Montane Vegetation
This land cover category covers all land where subalpine and alpine soils would be mapped - equivalent, in general terms, to land above the 'treeline'. A range of plant communities characterise this unit, from wind-clipped heather moorland at the low levels to true alpine communities on exposed summits. Areas with sparse vegetation are also present along with rock-strewn areas and patterned ground, associated with frost-heave processes, is often conspicuous.
Wind-blasted vegetation on Cairngorm plateau