APPENDIX 4.6 - ROSELAND LOCAL LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ASSESSMENT TABLE- CLIFFS

CHARACTER AREA : Cliffs

Character Parish - Philleigh Parish - Gerrans Parish – Parish – St Just Parish – Veryan Roseland plan Attribute Ruanlanihorne - none - none Topography Moderate scale quite steep, but  Unstable crumbling cliff onto Small scale, steep cliffs through to massive and drainage relatively low cliffs are to be Small scale steep cliff. predominantly sandy long, imposing cliffs at Nare Head, Even moderate found for a very sort distance at wide beach (at low tide), scale cliffs can be quite steep. the eastern edge of the Parish. with signs of raised beach Unstable crumbling cliffs in many places,  Extreme low tide and / or especially at Pendower. There is no water present on the reduced sand depth exposes Wide beaches (at low tide), some with signs cliffs. ancient petrified forest of raised beach; Porthbeor, Towan, Tatums, remains Porthcurnick, Porthbean, Pendower,  Some steep cliff faces Portholland. predominantly directly to Extreme low tide and /or reduced sand depth sea exposes ancient petrified forest remains at  Some isolated coves Pendower. unreachable from land Some isolated coves unreachable from land.  Offshore stacks and rocks Offshore stacks and rocks.  Streams in valleys run into Streams in valleys run into sea, also springs sea, also springs and land and land drainage run off from cliff faces. drainage run off from cliff faces

Data source OS Map; aerial photographs OS Map; aerial photographs Biodiversity The area is predominantly semi  Lightly developed strip Character Area is predominantly natural and natural and natural scrub habitat Yes behind beaches semi-natural grassland and scrub habitat. comprising bracken, bramble  Coastal edge supports Frequent bracken, bramble, gorse and and some stunted blackthorn Copse, scrub, tight bushes, variety of birds including: blackthorn. (photo 11) gorse, bramble, bracken, buzzards; peregrines; Coastal edge supports variety of birds blackthorn, bounded by choughs including: buzzards; peregrines; choughs. The scrub and undergrowth hedgerow along cliff top.  Some Hottentot Fig, Some Hottentot Fig, Japanese Knotweed Japanese Knotweed (generally kept under control) & None noted No. (generally kept under Rhododendron (generally in gardens). control) & Rhododendron Hedgerow with stunted shrubs (rarely trees) (generally in gardens) at boundary of character area with adjacent farmland both arable and grazing. Data source CWT Wildlife notes, and local Environmental Mapping CWT Wildlife notes, and Environmental Mapping knowledge (Appendix 5 - local knowledge (Appendix 5 - Biodiversity and Biodiversity and Geodiversity) Geodiversity) Land cover The land is not used.  Leisure (beach activities, Land is not used other than for conservation and Land Use Only footpath. walking, horse riding, water and leisure activities; principally Southwest Pasture adjacent to cliff. sports, birdwatching, Coast Path. photography, art) Leisure (beach activities, walking, horse  Conservation riding, water sports, birdwatching, Scrub vegetation with some  Dunes with bracken, photography, art). stunted trees. Some trees, bushes, scrub, heather and grass Landcover is grassland, dense undergrowth dense undergrowth.  Windswept hawthorn on cliff with scrub and some groups of stunted trees. faces and tops Windswept thorn on cliff faces and tops.  Coastal gorse, thrift and tussocks

Data source OS Map; aerial photographs, Environmental Mapping OS Map; aerial Environmental Mapping local knowledge (Appendix 5 – photographs, local (Appendix 5 – agricultural land agricultural land knowledge classification) classification) Field and There is no woodland on the  Some gorse, hawthorn and There are no fields and only remnant woodland cliff. There are some distinctive Up steep sides of cliff. isolated sculpted trees at boundary hedges of earth and grass, individual Monterey (and other) top of cliffs frequently eroded and in poor condition. pattern pines low down on the cliff Native trees. Also some  Low lying windswept bushes There are no woodlands, but considerable shaped by the prevailing planted Monterey pines, of ancient native scrub areas of low, windswept ancient native scrub, weather. possibly from a previous  Cornish hedges covered plus occasional stunted tree groups through garden. with earth and grass (well which the Coastal Path passes. eroded and in poor Distinctive individual Monterey Pines shaped There are no fields. n/a condition) by prevailing winds.

