Site of the Month: Drumadoon, Arran (March 2024)

This stretch of coast is partly designated a SSSI for its awe-inspiring geological features. This includes 60 million-year-old volcanic rocks and glass including the iconic Judd’s Dykes. The rocks between King’s Cave and Drumadoon date from the Triassic period circa 240 million years ago and are of significant paleogeographic importance for their trace fossils.

These rocky formations provide an important habitat for breeding birds including Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis and Shag Gulosus aristotelis and the rocky rubble is an important feeding area for Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula and wintering Turnstone Arenaria interpres. In winter the open water is a good place to look for Eider Somateria mollissima and Great Northern Diver Gavia immer.

Harbour Seals Phoca vitulina can often be seen hauled out on the rocks and Otter Lutra lutra are frequently seen. This is a good site for watching Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus on migration in the Autumn. The rocky cliffs are wonderfully adorned with a diverse array of lichens and maritime plants, including Sea Ivory Ramalina siliquosa and Thrift Armeria maritima.

Malcolm Haddow

SWSEIC Support Officer