Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments No: 13 Regional Seascape Unit Malltraeth Bay to Trefor Name: View over Trefor from Yr Eifl (Photo © John Briggs) The remote beach at Malltraeth Bay (Photo © John Briggs) Sunset over Caernarfon Bay from Snowdonia (Photo © John Briggs) Ynys Llanddwyn, a place of spiritual pilgrimage, and a good view point (Photo by Rohan Holt,© JNCC) 1 Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments No: 13 Regional Seascape Unit Malltraeth Bay to Trefor Name: Seascape Types: TSLR, THLR, THMR Key Characteristics A west and south west facing, gently concave coastline at the heart of Caernarfon Bay with long sand and shingle beaches backed by large dunes or low lying coastal lowlands. A mix of pastoral farming with tourism uses, airfield and dunes and coniferous forest to the coastal edge on Anglesey. The sloping coastal hinterland is backed by Snowdonia in the distance to the east. An exposed tidal coast. Long views to the Llŷn peninsula with its hills. Key cultural associations: A coast rich in legendary and Mabinogion associations as well as from the Medieval and Industrial/Modern period. Physical Geology A strong north east to south west trending geology consisting of bands of Precambrian rocks, Characteristics carboniferous limestone and coal measures (red beds) on Anglesey and a complex mix of Cambrian and Ordovician rocks including igneous acid tuffs to the east on the mainland. Much is overlain by boulder clay. Blown sand lies either side of the Menai Strait and alluvium lies around Dinas Dinlle. Coastal landform The core of the west facing concave coastline of Caernarfon Bay either side of the Menai Strait. On Anglesey the coastline is low, soft and south west facing with alluvium and dunes backing the sheltered Maltraeth Bay and Llanddwyn Bay, separated by the small rocky island of Ynys Llanddwyn. South of the Menai Strait, the coastline straightens in dunes and the man made edge at Morfa Dinlle with alluvial lowland giving way to a slightly indented coast rising slightly to the south. There are no major cliffs. Coastal landcover Mature dune vegetation lies at Newborough Warren, protecting Foryd Bay. A coniferous plantation is at Newborough Forest with semi-natural landcover bordering Maltraeth Bay to the west. This is the largest wooded area on Anglesey and the most extensive dune system. The majority of the rest of the coast is rural and pastoral, with some limited arable in the south. Other land over includes an airfield (Caernarfon Airport), basic tourist facilities and caravan sites at Morfa Dinlle, scattered settlement and villages, the largest being Trefor. Intertidal area The Anglesey coast is primarily sandy beach apart from the rocks on Ynys Llanddwyn. The sand continues south as far as Dinas Dinlle, beyond which it is mostly replaced by shingle beach with occasional sandy patches. Characteristics of sea An open, exposed sea. Hinterland landform Low ridges up to 60m AOD on Ynys Mon lie at right angles to the coast with other land being low lying, in the form of dunes or as a flat valley floor. The area of dunes and flat alluvial land around Morfa Dinlle gives way to gradually rising land inland culminating in Snowdonia and its foothills. To the south the undulating coastal lowlands around 30m AOD is relatively narrow and is backed by the distinctive rounded but steep sided hills of Gyrn Coch, Gyrn Du and Bwlch Mawr at around 500m AOD. Hinterland landcover Predominantly pastoral agriculture with scattered farms and some nucleated settlements with tourism uses focussed on the coast. Semi-natural vegetation is found on the hills to the south and the peaks of Snowdonia to the east. Lighting Generally dark to the west and south. The main light sources are from Caernarfon town and settlements along the A487(T) and A499 roads. Use Land/coast uses The coast is used for pastoral agricultural uses primarily with some residential, tourism and recreational uses. Anglesey’s largest forest is at Newborough, much having been planted over sand dunes. A number of beaches are popular for swimming, including at Newborough and Dinas Dinlle. Sea uses Sailing from Trefor. Visual and How the seascape unit 2 Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments sensory qualities is experienced From beaches, settlements, the A499 and other nearby roads and public footpaths. Degree of intervisibility While visibility on Anglesey is limited to close to the coast, the rising land on the mainland of land and sea to the east of Morfa Dinlle towards Snowdonia has wide views of the sea. The hills to the south generally screen views from further inland. Key views to sea and Dinas Dinlle and associated beach, Newborough Warren beach towards