Appendix 10A Northern Ireland Landscape Character Classification

Home , Branny, Clogher (barony), Glenmornan, Sperrins

A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices

APPENDIX 10A NORTHERN IRELAND LANDSCAPE CHARACTER CLASSIFICATION

The landscape of the majority of the Proposed Scheme corridor has been documented as part of the Landscape Character Classification for Northern Ireland (2000), produced on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

The area of classification relative to the Proposed Scheme corridor is illustrated in Volume 2 Fig 10.2, of which twelve sub-regional Landscape Character Areas (LCA’s) have been identified as being of direct relevance to the study area:

 Derry Slopes (No. 32);  Foyle Valley (No.27);  Burngibbagh & Drumahoe (No.31);  Sperrin Mountains (No.29);  Derg Valley (No.20);  Bessy Bell & Gortin (No.26);  Omagh Farmland (No.22);  Slievemore (No.44);  Brougher Mountain (No.16);  Dungannon Drumlins and Hill (No.45);  Clogher Valley Lowlands (No.17); and  Blackwater Valley (No.46) The relationship of these LCA’s with the various Landscape Character Zones (LCZ’s) and Sub- Zones (LCSZ’s) defined within the study area (see Appendix 10D) is shown in Table 10B -1. The key elements of each LCA are listed and summarised in Table 10B -2.

Table 10A -1 Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Character Zones

Local Landscape Related Landscape Classification of Landscape Character Sub Zones (LCSZ) Character Zone (LCZ) Northern Ireland LCA’s

1.1 New Buildings and Ballougry Hill 1.2 River Foyle Meander Foyle Valley (No 27) 1 Lower Foyle Valley 1.3 Burn Dennet & Glenmornan River Burngibbagh and Drumahoe (No 31) Valleys Derry Slopes (No. 32) 1.4 Foyle Floodplain 2 Gortmonly Hill 2.1 Gortmonly Hill Burngibbagh and Drumahoe (No 31) 3.1 Binnion and Black Hill 3.2 Cavan & Dromore Hills Foyle Valley (No 27) 3 Lifford Hills 3.3 Croaghan Hill Derg Valley (No 20) 3.4 Southern Lifford Hills 4.1 Knockavoe & Meenshesk Hill Slopes 4.2 Enclosed Mourne River Valley Foyle Valley (No 27) 4 Upper Foyle Valley 4.3 Newtownstewart Floodplain Sperrin Mountains (No 29) 4.4 Owenkillew Valley & Plateau Bogs Derg Valley (No 20) 5 Lower Derg Valley 5.1 Derg Valley Farmland Bessy Bell and Gortin (No 26) 6 Western Sperrins 6.1 Meenashesk Highland Bogs and Forest Sperrin Mountains (No 29) 7.1 Baronscourt Valley

7 Strule Valley & Bessy 7.2 Bessy Bell Bessy Bell and Gortin (No 26) Bell 7.3 Enclosed River Strule Valley 7.4 Sperrins Lower Slopes 8.1 Wooded River Strule Valley 8.2 Fairy Water Drumlins 8 Omagh Drumlin 8.3 Crockavanny Drumlins Omagh Farmland (No 22) Farmlands 8.4 South Omagh Drumlin Farmlands Brougher Mountain (No 16) 8.5 Eskragh Water & Routing Burn Drumlins 9.1 Slievelahan Farmlands 9.2 Crocknatummoge Hillform

9 Brougher & Slievemore 9.3 Garvaghy Valley Brougher Mountain (No 16) Ridgeline 9.4 Beltany & Tullanafoile Farmlands Slievemore (No 44) 9.5 Knockmany Ridgeline 9.6 Ballymackilroy Moraines 10.1 Clogher & Augher Drumlin Farmlands Clogher Valley Lowlands (No 17) 10 Clogher Valley 10.2 Ballygawley & Ballyreagh A4 Corridor Dungannon Drumlins and Hills (No 45) 11.1 Black Hill & Aughnacloy Drumlins Blackwater Valley (No 46) 11 Blackwater Valley 11.2 Blackwater Drumlins Dungannon Drumlins and Hills (No 45)

Local Landscape Related Landscape Classification of Landscape Character Sub Zones (LCSZ) Character Zone (LCZ) Northern Ireland LCA’s

11.3 Favour Royal Forest 12 Branny Hill 12.1 Branny Hill Dungannon Drumlins and Hills (No 45) U1 Strabane & Lifford U2 Sion Mills Urban Areas U3 Newtownstewart - U4 Omagh U5 Aughnacloy

Table 10A -2 Landscape Character Summary Information

LCA Boundary Typical Descriptors

Derry Slopes (No.32)  Smooth rounded hill tops with undulating lower slopes.  Steep slopes of River Foyle to east; broad, shallow vale of Upper Skeoge River leading to the Republic border to west  Broad geometric patchwork of fields disrupted by extensive built development  Bands of broadleaf woodland on the banks of the Foyle

Foyle Valley (No.27)  Broad, accessible valley on the western slopes of the Sperrin Hills  Deeply incised river channel and river terraces between Victoria Bridge and Newtownstewart  Sperrin Hills situated to the east with scenic, steep wooded tributary glens  Farmland has strong, geometric field pattern, which continues onto the slopes of the adjacent higher land  Roads follow terraces on outer edge of valley floor or on lower valley slopes.  Attractive stone bridges

Burngibbagh & Drumahoe (No.31)  Linear valley running along a NE-SW alignment.  Valley has a flat floor and is enclosed by broad, rounded ridges.  Hedgerows enclose pastures and form strong, geometric field patterns on the hill slopes, with small areas of open moorland capping some summits.  Pylons are an intrusive landscape element, particularly to the north.  Built development concentrated in centre of valley, near Drumahoe on the fringe of Londonderry.

