The Flow Country

The most intact and extensive blanket bog system in the world

Stretching across Caithness and Sutherland in the far north of Scotland this vast expanse of blanket bog comprises a complex set of interlinked pool systems and micro features that not only host an eye-catching flora and fauna but also play a vital role in our defence against the effects of climate change.

From above the land is a mottled pattern of peat and pools, their colours shifting like an opal. But look a little closer and you’ll find a world of amazing plants, rare birds, and a place to be inspired by peace and space.

Nature and Heritage

July 23, 2024

Ecosystem Services

The Flow Country is excellent habitat for wildlife, but this ecosystem is valuable for people too! Ecosystem services are the direct and indirect contributions ecosystems make for human wellbeing. The Flow Country provides several important services for people.

July 23, 2024

Peatlands and Climate Change

Peatlands have been historically undervalued. In the UK, 80% of peatlands have been degraded, often in attempts to drain them for agriculture and forestry. We now have a better understanding of peatlands and the vital role they play in the fight against climate change.

July 23, 2024

Plants

In the winter, the grey-brown hues of the Flow Country disguise the incredible range of plant life it is home to. In spring and summer this living landscape explodes in colour, with lots of fascinating plants to discover. By far the most significant plants in the Flow Country are the Sphagnum mosses, which are integral […]

July 18, 2024

Invertebrates

While the Flow Country may look flat, it is complex and diverse ecosystem. The array of different mosses and other plants, and the various bodies of water provide habitats for many different types of invertebrates. The best time to see invertebrates in the Flow Country is between June and August. The information here is far […]

Dùthaich nam boglaichean

Flow Country Projects

The first and only peatland World Heritage Site in the World

 

Find time to take in The Flow Country and discover an extraordinary world at your feet, a world that touches and shapes life in clever and surprising ways.