the Llŷn coast and along the coast hills. Ynys Llanddwyn is a popular destination for walkers and together with Maltreath Bay and Llanddwyn Bay, has scenic views across Caernarfon Bay to the mountains of the Llŷn peninsula. Views from mountain tops: Trevor Quarries/Yr Eifl, and Gryn Ddu, Gryn Goch and Bwlch Mawr (all open access land). Key views to land From sailing boats. Tranquillity/rem- Mainland - Moderately tranquil although affected by closeness of the A499. oteness/wildness Anglesey – highly tranquil at Ynys Llanddwyn, combined with relative sense of wildness and remoteness, being an island just off an uninhabited forested ‘peninsula’. A sense of tranquillity is also gained within the extensive Newborough Forest, though this is all tempered by its popularity with visitors for recreation. As access along the mainland coast is limited, and much of the coast is undeveloped, a moderate sense of remoteness is gained at the coastline. Sense of scale Large Openness/enclosure Open Diversity Diverse (in terms of land cover) but Simple (in terms of coastal form). Exposure Very exposed Key cultural The coast is rich in legendary and Mabinogion associations – Dinas Dinlle and Maen Dylan. associations The ruined sixteenth-century chancel of St Dwynwen’s church recalls the legend of the early Christian saint who lived and died here as a hermit; the island is a place of resort for those unhappy in love. The other famous ecclesiastical centre is Clynnog, on the pilgrinage route to Bardsey, with its tower visible from the sea. From later history comes the great sea- defence work at Malltraeth, the important stone-quarry at Trefor, a major supplier of setts world-wide, and the airfield at Dinas Dinlle. Ynys Llanddwyn is a place of spiritual pilgrimage. Forces for change Land/coast Development pressure around settlements. Recreation pressure on beaches and dunes. Coastal erosion is an issue in almost all parts of this seascape. Climate change may put further pressure on dunes and threaten low lying land with flooding. The sustainability of coniferous forestry on parts of the once active dune system behind Malltraeth Bay. Sea - Snowdonia National Park to the east, Anglesey Coast AONB to the north and Llŷn AONB to Designations and National Park/ AONB the south. sensitive features Heritage Coast Llŷn Coast to the south and the edge of Aberffraw Bay to the north. Long-distance coastal - footpath/National Trail Outstanding and special - historic landscapes Historic gardens and Glynllifon lies back from the coast. parks Key scheduled ancient Dinas Dinlle Hillfort SH 4356 monuments Country Parks Glynllifon Open access land Newborough Forest - public forest, Morfa Dinlle. 3 Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments No: 13 Regional Seascape Maltraeth Bay to Trefor Unit Name: Headline Sub-criteria Increases sensitivity Decreases sensitivity criteria Overall Summary of key • The seascape unit forms the central part of • Large scale of open sea views character factors Caernarfon Bay with higher ground in • A relatively flat coast to the north and and particular to the south on the Llŷn peninsula centrally qualities around the Rivals, and with the backcloth of • The presence of some sailing boats Snowdonia which both give a large sense of from marinas in the Menai Strait scale and distinctive scenic backdrop • The A499 and A487(T) roads on the • The coast is fairly remote/tranquil on Anglesey mainland. in particular, and the bay is viewed in a westerly direction from beaches and footpaths, across to the Rivals • Ynys Llanddwyn is a place of spiritual pilgrimage as well as a popular view point • A wide panorama of sea visibility Seascape sensitivity levels for different forms of offshore development Modelled scenario Generic form of Sensitivity Comments development Tall structures 13km Moderate - High Tall structures would detract from views from Offshore wind offshore undeveloped Newborough/Malltraeth beaches and dunes, sensitivity across the undeveloped water of Caernarfon Bay, to the distinctive mountain forms of the Rivals, which at 13km out to sea would be displaced from direct line of view. Wave energy units Broad flat structures on Moderate Though the coast is fairly remote/tranquil on Anglesey in sensitivity the sea surface particular, and the views are at low elevation, so broad flat objects would not be as visible as when seen from the higher ground on the mainland. Tidal energy units Developments placed Moderate The large scale of space and low lying coastline decreases sensitivity only a short distance sensitivity to developments just a short distance from offshore. shore, however the remoteness and intactness of Anglesey locations would be compromised by such developments. 4 .