Nature & Heritage

Find inspiration in one of the wildest, least altered landscapes in the UK

“The Flow Country” is an area of deep peat, dotted with bog pools, that forms the heart of the Caithness and Sutherland peatlands. Covering about 200,000 hectares, it’s more than twice the size of Orkney. Altogether, this corner of Scotland holds more than 400,000 hectares of blanket bog, making it the largest expanse of this remarkable, wild habitat in Europe.

Blanket bog only forms in cool places with plenty of rain. The few plants that can grow here don’t rot away, but build up to form deep layers of peat. The Flow Country’s bogs have been growing for over 10,000 years, ever since the glaciers melted away at the end of the last Ice Age, and the peat is now up to 10 metres deep.

Cultural Heritage

The Flow Country is covered in archaeological sites, from prehistoric burial chambers to medieval forts

People looking over the Forsinard flows from lookout tower

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.

Moss

More water than solid matter, these primitive plants build the bog.

Peatland

Examples of the many and varied peatlands around the world, and the communities that study, conserve and inhabit them.

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.

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 […]

Restoration

Bogs had a tough time in the recent past. Now they’re making a comeback.