Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments No: 35 Regional Seascape Unit Ramsey Island to Skomer Island (St Brides Bay) Name: St Brides Bay: Newgale Sands (Left); Nolton Haven (above); cliffs near St Davids (below left); Rickets Head (below right). (All photos © Dave Maclachlan, PCNPA). 1 Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments No: 35 Regional Seascape Unit Ramsey Island to Skomer Island (St Brides Bay) Name: Seascape Types: THMR, TSLR Key Characteristics A large west facing bay contained by headlands, and two substantial islands to the north and south. The majority of the coastline is eroding coastal plateau with vertical, jagged cliffs interspersed with a few beaches, most notably at Newgale. Rural mixed farming inland with semi-natural vegetation on headlands and steep slopes. Sea is relatively exposed, especially around headlands and islands. Long views across the bay with islands, headlands and offshore rocks as main foci. Key cultural associations: Tourism, with several minor tourism based settlements on the coast, such as at Newgale, Nolton Haven, Little Haven, Broad Haven and small harbour at Solva. Physical Geology Complex geology of east - west trending bands of rock with Ordovician, acid tuff and fine Characteristics and coarse grained acid igneous rock to the north including Ramsey Island. This changes to Cambrian to the east and then softer Carboniferous ‘coal measure’ rocks to the south with some sandstone lithology making up the majority of the bay between protruding peninsulas. To the south, the Devonian Old Red Sandstone forms the bulk of the peninsula with Silurian rocks in isolated places and basic lava and sandstone forming the western end of the peninsula and Skomer Island. Small isolated patches of boulder clay and alluvium lie in valley floors. Coastal landform A large west facing bay around 12km across and 14km deep contained by headlands and two substantial islands to the north and south. The majority of the coastline is eroding coastal plateau with vertical, jagged cliffs around 30m AOD although Carn Llundain on Ramsey Island reaches 136m AOD and some headlands and Skomer cliffs reach 50m AOD. The coast tends to be rocky and indented with small scale headlands and coves [particularly to the north] with the exception of the broad sweep of Newgale Sands and associated valley landform and beaches at Druidstone Haven and Broadhaven. The Solva river forms a sheltered sinuous inlet to the north. The rocky islets associated with Ramsey Island e.g. Ynys Bery give further texture and interest to the coastline. Coastal landcover A rural area with pastoral agriculture and some arable fields. Semi-natural vegetation lies in generally narrow areas on cliff edges, on headlands and islands or extending inland to cover steep slopes. Settlement is concentrated in a few clusters such as at Broad Haven, Little Haven and Newgale with most being scattered settlements just back from the coast. Intertidal area The coast tends to be rocky with small scale sandy coves to the north and south and the broad sweep of Newgale Sands and beaches at Druidstone Haven and Broadhaven to the east. Characteristics of sea The sea is fairly exposed, the bay being open to the west and the prevailing winds. Newgale Beach is known for large waves suitable for surfing. Islets such as Green Scar and Black Scar to the north and Stack Rocks to the south add interest to the coastline. The Smalls, due west of Skomer, form a treacherous rocky cluster of rocks out to sea. Hinterland landform Undulating dissected coastal plateau rising to a maximum of 125m AOD with noticeable hills only to the north, east of St Davids Head i.e. Carn Llidi etc at around 180m AOD. A series of short valleys find their way to the coast. Hinterland landcover The area is rural, dominated by pasture although arable has been introduced more recently. St Davids lies inland hidden from the sea but the area is predominantly scattered settlement. Brawdy and St Davids airfields lie inland but aircraft noise is very infrequent. The A487 coastal road skirts the northern coast but is generally set back. Haverfordwest lies further inland but not intervisible with the coast. Lighting Potentially, the lightest areas are around Broad Haven and Brawdy although the latter is not fully functional at present. Another focus is St Davids and its surrounds. The more intense sources of light around Haverfordwest and Milford Haven are not intervisible with the coast, apart from a few tall structures. Lighting is limited elsewhere, with the darkest being around Skomer, Ramsey and west of Solva. 