Lochcarron, Scotland, United Kingdom

Loch Carron

Loch Carron is a sheltered sea loch on the western coast of the Scottish Highlands and is part of the Loch Carron Marine Protected Area, designated in 2017 to protect one of the United Kingdom's largest known beds of flame shells, the small but vividly orange-fringed bivalve Limaria hians, which build complex nest structures on the seabed. The MPA covers more than 50 square kilometres of the inner loch and the beds host extraordinary biodiversity. Diveable depths range from a few metres to 25 metres on a soft sediment seabed dotted with kelp-fringed rocky outcrops. Resident species include common skate, sea pens, brittle stars, common starfish, peacock worms, nudibranchs, squat lobsters, common octopus, sea scorpions, butterfish and ballan wrasse. Atlantic grey seals are seen near the entrance. Visibility ranges from 3 to 8 metres and water temperatures vary between 7 and 14 degrees Celsius. Currents are weak inside the loch. Carron is a year-round destination especially loved by photographers and biologists.