There are no hedges. Blackthorn, gorse, bramble. Managed to preserve footpath.

Sculpted by exposure in many places. Absence of trees in hedges. Buffer of vegetation. Undergrowth of nettles, ivy, wild flowers. Hedges unfenced except for recent fencing around Curgurrell Farm. Data source OS Map; aerial photographs, Environmental Mapping OS Map; aerial Environmental Mapping CWT Wildlife notes, and visit the (Appendix 5 – Trees and photographs, CWT (Appendix 5 – Trees and area to confirm details Woodland) Wildlife notes, and visit Woodland) the area to confirm details Settlement There are scattered properties  A few clusters adjacent to Portscatho and Portloe are sited within this pattern outside the Parish on the hillside No buildings apart from coastal edge character area. The former has dwellings to above the Melinsey Valley coastguard look-out and  Holiday lets, rural dwellings, the steep cliff edge, the latter, clusters within (Gwendra). There is an shack belonging to hotel. operational hotel, disused a steep valley which cuts down to the sea abandoned hotel at the base of hotel, public toilets with moderate to high cliffs on both sides. the cliff (the “pink hotel”). Two buildings of  Buildings of local stone and Elsewhere there are scattered properties insignificant relatively contemporary construction, adjacent to edge, and smaller elements such The core former hotel building is recent construction. slate roofs, traditional as the coastguard lookout at Porthcurnick. probably early to mid 20th multiple elevations More particularly there are hotel century with later (post war) developments at Rosevine (The Driftwood), domestic buildings, all of which at Pendower / Carne (The Pendower Beach are rendered with slate roofing {abandoned}) / (The Nare). (photo 9). Part of the property Lookout made of breeze is used as a seasonal café. blocks. Hotel shack partly timbered. Well screened. Data source OS Map; aerial photographs, Environmental Mapping OS Map; aerial Environmental Mapping Historic Environment (Appendix 5 – Principle photographs, Historic (Appendix 5 – Principle information, and visit the area Settlements) Environment Settlements) to confirm details information, and visit the area to confirm details Transport The cliff area is approached by a  Minor roads, single track, Minor roads, single track, very narrow, steep pattern single track moderately steep No roads very narrow, steep & & winding (including hair-pin bends). There access road (cul de sac) ending winding (including hair-pin are few verges, no pavements and no street- in a well used car park. There bends) lighting. are no verges or pavements nor  South West Coast path with Parking available at Porthbeor and any street lighting. occasional direct access Porthcurnick (roadside), Pendower, Carne Footpath well used and in paths to road and difficult and Portholland (parking areas); Carne has There has been subsidence good condition apart from access to coves toilet facilities. along the edge of the car park recent storm damage.  Paths well maintained by South West Coast path with occasional direct (photo 8) and along the former National Trust access paths to road and difficult access to access to the hotel, both  Traditional footpath signage coves. historically and as a result of the Paths well maintained by National Trust storms in early 2014. Parts of Traditional footpath signage comprehensively the road surface have also provided deteriorated with some potholing.

