The Alpine Plants of Ben Lawers, Scotland

Long regarded by botanists as one of the foremost sites for alpine plants in Britain, and situated in the Breadalbane region of the central Scottish Highlands on the north side of Loch Tay, Ben Lawers, at 3,984ft (1214m), is the highest peak in the British Isles outside the Ben Nevis and Cairngorm ranges.

This 4-day break will give us the chance to explore the three principal locations of botanical interest in the area, with some quite strenuous mountain walking. On one day we will walk to the summit of Ben Lawers via the main track at 1,200ft, going through an area of boggy glacial drift. Here we should see a contrasting acid-based flora with Cotton Grass (Eriophorum angustifolium) and Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) along the way, but driven on by the prospect of potentially finding, among other gems, Snow Gentian (Gentiana nivalis), Net-leaved Willow (Salix reticulata) and Dropping Saxifrage (Saxifraga cernua) at one of its only two Scottish stations.

On another day we'll explore the eastern side of the mountain in order to discover and examine a number of Britain’s rarer sedges and ferns, as well as look for Scottish Asphodel (Tofieldia pusilla), Hair Sedge (Carex capillaris) and Alpine Saw-wort (Saussurea alpina). Lastly, we will spend half a day exploring the rocks of the Creag an Lochan, to the west of the loch by the road into Glen Lyon. Here it may be possible to find Purple Saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) in flower, Yellow Mountain Saxifrage (Saxifraga aizoides) and, if we are lucky, the diminutive Moonwort (Botrychium lunaria).

So, if you like the idea of a combination of botany, walking and spectacular scenery, why not join botanist Paul Harmes on this fantastic short Highland break.