Looking down when walking in the hills is always worthwhile (mainly to stop you falling off stuff); it gives you a real chance of spotting some of the fascinating plants and animals that lurk among the ubiquitous rock, grass and heather. It breaks up the tedium of endless hours walking on days of zero visibility too. Summer is the best time to go exploring as there’s more to see. And the rain’s usually warmer. Here’s a collection of photos, in no particular order, of some of the common (and not so common) plant and animal life that I’ve found in the hills. This page will be continually updated with new specimens as I find them. Click a pic for more information.
Meadow pipit nest, Cwm Bochlwyd
Cloudberry, Cairngorms
Parsley fern, Carneddau
English stonecrop, Cwm Trwsgl
Lady’s bedstraw, Schiehallion
Starry saxifrage, Scafell
Meadow pipit, Cwm Bochlwyd
Tamarisk moss, Cwm Idwal
Wild thyme, Cwm Idwal
Maidenhair spleenwort, Cnicht
Alpine lady’s mantle, Schiehallion
Spearwort, Great Gable
Golden saxifrage (opposite leaved), Carmarthen Fan
Dotterel, Foel Fras
Reindeer moss, Arenig Fawr
Yellow mountain saxifrage, Scafell Pike
Heath bedstraw, Tryfan
Common dog violet, Carneddau
Wood sorrel, Brown Clee
Stags horn club moss, Cnicht
Matchstick lichen, Nanmor
Star moss, Pen yr Helgi Du
Common toad, Cadair Berwyn
Grass of Parnassus, Crimpiau
Eyebright, Rannoch Moor
Devil’s bit scabious, Rannoch Moor
Bog asphodel, Rannoch Moor
Wood sorrel, Cwm Idwal
Marsh violet, Plynlimon
Goldenrod, Cairngorms
Mountain sorrel, Cwm Idwal
Crowberry, Great Gable
Racomitrium heath, Cairngorms
Alpine lady’s mantle, Cairngorms
Dwarf willow, Cairngorms
Heath speedwell, Cwm Bochlwyd
Pixie cup lichen, Pumlumon
Navelwort / Wall pennywort, Dartmoor
Fir clubmoss, Langdale Pikes
Heath spotted orchid, Cairngorms
Mossy saxifrage, Cwm Idwal
Mossy saxifrage, Cwm Idwal
Striped twin-spot carpet moth, Cwm Bochlwyd
Ptarmigan, Tarmachan ridge
Juniper, Great Gable
Roseroot, Cwm Idwal
Bog oil, Tarmachan ridge
Ling / common heather, Rannoch Moor
Lady’s Mantle, Cwm Idwal
European black slug, Ben Lawers
Common polypody, Schiehallion
Lousewort, Dartmoor
Starry saxifrage, Glyder Fawr
Woolly hair moss, Moel Siabod
Lady’s mantle, Schiehallion
Common hawker, Rannoch Moor
Goats, Cwm Tryfan
Wild thyme, Cwm Bochlwyd
Violet ground beetle, Ben Lawers
Roe deer, Loch Rannoch
Autumn gentian, Ben Lawers
Tormentil, Carneddau
Yellow mountain saxifrage, Tarmachan ridge
Welsh poppy, Cwm Idwal
Butterwort, Cwm Bochlwyd
Common frog, Angle Tarn, Bowfell
Fox moth caterpillar, Skiddaw
Map lichen, Moelwyns
Heath bedstraw, Craig Cwm Silyn
Alpine club moss, Pumlumon
Round-leaved sundew – Sty Head
Bog myrtle, Schiehallion
Self heal, Cwm Idwal
Alpine lady’s mantle, Schiehallion
Crottle lichen, Langdale Pikes
Mossy saxifrage, Cwm Idwal
Crowberry, Schiehallion
Bog asphodel, Cwm Idwal
Harebell – Cwm Bochlwyd
Hare’s tail cotton grass, Pumlumon
White ling, Schiehallion
Eyebright, Rannoch Moor
Round leaved crowfoot, Rhinogs
Carneddau ponies, Foel Fras
Round-leaved sundew, Sty Head
Wild thyme, Cwm Bochlwyd
Goldenrod, Cwm Idwal
Dwarf willow, Cairngorms
Dwarf willow, Cairngorms
Bell heather, Ben Vrackie
Roseroot, Cwm Idwal
St John’s wort, Cwm Idwal
Golden saxifrage (opposite leaved), Cwm Idwal
Cross-leaved heath, Rannoch Moor
Harebell, Cairngorms
Dwarf cudweed, Cairngorms
Milkwort, Carneddau
Julian Cartwright 