Assessment of Highland Special Landscape Areas Measadh de Sgìrean Cruth-tìre Sònraichte na Gàidhealtachd The Highland Council in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Horner + Maclennan With Mike Wood, Landscape Architect to produce this Assessment and after subsequent public consultation and amendment the Assessment has been finalised as a background paper to support the Highland wide Local Development Plan Published June 2011 ASSESSMENT OF HIGHLAND SPECIAL LANDSCAPE AREAS NOTE TO READER: The “Assessment of Highland Special Landscape Areas” contains maps and citations for the SLAs within the Highland Council area. The document was published in June 2011. Since then, consideration has been given to SLA boundary amendments as part of the preparation of the Area Local Development Plans. This has resulted in amendments being finalised to the boundaries of the following SLAs: 1. Oldshoremore, Cape Wrath and Durness Special Landscape Area 2. Eriboll East and Whiten Head Special Landscape Area 3. Farr Bay, Strathy and Portskerra Special Landscape Area 4. Dunnet Head Special Landscape Area (the above amended boundaries came into force upon adoption of the Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan in August 2018) 22. Drynachan, Lochindorb and Dava Moors Special Landscape Area (the above amended boundary came into force upon adoption of the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan in July 2015) 27. Ardgour Special Landscape Area (the above amended boundary came into force upon adoption of the West Highland and Islands Local Development Plan in September 2019) Maps of the amended boundaries are shown in the pages that follow immediately overleaf. In due course the main body of the “Assessment of Highland Special Landscape Areas” document itself will be updated to incorporate and reflect these boundary amendments. Note (1): Part of Ben Alder, Laggan and Glen Banchor SLA lies within the Cairngorms National Park. There are substantial components of the SLA each side of the National Park boundary and The Highland Council has continued to identify the whole area. This enables continued acknowledgement of the whole of the particular landscape area (and its components) that was identified previously as a Proposed Area of Great Landscape Value in the Highland Structure Plan (2001) – and the identification and consideration of likely significant effects of development on that, having regard to the Citation including the Special Qualities identified within it. This is notwithstanding that there may be additional landscape considerations, such as effects on the National Park. Note (2): The Proposed Areas of Great Landscape Value that were identified in the Highland Structure Plan (2001) and on which the Special Landscape Areas are based, included an additional area: Gaick. However, the location of Gaick Proposed AGLV lay wholly within the Cairngorms National Park (as extended in 2010). The Highland Council has neither advanced nor confirmed Gaick as a Special Landscape Area, hence it does not feature in this document. 0 1 2 3 4 km Moidart, Morar and Glen Shiel 0 1 2 3 mi Reproduced by Permission of Ordnance Survey on Behalf of HMSO © Crown Copyright and Database Right 2019. All Rights Reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence 100023369. Copyright Getmapping Plc. Special Landscape Area Nearby Special Landscape Area(s) Nearby National Scenic Area(s) Ardgour Special Landscape Area HwLDP Area 0 1 2 3 4 km 0 1 2 3 mi Eriboll East and Whiten Head North - West Sutherland North - ReproducedWest Sutherland by Permission of Ordnance Survey on Behalf of HMSO © Crown Copyright and Database Right 2018. All Rights Reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence 100023369. Copyright Getmapping Plc. Kyle of Tongue Special Landscape Area Special Landscape Area Nearby National Scenic Areas(s) Oldshoremore, Cape Wrath and Durness Nearby Special Landscape Area(s) HwLDP Area 0 1 2 3 4 km 0 1 2 3 mi Oldshoremore, Cape Wrath and Durness Kyle of Tongue North - West Sutherland Reproduced by Permission of Ordnance Survey on Behalf of HMSO © Crown Copyright and Database Right 2018. All Rights Reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence 100023369. Copyright Getmapping Plc. Special Landscape Area Special Landscape Area Nearby National Scenic Areas(s) Eriboll East and Whiten Head Nearby Special Landscape Area(s) HwLDP Area 0 1 2 3 4 km 0 1 2 3 mi Kyle of Tongue Reproduced by Permission of Ordnance Survey on Behalf of HMSO © Crown Copyright and Database Right 2018. All Rights Reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence 100023369. Copyright Getmapping Plc. Special Landscape Area Special Landscape Area Nearby National Scenic Areas(s) Farr Bay, Strathy and Portskerra Nearby Special Landscape Area(s) HwLDP Area 0 1 2 3 4 km 0 1 2 3 mi Reproduced by Permission of Ordnance Survey on