Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments No: 32 Regional Seascape Unit Crincoed Point to Name:

The view east from Strumble Head (All photos on this page (c) Dave Maclachlan, PCNPA)

Looking west near Penrhyn Looking east, showing the cottage of Penrhyn

1 Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments

No: 32 Regional Seascape Unit Crincoed Point to Strumble Head Name:

Seascape Types: THMR Key Characteristics Indented, rugged coast of sheer basic lava cliffs with a series of very small coves and headlands, with Strumble Head particularly prominent. Rural pastoral slopes up to coastal hills such as Garn Fawr with semi-natural vegetation and very sparse settlement. Sea is tidal and exposed with Rosslare ferries passing through from . Long views along the coast with headlands as the main focii. Key cultural associations: An evolved but now relict landscape with archaeological evidence from the Neolithic to the medieval periods. This coastline was also the site of the last invasion of Britian by sea in 1797.

Physical Geology Band of basic lava and tuff lying along most of the coast with a small area of acid lava and Characteristics tuff around Cerrigwastad Point. There is complex geology in the hinterland including Ordovician rocks. Coastal landform North facing, indented rocky coast with sheer cliffs and slopes reaching 50m AOD in places. To the east, fingers of rock reach out into the sea. A series of small coves and headlands with small valleys reaching the coast. Strumble Head is dramatically? conspicuous. Coastal landcover Rural landcover with pastoral land in fields of irregular and strip patterns and very sparse settlement. Semi-natural vegetation lies on the coastal slopes and cliffs and exists in larger patches on the small headlands to the west. There is a coastguard station at Strumble Head. Intertidal area Narrow, steep, rocky shores. Characteristics of sea Tidal and exposed. Strumble Bank lies just off the coast with overfalls. Hinterland landform This rises gradually up from the coastal cliffs to a series of distinct hills with rock outcrops culminating in Garn Fawr to the west and Garnwnda at 108m AOD to the east. To the south of this, the coastal plateau is undulating dissected by rivers. Hinterland landcover The landcover is highly rural with irregular pasture and semi-natural vegetation on the hills. Settlement is very sparse and linked by narrow winding minor roads. Lighting Lighting is focused on Fishguard and harbour to the east, becoming dark towards Strumble Head where there is a lighthouse.

Use Land/coast uses Pastoral farming with sparse residential uses / farmsteads. The Coast Path runs along the entire coastal unit. Sea uses Irish ferries from Goodwick, leisure/sailing boats from Fishguard.

Visual and How the seascape unit , and scattered settlement, ferries, minor sensory qualities is experienced road network, open access land at Garn Fawr and adjacent hills and on Mynydd Dinas at a distance to the east. Degree of intervisibility An exposed coast with wide views of the sea. The most significant visibility is from the of land and sea coastal slopes and hills including Garn Fawr, which substantially screen the sea from the incised coastal plateau hinterland to the south. There is some visibility from Mynydd Dinas. Key views to sea and Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Strumble Head, Garn Fawr and associated open access land, along the coast Dinas Head and Mynydd Dinas to the east. Key views to land From numerous ferries and from sailing boats/leisure craft from Fishguard and elsewhere. Tranquillity/rem- The coast is relatively remote and inaccessible with only footpath access and some limited oteness/wildness minor road access. Tranquillity and remoteness increase to the west. Sense of scale Medium Openness/ Open

2 Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments enclosure Diversity Diverse Exposure Very exposed to the west and exposed to the east.

Key cultural The seascape unit is dominated by Strumble Head, a large and distinctive headland strong in associations elements of historic continuity and survival, and with long views, both landwards and seawards. It exhibits distinctive Welsh settlement forms and contains actual and suggested evidence for the archaeology of the early church in , preserved in both upstanding monuments and in crop-mark sites. The area includes: Neolithic chambered tombs; Iron Age hillforts and associated field systems; Early Christian sites and monuments; medieval settlements, significant elements of many of which remain in use today.

Strumble Head was the high point from which the women of the area (dressed in red shawls and carrying an assortment of farm implements) succeeded in containing the abortive French landing in 1797 at Carregwastad Point.

The Strumble Head Lighthouse stands on a small off-shore island (Ynys Meicel) linked to the mainland by a footbridge.

Forces for change Land/coast Recreational pressure on limited access points to sea such as Strumble Head. Changing farming economics on agricultural land. Sea Expansion of ferry services.

Designations and National Park Pembrokeshire Coast National Park sensitive features AONB - Heritage Coast St Davids Peninsula Long-distance coastal Pembrokeshire Coast Path footpath/National Trail Outstanding and special Pen Caer: Garn Fawr and Strumble Head historic landscapes Historic gardens and - parks Key scheduled ancient Garn Fawr Hillfort SM8938 monuments Garn Fach Hillfort Ysgubor Gaer Dinas Mawr Ffynnon Degan (ruined chapel and holy well) Garn Gilfach burial chamber

Country Parks - Open access land Small extents on the coast and hills behind such as Garn Fawr and inland on the hills to the east at Mynydd Dinas.

3 Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments

No: 32 Regional Seascape Crincoed Point to Strumble Head Unit Name: Headline Sub-criteria Increases sensitivity Decreases sensitivity criteria

Overall Summary of key • Spectacular scenery of wild natural, even sheer • Frequent passing ferries (which are character factors cliffs indicative of human use and give and • Varied natural cliff architecture including some scale to the seascape) qualities fingers of rock, coves and headlands • The plateau character inland, which • The very sparse rural settlement limits views • Remote and tranquil feel of the area, • The landmark form of the lighthouse particularly towards the west at Strumble Head • The Pembrokeshire Coast Path close to the • The large scale of open sea views coastline • The wide panorama of open sea views

Seascape sensitivity levels for different forms of offshore development Modelled scenario Generic form of Sensitivity Comments development

Tall structures 13km Moderate-High Tall structures offshore would detract from the wild, Offshore wind offshore remote, tranquil qualities and spectacular cliff scenery. sensitivity

Wave energy units Broad flat structures on Moderate Broad flat structures out to sea would be less visible than sensitivity the sea surface taller ones, however, the elevated cliff location of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path would enable views of such developments.

Tidal energy units Developments placed Moderate-High Development just offshore would detract and contrast from sensitivity only a short distance the wild, remote, tranquil and undeveloped coastline, and offshore. be seen from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

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