2 Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments Use Land/coast uses The coast is used for agriculture, limited scattered residential caravan and camping sites, leisure (especially Newgale, Broadhaven, south of St Davids), informal recreation- the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and sailing from the harbour at Solva. Sea uses Surfing and swimming, sailing from Solva, fishing, boats trips around Ramsey. Visual and How the seascape unit Coastal path; beaches such as Newgale, Broad Haven, Little Haven, Druidstone and smaller sensory qualities is experienced coves adjacent; scattered settlement such as at the locations above; caravan parks and camping sites. Degree of intervisibility Most visibility is possible from Ramsey Island and Skomer Island which screen much of the of land and sea wider sea element of the unit to the north and south. The coast from the islands eastwards has moderate visibility. The rest of the bay edge has focussed views across the bay and directly out to sea. The coastal plateau character minimises views inland. Key views to sea and Key views include from the coastal path, Wooltack Point and the A487 at Newgale. Views along the coast are across the bay and to Ramsey Island and Skomer. Milford Haven chimneys are evident. Key views to land Views are from sailing and leisure boats. Tranquillity/rem- Tranquil- The coast does have a degree of tranquillity but there is significant access via the oteness/wildness coastal path and particular loci of activity around Newgale, Broadhaven and Little Haven. Ramsey Island and Skomer are difficult to access and have a feeling of remoteness and wildness. Sense of scale Large Openness/ Moderately open enclosure Diversity Diverse Exposure The majority of the coast is very exposed. Key cultural The predominant contemporary cultural association of St Bride’s Bay is with tourism and associations leisure, with campgrounds, caravan parks, self-catering and B&B establishments providing relatively low cost accommodation. The several small coastal settlements, each with its own small (or extensive in the case of Newgale) beach, include Nolton Haven, Broad Haven, Little Haven and St Bride’s. Both islands of Skomer and Ramsey are nature reserves, the former being owned and managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, and the latter by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Each island is a haven for seabirds and sea mammals, and is a popular destination for boat trips to view the variety of wildlife. Ramsey and St David’s Peninsula SPA; St David’s psac; Ramsey SSSI; Dale and Marloes SSSI. Forces for change Land/coast Recreation pressure on the coastal path and around holiday foci e.g. Newgale. Caravan parks and camping sites. Trampling of cliff top vegetation. Coastal erosion leading to cliff falls. The potential effects of climate change on beaches and low lying coastal land which is already prone to flooding. Sea - Designations and National Park / AONB Pembrokeshire Coast National Park sensitive features Heritage Coast St Davids Peninsula, St Brides Bay, Marloes and Dale Long-distance coastal Pembrokeshire Coastal path footpath/National Trail 3 Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments Outstanding and special St Davids Peninsula and Ramsey Island to the north historic landscapes Historic gardens and St Bride’s Castle parks Warpool Court Hotel, St David’s Key scheduled ancient St David’s Head Promontory Fort SM 7227 monuments Solva Head Promontory Fort SM 8023 Deer Park Promontory Fort SM 7509 Country Parks / Open - access land 4 Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments No: 35 Regional Seascape Ramsey Island to Skomer Island (St Brides Bay) Unit Name: Headline Sub-criteria Increases sensitivity Decreases sensitivity criteria Overall Summary of key • Open sea horizon of undeveloped westerly • The hinterland is a plateau, so limited character factors views focussed westwards by semi-enclosure sea/coastline views from inland and from prominent rocky headlands and islands to • Prominent headlands act to limit a qualities north and south. Includes westerly sunset wider arc of open sea view from some views. locations • Undeveloped but popular recreational beaches • Limited settlement on the coastline • Limited lighting pollution • The Pembrokeshire Coast Path Seascape sensitivity levels for different forms of offshore development Modelled scenario Generic form of Sensitivity Comments development Tall structures 13km High The bay is of a size that would not be able to accommodate Offshore wind offshore the wind farm scenario between the boundary headlands sensitivity and islands. The development of tall structures would detract from the sense of scale and remoteness of the headlands and islands and would affect their visual integrity. The scenario would be likely to dominate the view, filling half the visible horizon and if located to the west would be even more prominent at sunset. Wave energy units Broad flat structures on Moderate - High The bay is medium-large scale and of a size that would just sensitivity the sea surface be able to accommodate the wave energy scenario within its bounds. However, the bay is enclosed by cliffs, headlands, rocky islets and islands at its western extremities which contrast with the flat sea and provide elevated views of broad flat objects placed on the sea surface.