Ushat Head
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Maritime cliff | Favourable | — | 2010-02-05 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Ushat Head Ushat Head Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a low exposed headland, approximately 9km northwest of Thurso on the north coast of Caithness. It is of particular botanical importance for its maritime heath, which is a northern, species-rich type of heathland that is found only in Caithness, Sutherland and Orkney. There is a good representation of species-rich maritime heath communities in a mosaic with maritime grassland. Heathers and creeping willow Salix repens are the main dwarf shrubs. The rare Scottish primrose Primula scotica and small-fruited yellow sedge Carex viridula are found at Ushat Head SSSI. roseroot Sedum rosea and kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria are abundant, along with the maritime species, spring squill Scilla verna, sea campion Silene uniflora and sea plantain Plantago maritima.
Species mentioned
Show the 8 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lady's fingers (kidney vetch) | Anthyllis vulneraria | NT | herb | fabaceae |
| sea plantain | Plantago maritima | LC | herb | plantaginaceae |
| Scottish primrose | Primula scotica | NT | herb | primulaceae |
| spring squill | Scilla verna | LC | herb | liliaceae |
| golden root | Sedum rosea | Not listed in GB list | herb | crassulaceae |
| sea campion | Silene uniflora | LC | herb | carophyllaceae |
| green sedge | Carex viridula | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
| creeping willow | Salix repens | NT | tree shrub | salicaceae |
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.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Dark bordered beauty Epione vespertaria |
Endangered | Salix repens |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Salix spp. |
| The grey Hadena caesia |
Endangered | Silene uniflora |
| Glanville fritillary Melitaea cinxia |
Endangered | Plantago maritima |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Salix spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| Scarce chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Plantago spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| Garden dart Euxoa nigricans |
Vulnerable | Plantago spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Salix spp. |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Plantago spp. |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Small blue Cupido minimus |
Near Threatened | Anthyllis vulneraria |
| Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia |
Near Threatened | Salix repens |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Plantago spp., Salix repens |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
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.