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TA 7.3 SNH Baseline Landscape Character EUCHANHEAD RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT Technical Appendix 7.3: SNH Baseline Landscape Character 10/2020 www.stephenson-halliday.com A. Technical Appendix 7.3: Baseline Landscape Caracter A.1 SNH Landscape Character Assessment (2019) A.1.1 SNH recently republished their National Programme of Landscape Character Assessments as a digital map based LCA in 2019. This data was reviewed to take account of intervening technical improvements in website mapping to produce a revised national suite of landscape character type at 1:50,000 scale. This information was created in collaboration and consultation with FLS and HES as well as all local authorities. This also included a more consistent baseline description across Scotland. As this is an online document, the following is an extract of the landscape character citations for each character area assessed. A.1.2 Compiled within this document are the following SNH Landscape Chatacter Type Baseline documents: • LCT 073 - Upland Glen - Ayrshire (2019) • LCT 081 - Southern Uplands - Ayrshire (2019) • LCT 160 - Narrow Wooded Valley - Dumfries & Galloway (2019) • LCT 165 - Upper Dale - Dumfries & Galloway (2019) • LCT 166 - Upland Glens - Dumfries & Galloway (2019) • LCT 175 - Foothills - Dumfries & Galloway (2019) • LCT 177 - Southern Uplands - Dumfries & Galloway (2019) • LCT 178 - Southern Uplands with Forest - Dumfries and Galloway (2019) Technical Appendix 7.3: Baseline Landscape Caracter 1 SNH National Landscape Character Assessment Landscape Character Type 73 UPLAND GLEN - AYRSHIRE Location and Context The Upland Glen- Ayrshire Landscape Character Type occurs in three places in Ayrshire, focused to the far south and east; the valley of the Afton Water, immediately to the south of New Cumnock, and Glen Tig and Glen App, draining to the Ayrshire coast, close to the boundary with Dumfries and Galloway. Key Characteristics Distinctive profile comprising steep, often craggy valley slopes, and a rounded valley floor, containing a comparatively small 'misfit' river. Complex and prominent ridgelines along tops of steep valley sides. Pasture on the valley floors and lower valley slopes giving way rapidly to rough grassland and heather moorland on higher ground. Broadleaf woodland is scarce but small to medium scale coniferous forests are found on the valley slopes. Small scale landscape with some areas of remote and wild character. Views contained by the steep valley sides Landscape Character Description Landform The distinctive landscapes of the Upland Glen- Ayrshire Landscape Character Type have been created where glacial erosion has enlarged river valleys draining the Southern Uplands. The solid geology of the glens is similar to the enclosing Southern Uplands, comprising sedimentary greywackes and shales of the Ordovician period. The process of glacial erosion has created a dramatic, distinctive valley profile comprising steep, often craggy valley slopes, and a rounded valley floor, containing a comparatively small 'misfit' river. Fast flowing rivers cut into morainic deposits left by retreating ice sheets on the valley floor. Landcover Landcover is diverse. Valley floors, together with some of the shallower and lower valley 1 SNH National Landscape Character Assessment LCT 73 UPLAND GLEN - AYRSHIRE slopes, comprise improved pastures, enclosed within drystone dykes constructed from glacially rounded boulders. The pastures give way rapidly to rough grassland and heather moorland on slopes above the valley floor. Broadleaf woodland is scarce, usually comprising lines of riparian trees tracing the course of the river, a few field boundary trees and small farm woodlands. Small to medium scale coniferous forests are found on the valley slopes. However, Glen Tig is characterised by belts of semi-natural, broadleaf woodland along its lower slopes. There are more extensive mixed policy woodland and coniferous plantings, interspersed with semi-improved pastures and heather-flecked grass moorland on steep upper slopes Settlement Modern settlement is limited, mainly confined to a scatter of stone farmsteads, many of which are on historic sites. Most roads are minor. The valley of the Afton Water contains the Afton Reservoir and associated water treatment facilities. Perception The narrowness of these glens creates small-scale, intimate landscapes with a largely undeveloped, remote character. Glen Tig is particularly remote in character, accessible only on foot, although it can be seen from nearby minor roads. While retaining a 'wild' upland character, it is also quite intimate in scale. Views are contained by the steep valley side which rise to form complex and prominent ridgelines. Views from roads tend to focus on the heads of the glens. A number of well-defined hills on the edges of the glens form landmark features and are especially dramatic where the glens are contained by the high ground of the Southern Uplands Landscape Character Type. This is one of 389 Landscape Character Types identified at a scale of 1:50 000 as part of a national programme of Landscape Character Assessment republished in 2019. The area covered by this Landscape Character Type was originally included in the Ayrshire (Land Use Consultants), published 1998. 