Dornoch Firth National Scenic Area

Dornoch Firth National Scenic Area is a natural haven on the east shore of Highland, Scotland. It makes part of the border between Sutherland and Ross and Cromarty. The firth is designated a Special Protection Area for wildlife conservation goals, conjunctively with Loch Fleet. Supplementary, alongside Morrich More, it owns the label of Special Area of Conservation. On 16 August 1809 the firth was the background of the Meikle Ferry catastrophe, when an over-filled ferryboat sunk with 99 casualties as a result. In 1991, the Dornoch Firth Bridge was inaugurated offering a shorter trip on the A9 road between Inverness and Thurso. 
The national scenic has a total area of 15,782 ha of which 4,240 ha is the marine area of the firth below low tide. It hosts significant populations of bird species: osprey, bar-tailed goose, wigeon, curlew, dunlin, godwit and greylag. The SAC protects habitats such as salt meadows, coastal dune heathland and grassland, and is of importance for otters and harbour seals.