Pettigoe Plateau SAC

Pettigoe Plateau lies between Beleek and Pettigoe to the north of the western tip of Lower Lough Erne in Co. Fermanagh. The Plateau, with its mosaic of lakes peatlands and forests extends across the border into Co. Donegal.

Within Northern Ireland Pettigoe Plateau occurs in a gently rolling landscape bearing much evidence of glaciation, with ridges, knolls and circular drumlins interspersed with flat plains and hollows, mostly below 150 m. A thin layer of boulder clay underlies the blanketing peat over most of the area. In contrast to the rolling terrain are the rocky peaks of Croagh and Mallybreen that rise above the surrounding land to more than 180 m. Topography is variable, although most slopes tend to be moderate or gentle and altitude does not vary a great deal.

The area of blanket bog has a wide range of the structural features associated with this habitat: including a large number of well-developed pool complexes, frequent acid flushes, basin mires, ladder fens and bog plains. The bog vegetation is characterised by luxuriant Sphagnum mosses, dwarf-shrubs with associated species demonstrating a strong oceanic influence. Amongst the lakes included in the designation, several are clean soft-water types supporting a well-developed isoetid component in their aquatic vegetation.