LCA Boundary Typical Descriptors

Sperrin Mountains (No.29)  Broad, rounded ridges with rocky outcrops leading to steep, pointed summits.  Deep, branching gullies and open, fast-flowing moorland streams.  Extensive open moorland pasture and heather with bog/ areas of damp grassland across lower slopes.  Earthbanks and stone walls follow historic townland boundaries on lower slopes; some pastures are neglected and populated by scrub and rushes.  Mixture of winding moorland roads and straight tracks  Broadleaf woodland concentrated within lower valleys, some conifer woodland on mountain slopes. Isolated barns on upper slopes and farmsteads in valleys.

Derg Valley (No.20)  Pasture on gently rolling lower valley slopes and across river floodplain.  Meandering river, sometimes enclosed by levees.  Extensive patches of peaty marsh and scrubby fen woodland at confluences with minor streams.  Areas with small, poorly-drained fields are often juxtaposed against larger, rolling pastures; fields enclosed by both stone walls and hedgerows.  Straight, embanked roads and stone bridges on floodplain, winding, narrow lanes on lower valley slopes;  Farms and cottages scattered along roads; larger settlements concentrated at principal bridge crossings.

Bessy Bell & Gortin (No.26)  Scenic landscape on the western fringes of the Sperrin Hills; higher summit of Mullaghcarn to east and rounded moorland summit of Bessy Bell to west.  River Strule flows within an incised, wooded valley, with roads tracing river course alongside.  Diverse landscape pattern with a transition from steep, wooded river banks to farmland to open moorland within relatively short distances.  Hedgerows, becoming gappy, with wire fencing and stone walls across higher ground.  Relatively dense tree cover, with numerous hedgerow trees and small copses; landscape becomes more exposed on elevated slopes.  Scenic views from hill slopes and along valley.

LCA Boundary Typical Descriptors

Omagh Farmland (No.22)  Lowland drumlin landscape of deeply undulating terrain with rounded slopes.  Numerous small, winding streams, with peaty marsh on some floodplains and occasional small loughs.  Predominant small-scale field pattern, with fields forming an even, geometric patchwork over the drumlins but becoming irregular in shape on the flatter land in between; broader more open field pattern near Omagh.  Dense hedgerow margins and small deciduous woodlands; wire fencing often apparent.  Numerous farms, typically sited on drumlin slopes; many small villages and settlements, typically clustered

at road junctions.  Principal routes tend to be straight and deeply undulating, embanked in sections across marshy floodplains. Minor roads are tortuous.

Slievemore (No.44)  Broad, rounded sandstone ridges with a steep escarpment to the south-west.  Glacial moraines within deep glens and on lower hill slopes create an undulating, irregular landform, broken by rocky outcrops.  Extensive heather moorland and some conifer plantations on ridge tops.  Irregular patchwork of pasture, with pockets of peaty marsh and scrubby damp woodland in hollows.  Tree cover increases on lower slopes, with numerous hedgerow trees; high proportion of conifers on escarpment slopes.  A dense network of narrow lanes links scattered farms and villages with infrequent, straight roads across the ridgetop moorland.  Presence of sand and gravel quarries.

LCA Boundary Typical Descriptors

Dungannon Drumlins and Hill (No.45)  Landscape comprised of steep, rounded drumlins.  Drumlins are separated by pasture, marsh and gently rolling mixed farmland, with occasional loughs.  Diverse landscape pattern, with field sizes progressively smaller and more irregular on steep slopes.  Most fields enclosed by hedgerows with numerous hedgerow trees.  Small broadleaf woodlands and larger conifer plantations.  Farms and settlements sited in sheltered locations on lower drumlin slopes, often associated with avenues and parkland trees.  A dense network of narrow, winding lanes.

Blackwater Valley (No.46)  Flat marshy vale and floodplain of the River Blackwater, characterised by wet meadows, pasture and bog.  A secluded landscape enclosed by drumlins, extending isolated rounded hills across the floodplain.  Attractive historic designed landscapes, with woodland, lakes and grand houses; picturesque riverside settings.  Fields separated by bushy hedgerows and trees creating an enclosed wooded character.  Inaccessible, with few settlements; winding banked lanes give few views.  Rural, peaceful and unspoilt landscape.

Clogher Valley Lowlands (No.17)  Broad lowland corridor with small rounded hills and long ridge lines.  Well farmed countryside with distinctive estate landscapes. Extensive grassland production on progressive farms.  Relatively dense vegetation cover of hedgerows, woods and tree belts. Large, mature trees on estates, around farms and along roads are a feature.  Numerous winding rivers and streams, with meadows, mills, bridges and loughs.  Many traditional buildings and small county houses of character.

LCA Boundary Typical Descriptors  Concentration of raths and tree rings in valleys, crannogs in lakes and numerous listed buildings associated with estates.

Brougher Mountain (No.16)  Broad, rounded sandstone ridges dissected by short, steep glens; escarpment to the north; steep summits and rounded loughs to the south.  Varied patchwork of land uses on the hills, with bog, improved grassland and rough grazing, contrasting with improved agricultural fields.  Mix of small and medium sized farms, with land reclaimed from bog or moor. Stone walls or hedgerows separate fields.  Isolated patches and strips of coniferous trees on hill slopes; mixed planting around farm buildings; willow and birch scrub on cut over bogs and around loughs.  Megalithic sites on uplands and a concentration of raths at lower levels.