2 SNH National Landscape Character Assessment LCT 73 UPLAND GLEN - AYRSHIRE SNH National Landscape Character Assessment Landscape Character Type 81 SOUTHERN UPLANDS - AYRSHIRE Location and Context The Southern Uplands - Ayrshire Landscape Character Type are focused on the mainland to the far south of Ayrshire, along the boundary with and extending into Dumfries and Galloway south-east of Glen App, south of New Cumnock and south of South Balloch. Key Characteristics Steep, smooth slopes rising to rounded summits. Series of distinctive valleys cut into the uplands created by glacial erosion, with U- shaped cross sections, precipitous side slopes, hanging valleys, waterfalls, crags and screes. Relatively simple landcover. Heather-flecked grassland on summits. Scarce semi-natural woodland is, limited to a few more sheltered glens, gullies and clefts. Occasional forested areas and shelterbelts on lower side slopes leaving the domed peaks exposed. Absence of modern settlement in these exposed uplands, it being concentrated in river valleys and the larger glens. Expansive, remote and largely untamed landscape, most parts of the uplands are accessible on foot only. Long distance and panoramic views encompass the settled Ayrshire lowlands to the north and west and remote Galloway Hills to the south and east. Landscape Character Description Landform Immediately south of the Southern Upland Fault lie a number of bold upland areas which have a character very different to the lower moorlands and hills to the north and west. This is derived from the hills' height (up to 575 metres), their geology (Ordovician rocks, predominantly more resistant greywackes) and the influence of glacial erosion. 1 SNH National Landscape Character Assessment LCT 81 SOUTHERN UPLANDS - AYRSHIRE The hills are characterised by steep, smooth slopes rising to rounded summits. Cut into the uplands are a series of distinctive glacial valleys, with u-shaped cross sections, precipitous side slopes, hanging valleys, waterfalls, crags and screes. The combination of these features, and the contrast with lower moorlands and the lowlands to the north, gives an impression of uplands which are more extensive, remote and higher than is actually the case. Landcover Many areas are little modified. Landcover in the Southern Uplands - Ayrshire is typically coarse grassland, though the highest areas often comprise heather moorland. Areas of rough grazing generally lack walled enclosures. Semi-natural woodland is scarce, limited to a few more sheltered glens, gullies and clefts. There are also occasional areas of conifer forest, particularly around the fringes of the higher hills leaving the domed peaks exposed. The coniferous forest is predominantly Sitka spruce, the main variations being in mixes with larch which provides colour contrasts between the dark green of spruce and the light greens to browns of larch. The rotational nature of forest management provides long term textural and colour changes related to the felling and replanting coupes. Settlement Modern settlement is absent from these exposed uplands, being concentrated in river valleys and the larger glens. It is likely that settlement was more extensive during milder periods in the past, and some evidence of prehistoric settlement survives across the areas. The hills do, however, form the backdrop to nearby settlements such as Dalmellington. Wind farms have altered the character of the landscape from the Southern Uplands to the east of Ayrshire, south-west of New Cumnock, and to the far south of Ayrshire, to the west of the Duisk Valley. Most parts of the uplands are accessible on foot only, though a minor road climbs up to the Nick of Balloch providing spectacular views and another runs along the valley of the Afton Water, south of New Cumnock. Perception This is an extensive, remote and largely untamed landscape. The Southern Uplands - Ayrshire often create landmark features when seen from adjacent hills and roads. The area south-east of New Cumnock is highly visible from settlement and roads within the Upland Basin - Ayrshire to the north, and peripheral hills form prominent hill summits when seen in views to the north-west. Views are long distance and panoramic and encompass the settled Ayrshire lowlands to the north and west. The area adjacent
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