There is a well used public footpath which climbs the cliff to fields above. There are some steps and in places the undergrowth is encroaching. The signage is in good condition and the stile at the top of the cliff is relatively new (photo 12). The South West coast path follows the base of the cliff and again is signed. Data source OS Map; aerial photographs Environmental Mapping OS Map; aerial Environmental Mapping local knowledge and visit the (Appendix 5 – Access photographs local (Appendix 5 – Access and area to confirm details and Rights of Way) knowledge and visit the Rights of Way) area to confirm details Historic There is an old lime kiln below  Disused lime kilns Disused lime kilns. Features the cliff at the beach edge Iron age burial mound  Slipways Slipways. (photos 13 and 14). visible as significant  WW2 pill box on Pendower WW2 pill box on Pendower beach, now landmark on coast path, beach, now collapsed (OS collapsed. particularly looking east to map ref: SW 8973 3819) Historic fishermen’s bothy, Mallet’s Cottage. west. Monumental given  Historic fishermen’s bothy, Petrified forest remains on Pendower beach. scale of surroundings and Mallet’s Cottage (OS map Old lookout hut at Portloe. prominent site, on ref: SW 9155 3765) Iconic rocks in sea. promontory above the sea.  Petrified forest remains on Whilst not within the character area the Pendower beach (OS map frequent views of Carne Beacon when walking ref: SW 8982 3811) west to east on the Coast Path is a landmark  Old lookout hut at Portloe historical feature. (OS map ref: SW 9397 3945)  Iconic rocks in sea Data source Use local knowledge, Historic Environmental Mapping Use local knowledge, Environmental Mapping Environment information; aerial (Appendix 5 – Heritage Historic Environment (Appendix 5 – Heritage photographs and visit the area Designations and information; aerial Designations and Historic to confirm details Historic Landscape photographs and visit Landscape Character Types) Character Types) the area to confirm details Condition The access road is seriously pot  Coastal erosion taking The natural progression of coastal erosion, holed in places and the “Pink Coastal erosion, numerous place, massive boulder which is evident in many places through Hotel” is in a sadly abandoned landslips and disturbed cladding to cliff base has landslips and disturbed vegetation, is a part condition. vegetation, particularly as been constructed below of the character. Incongruous massive a result of recent storms. Nare hotel boulder protection to cliff base has been Road repairs and bring the hotel  Recent winter storm constructed below the Nare hotel. back into use. No. Natural progression of damage to slipway, WW2 Recent winter storm damage to slipway, coastal erosion essential to pill box, coast path and WW2 pill box, coast path and bridge over landscape character. bridge over stream stream Not managed. This does not affect wildlife  The (immediately adjacent) The former Pendower Beach (“Pink”) hotel is habitats. Pink hotel is derelict. derelict. Sympathetic restoration Sympathetic restoration / /redevelopment would be beneficial to the redevelopment would be area beneficial to the area Litter and flotsam washed up with the high  Litter and flotsam washed tides is a problem, more so during the up with the high tides is a season. There are no litter bins in either of problem, more so during the car parks adjacent to the coastal strip the season. There are no although local litter picking is organised. litter bins in either of the Some Cornish hedges have deteriorated large car parks adjacent to naturally and suffered some rabbit damage, the coastal strip but significant repair work would be  Some Cornish hedges have detrimental to character of area deteriorated naturally and National Trust areas and coast path are well suffered some rabbit maintained in keeping with character. damage, but significant Cornwall Council managing Japanese repair work would be Knotweed well. detrimental to character of area  National Trust areas and coast path are well maintained in keeping with character  Cornwall Council managing Japanese Knotweed well Data source Use local knowledge and visit Use local knowledge the area to confirm details and visit the area to confirm details Aesthetic and Aesthetically the experience is Lapping of the sea.  Extreme outstanding natural Aesthetically the experience is one of an sensory one of an expansive and Birdsong. beauty & tranquillity where expansive and dramatic view of Gerrans Bay dramatic view of Gerrans Bay to A few people on coast land meets sea to the horizon combined with stunning views the horizon combined with path.  Calming environment, some of the cliffs rising to their dramatic focus at stunning views of the cliffs rising areas can be busy on fine Nare Head. The sensory experience is largely to their dramatic focus at Nare Exposed to open sea. weekends and in season determined by the weather and sea state Head. The sensory experience is Uncluttered. and although there can be ranging from calm and totally tranquil largely determined by the Shaped by the effects of lots of leisure activities through to wild, stormy and quite frightening. weather and sea state ranging the sea and the weather. going on, noise is generally Seasonal weather patterns and largely from calm and totally tranquil swallowed up by the deciduous vegetation give variation, through to wild, stormy and Undergrowth increasingly environment especially the show of Blackthorn in flower in quite frightening. luxuriant as summer  Other areas are exposed, early Spring. progresses. Bare remote, rugged, windswept Extreme outstanding natural beauty & Seasonal weather patterns and hedgerows in winter. Lacy sculptured by the elements tranquillity where land meets sea largely deciduous vegetation will canopy of blackthorn and feel ancient Many parts of the character area are give variation. flowers in spring.  