Kennacraig and Esragan Burn

Also within

Argyll and Bute County 09. Loch Etive mountains Wild Land Area

Condition (NatureScot)

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine

Landscape processes: Coastal, Fluvial

Description

KENNACRAIG AND ESRAGAN BURN Kennacraig and Esragan Burn Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is situated near Bonawe, approximately 8 km east of Connel on the west coast of Scotland. The boundary of the SSSI encompasses two separate woodlands which lie on a moderately steep slope above the northern shore of Loch Etive, and along the steep sided gorge of the River Esragan. These woodlands have remained relatively undisturbed and together represent some of the oldest woodland in the Lorn district. Within the two woodland compartments oak and birch are the dominant canopy species with mature, even aged sessile oak occurring on the lower slopes and downy birch dominating the upper woodland margins. Along the river valleys mature ash and alder also occur in the canopy with rowan, hazel and holly present in the shrub layer. The ground flora is typically mossy with scattered tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, wavy hair grass Deschampsia flexuosa, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, common tormentil Potentilla erecta and great woodrush Luzula sylvatica. However along streams and in flushes the ground flora is richer with meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, valerian Valeriana officinalis, primrose Primula vulgaris, bugle Ajuga reptans, yellow pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and woodruff Galium odoratum growing in these localities. The SSSI also supports rich assemblages of oceanic mosses, liverworts and lichens. Most of Kennacraig and Esragan Burn SSSI is part of the Loch Etive Woods Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which is designated for the European habitats and species listed below. Habitats: Alder woodland on floodplains Mixed woodland on base-rich soils associated with rocky slopes Western acidic oak woodland Otter (Lutra lutra)

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.

Plant communities