At Forsinard, the RSPB Visitor Centre offers interactive exhibits, wildlife information, and guidance on walking routes through this breath-taking landscape.

UNESCO World Heritage Site and Natural Carbon Store

As the world’s first peatland UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Flow Country plays a crucial role in global climate regulation by storing vast amounts of carbon, making it one of the most important ecosystems on the planet. More than twice the size of Orkney, this corner of Scotland contains over 400,000 hectares of blanket bog, making it the largest expanse of its kind in Europe.

This is a place of rare habitats developed over thousands of years. The deep layers of peat beneath the surface are a hugely important carbon store. Peat bogs are a critical defence against climate change, locking away carbon that would otherwise be released as carbon dioxide. Though they cover just three percent of the Earth’s surface, peatlands hold nearly 30% of the planet’s soil carbon.

Wildlife and Ecosystem

The Flow Country is a wild landscape of peat pools, spongy mosses, and expansive skies. Rich in biodiversity, it’s home to unique plant life and insects specially adapted to thrive in these remote, waterlogged conditions.
The most significant plants are the Sphagnum mosses, which are essential in creating the wet conditions that form peat.
Look out for Golden Plover, Dunlin, Greenshank, Hen Harrier, Skylark, and Meadow Pipits along the trails. Lizards lurk along the boardwalk’s edge, swallows often nest in the Flows Lookout Tower, and dragonflies dart around the pools. Frogs and aquatic insects hide beneath the surface, while insect-eating Sundew and Butterwort plants—tiny but mighty—trap flies with sticky leaves.
Rarer bird species, including Red-throated and Black-throated Divers and the Common Scoter, tend to live out in the remote pools and lochs at the heart of the Flow Country, making sightings unusual but rewarding.

Good to Know

• Getting Here: Forsinard is located on the A897 between Helmsdale and Melvich. It is accessible by car and has a stop on the Far North railway line, with services from Inverness and Thurso.
• Nearby Amenities: Facilities include the visitor centre, toilets, and picnic areas. Additional services such as shops and cafés are available in nearby villages like Helmsdale and Thurso.
• Accessibility: A well-maintained Dubh Lochan Trail boardwalk leads visitors out over the bog for a closer look at the landscape and wildlife. The trail is mostly flat and suitable for most walkers.
• Best Time to Visit: The Flow Country is beautiful year-round, with something new to discover each season. Spring and summer are ideal for spotting birdlife and blooming bog plants. The long daylight hours of summer provide excellent opportunities for wildlife watching and photography.
• Top Tip: Bring binoculars and a camera, this is a prime spot for birdwatching and capturing dramatic Highland skies reflected in the still peat pools. The viewing tower offers fantastic panoramic views over this incredible landscape.
• Bring Your Camera: The wide open skies, mirror-like pools, and rich textures of the peatland make the Flow Country a favourite location for landscape and wildlife photography.

Find full route details on WalkHighlands.