Birdsong and sounds of the exposed, remote, rugged, windswept South westerly sea & wind predominate sculptured by the elements and feel ancient Virtually none.  Generally south or south and unchanging. Very little at this point west wind Birdsong and sounds of the sea & wind apart from glow from hotel  Minimal light pollution predominate. and house on adjacent Minimal light pollution; stars are a delight on undulating land. clear nights. Lights of Portscatho further west. Data source Use local knowledge and visit Use local knowledge the area to confirm details and visit the area to confirm details Distinctive The main features are the  Disused lime kilns The main features are the phenomenal views features phenomenal views of Pendower Pines planted in hotel  Slipways across Gerrans Bay to Nare Head with Beach, across Gerrans Bay to grounds.  WW2 pill box (now offshore rocks. Nare Head (photo 10) and up Deciduous trees in collapsed) The expanse of Pendower Beach and the view the beautiful Melinsey Valley distance.  Historic fishermen’s bothy inland up the Melinsey valley. (photo 11). Granite/wooden stiles.  Petrified forest remains The setting of the villages of Portscatho,  Some new design stiles on Portloe and Portholland. There is very little in the way of Open, immediate, gentle coast path There is very little in the way of intrusion by intrusion by manmade elements. scale.  Natural rock formations and manmade elements. Numerous artefacts Domestic power lines are non cliffs contribute to the character: Disused lime- intrusive low level low voltage.  Isolated offshore rocks kilns, slipways, bothy’s and pillboxes.  Small, inaccessible, pretty, Power lines are non intrusive low level low sandy bays voltage. Data source Use local knowledge, Historic Environmental Mapping Use local knowledge, Environmental Mapping Environment information (Appendix 5 – Heritage Historic Environment (Appendix 5 – Heritage Designations and information Designations and Biodiversity Biodiversity and and Geodiversity) Geodiversity) Views The public footpath above the Many vantage points along  Bottom of “dead end” road Many vantage points along the Coast Path hotel and car park for the coast path give to Pendower from A3078 (in give opportunities to take in distant views of spectacular views easterly to opportunity to take in Gerrans parish) sea, cliffs, rock formations, and constantly Nare Head all the way round to distant views of sea, cliffs  Coast path & coastal ends of changing light and wind patterns. south westerly towards and constantly changing inshore paths Particularly important view locations include Portscatho. light and wind patterns,  Headlands the car park at Pendower with views along framed by rock formations the beach, east to Nare Head and west to and vegetation. Portscatho. From Nare Head in all directions and from St.Anthony’s Head where the cliff character area merges gradually with the estuary character area. Data source OS Map; Use local knowledge OS Map; Use local knowledge Key The stunning views. The sea and cliffs. The  Unusually large expanses of The stunning views from virtually all positions characteristics clarity of the colours: sand at low to mid tide within this character area. green, blue, grey, white  Relatively large tidal range Unusually large expanses of sand at low to but very little brown. and changing topography of mid tide The relationship between beach (sand depth can Relatively large tidal range and changing the sea and the land. change by > 50 cm) topography of beach (sand depth can change  Support for vast range of by > 50 cm) leisure opportunities whilst Support for vast range of leisure remaining undeveloped and opportunities whilst remaining undeveloped unspoilt and unspoilt  Cliff scenery, isolation, Cliff scenery, isolation, inaccessibility & inaccessibility & tranquillity, tranquillity. natural mussel beds Sweeping expansive sea views from Rame  Sweeping expansive sea Head to Lizard point. views from Rame Head to The drama of the relationship between sea Lizard point and land. Relationship to At the top of the cliff the land Abrupt transition from top  Clearly bordered by the At the top of the cliff character area the land the adjacent changes abruptly to more rolling of cliff to hedge to pasture, adjacent character areas of frequently changes abruptly to intermediate assessment agricultural land. To the north apart from softer area of intermediate sloping land, sloping agricultural land, but in places e.g. area(s) east the exposed cliff changes to woodland below Driftwood elevated / plateau / Nare Head the transition is straight to the steep sided more sheltered Hotel. exposed land and steep- elevated plateau. In other locations e.g. densely wooded/vegetated sided valleys, (coastal Melinsey valley and Portloe the transition is Melinsey Valley with stream footpath is considered to be to steep-sided valley character area. The running through to Pendower the boundary). complexity of interaction between character Beach. To the south west areas is a fundamental defining factor of the (outside the Parish) the cliff area Roseland landscape, responsible for its is much more open, lower and unrivalled quality. cleared of the dense scrub, whilst to the north east (again outside the Parish) the cliffs are vertical and exposed to the elements with little vegetation.