Behalf of HMSO © Crown Copyright and Database Right 2018. All Rights Reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence 100023369. Copyright Getmapping Plc. Special Landscape Area Special Landscape Area Nearby National Scenic Areas(s) Dunnet Head Nearby Special Landscape Area(s) HwLDP Area Special Landscape Area Drynachan, Lochindorb and Dava Moors Sutors of Cromarty, Rosemarkie and Fort George MORAY CAIRNGORM NATIONAL PARK Reproduced Permissionby Ordnanceof SurveyonBehalf of HMSO© CrownCopyright and DatabaseRight 2016. Rights All Reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence 100023369.Copyright Getmapping Plc. 0 2.5 5 10 km Special Landscape Area HWLDP Area Nearby Special Landscape Area(s) Adjacent Local Authorities 0 1.5 3 6 mi Nearby National Scenic Area(s) CONTENTS Page 1. Executive Summary - Geàrr-chunntas Gnìomhach ii 2. How to Use this Document - Mar a Chleachdar an Sgrìobhainn Seo iii Location Plan - Plana Làraich vi 3. Citations - Sumanaidhean 1. Oldshoremore, Cape Wrath and Durness Special Landscape Area 2 2. Eriboll East and Whiten Head Special Landscape Area 8 3. Farr Bay, Strathy and Portskerra Special Landscape Area 14 4. Dunnet Head Special Landscape Area 20 5. Duncansby Head Special Landscape Area 26 6. The Flow Country and Berriedale Coast Special Landscape Area 32 7. Bens Griam and Loch nan Clar Special Landscape Area 38 8. Ben Klibreck and Loch Choire Special Landscape Area 44 9. Loch Fleet, Loch Brora and Glen Loth Special Landscape Area 50 10. North West Skye Special Landscape Area 56 11. Greshornish Special Landscape Area 62 12. Trotternish and Tianavaig Special Landscape Area 66 13. Raasay and Rona Special Landscape Area 72 14. Kyle – Plockton Special Landscape Area 78 15. South West Applecross and Crowlin Islands Special Landscape Area 84 16. Strathconnon, Monar and Mullardoch Special Landscape Area 90 17. Ben Wyvis Special Landscape Area 96 18. Fannichs, Beinn Dearg and Glencalvie Special Landscape Area 102 19. Sutors of Cromarty, Rosemarkie and Fort Geroge Special Landscape Area 108 20. Loch Ness and Duntelchaig Special Landscape Area 116 21. Loch Lochy and Loch Oich Special Landscape Area 124 22. Drynachan, Lochindorb and Dava Moors Special Landscape Area 132 23. Ben Alder, Laggan and Glen Banchor Special Landscape Area 138 24. Moidart, Morar, and Glen Shiel Special Landscape Area 144 25. Outer Loch Sunart and Islands Special Landscape Area 152 26. Inninmore Bay and Garbh Shlios Special Landscape Area 158 27. Ardgour Special Landscape Area 164 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Assessment of Highland Special Landscape Areas (AHSLA) was undertaken to support the interpretation of policy within the Highland-wide Local Development Plan. It reviews the existing local landscape designations within The Highland Council area, known as Areas of Great Landscape Value, AGLV (now known as Special Landscape Areas, SLAs). It provides a brief citation for each area which summarises its key landscape and visual characteristics, the special qualities for which it is valued, its key sensitivities to landscape change, and possible measures for its enhancement. Maps to accompany each citation are provided at 1:200 000 scale. The study was not intended to constitute a comprehensive review of local landscape designation in The Highland Council area, and its scope was limited by its starting position as defined by the existing Areas of Great Landscape Value (now known as Special Landscape Areas, SLAs) identified within the Highland Structure Plan (2001). The Council is confident about the integrity of these areas but intends to consider minor boundary amendments to the SLAs as the Area Local Development Plans are progressed. The report by Horner and Maclennan was subject to some editing by SNH and the Highland Council on its proof read, which allowed us to better incorporate the cultural landscape within the citations using the Council’s archaeology expertise. It then went out on consultation alongside the Proposed HwLDP and after considering the responses some amendments were made and the document was finalised at May 25th PED committee 2011. The report of the study is set out in two main sections as follows, with accompanying Appendices: x Section 1: How to Use this Document x Section 2: Maps and Citations The Council will consider the potential impacts of development proposals on the integrity of the SLAs, including impacts on the wider setting. These citations provide background on the Special Landscape Areas and therefore policy 58 Natural Built and Cultural Heritage policy and Appendix 6.2 of the Highland wide Local Development Plan. Assessment of Highland Special Landscape Areas How to Use this Document 1. HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT - Mar a Chleachdar an Sgrìobhainn Seo Background The Council identified areas which it considers are at least regionally