located 7km southwest of Nairn and is considered to be one of the finest broadleaf woodlands in northeast Scotland. It is outstanding for its relatively large area of ancient oakwood and for its lichen flora. The area has been modified by glacial action and deposition and the resulting undulating ground has developed deep, brown forest soils which vary in the amounts of sands, gravels and humus present. Tributaries of the Cawdor Burn have cut deep gorges through rocks of the Moine schist and middle Old Red Sandstone. The wood ranges in elevation from 60m to 175m above sea level. Woodland Records show that the site has a long history as woodland, probably dating back to the time before the major forest clearances in Scotland. It is likely that the site originally consisted mainly of sessile oak Quercus petraea. Both pedunculate oak Quercus robur and sessile oak have been planted in the site. Woodland of ash Fraxinus excelsior and wych elm Ulmus glabra has developed in the gorges, whilst elsewhere within the wood there are stands of oak and Scots pine Pinus sylvestris, and oak and beech Fagus sylvatica. Lichens Cawdor Wood is one of only a few ancient woods remaining in Britain which has a relatively dry continental climate and which are located in areas where there is no significant air pollution. The wood is of international importance for lichens with over 244 species recorded including 6 nationally rare and 28 nationally scarce species. The oak woodland contains high populations of many noteworthy species especially those associated with dry bark conditions. Of these species, three (Buellia violaceofusca, Lecanactis amylacea and Schismatomma graphidioides) are particularly well represented here. The two gorges contain Lobarion and Graphidion communities which are very local in eastern Scotland.

Species mentioned

Insects to look out for

These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.

Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.