The area is of special scientific interest because of its woodland flora and characteristic associated fauna. It extends for around 1km along both sides of the deeply incised Glenmore Valley, merging into scrub and acid grassland in the north side of the valley.
In addition, the site contains a number of physical features, notably a series of small waterfalls and a gorge along the river, and scattered boulder scree and rock faces along the slope which add to the overall diversity of the site.
The calcifugous woodland is mainly oak with downy birch with a hazel understorey. The groundcover is made up of greater wood - rush, wood sorrel, ferns and more locally, bramble, bilberry and bluebell associated.
The flushed woodland has an ash, alder and willow canopy and understorey and ground flora including wood anemone, opposite - leaved golden saxifrage, lesser celandine, creeping buttercup, bugle and ferns.
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