Editing Cape Wrath (section)

==Natural environment==
[[File:Beyond the lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 436771.jpg|thumb|right|Cliffs at Cape Wrath]]
[[File:Kearvaig Beach and Cathedral Rock - geograph.org.uk - 370008.jpg|thumb|right|Stack Clò Kearvaig and Kearvaig beach]]
Because its landscape is largely untouched by man, Cape Wrath has a wide diversity of wildlife, including [[red deer]], [[hooded crow]], [[European rock pipit|rock pipit]], [[golden eagle]], [[great cormorant|cormorant]] and [[northern gannet|gannet]].<ref name=scotsman8apr10 /> An area of {{convert|1019.2|ha|acre|frac=8}} is designated as a [[Special Protection Area]] (SPA) and a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI).<ref name=spades>[http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1860 Cape Wrath], SPA designation, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 2013-02-06.</ref> The cliffs around the cape are an internationally important nesting site for over 50000 seabirds, including colonies of puffin ''[[Fratercula arctica]]'', razorbill ''[[Alca torda]]'', guillemot ''[[Uria aalge]]'', kittiwake ''[[Rissa tridactyla]]'' and fulmar ''[[Fulmarus glacialis]]''.<ref name=spades /><ref name=spacite>[http://www.snh.org.uk/about/directives/CapeB433685.pdf Cape Wrath] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213519/http://www.snh.org.uk/about/directives/CapeB433685.pdf# |date=2016-03-03 }}, Citation for Special Protection Area, Scottish Natural Heritage, September 2009. Retrieved 2013-02-06.</ref> The SPA extends {{convert|2|km|mi|frac=4|abbr=on}} out to sea and includes the sea bed and marine environment which is a source of food for the bird population of the area.<ref name=spades /><ref name=spacite />

Numbers of seabirds in the area saw significant declines in the early 21st century with puffin numbers falling by 50%.<ref name=sanctuary09>'Ringing in the century', [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/33353/Sanctuary_38.pdf ''Sanctuary'' no.38], 2009, pp.20–23, Ministry of Defence (available online). Retrieved 2013-02-06.</ref> An area of {{convert|1015.2|ha|acre|frac=8}} is also designated as a [[Special Area of Conservation]].<ref name=sac>[http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/protectedsites/sacselection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0030108 Cape Wrath], Site details, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 2013-02-06.</ref> Marine species present in the area include [[harbour porpoise]], [[common seal]] and [[bottle-nosed dolphin]] as well as species such as [[sea squirt]]s and [[sponges]].<ref name=jncc3>[http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/PDF/pubs_csuk_region03.pdf Coasts and seas of the United Kingdom, Region 3 North-east Scotland: Cape Wrath to St. Cyrus], Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 2006. Retrieved 2013-02-06.</ref>

The cliff-top vegetation at sites such as Clò Mòr includes common scurvygrass ''[[Cochlearia officinalis]]'' and a wide range of habitats are present. These include cliff-top sand dunes at the cape itself as well as [[montane]] habitats found at sea level.<ref name=scotsman8apr10 /><ref name=sac />

An area of {{convert|123|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} around the coastline is designated as a [[Special Landscape Area]].<ref name=sla>[http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/75BE9453-1C1D-4076-BCFE-D7A3BEADCB9E/0/AHSLA.pdf Assessment of Highland Special Landscape Areas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429080049/http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/75BE9453-1C1D-4076-BCFE-D7A3BEADCB9E/0/AHSLA.pdf |date=2014-04-29 }}, The Highland Council, June 2011. Retrieved 2013-02-05.</ref> This area extends from [[Oldshoremore]] in the south-west to [[Durness]] in the east and includes the entire coastline of the cape area.<ref name=sla /> Just offshore is Stac Clò Kearvaig, also known as "The Cathedral" due to the appearance of two spires and a natural window created by erosion. To the east lies Garvie Island (An Garbh-eilean), one of the main targets for live firing by the military.

Inland the landscape is primarily covered in peat and is often boggy with difficult terrain and a number of [[lochan]]s, the largest of which, Loch Airigh na Beinne, is around {{convert|0.6|km2|sqmi|frac=4}} in area.<ref name=scotsman8apr10 /> The area has been described as one of the few coastal wildernesses in Britain.<ref name=sla /> Plant species include heather ''[[Calluna vulgaris]]'', juniper ''[[Juniperus communis]]'' and ferns.<ref name=spades />