Part 4: Landscape Character Assessment of Exmoor l LCT I: Wooded and Farmed Hills with Combes Landscape Character Type I: WoodedandFarmedHillswithCombes A typical view in the Brendon Hills, looking east from Churchtown. The village of Kingsbridge is nestled out of sight in the bottom of the valley. Summary Description This LCT is located in the eastern side of the National Churchtown, Kingsbridge and Pooltown (collectively Park and is associated with the Brendon Hills. It forming Luxborough), Treborough, Roadwater, stretches from the eastern slopes of Dunkery Hill to Monksilver, Elworthy, Nettlecombe and Rodhuish. the National Park’s eastern boundary. To the north Often the central settlement is very small, and are the Farmed and Settled Vale and Plantation (with parishes are comprised of several hamlets and Heathland) Hills. To the west are Open Moorland and isolated farms. Incised Wooded River Valleys and to the south are The landscape comprises a series of interconnected Enclosed Farmed Hills with Commons. Views out of rounded hills (often draped with woodland), the Brendon Hills are strongly influenced by these separated by narrow combes containing fast- surrounding Landscape Character Types, as well as flowing rivers and streams. It is a peaceful and by views out of the National Park towards the coast intimate landscape, with winding lanes providing and across to the Quantock Hills. constantly changing and unexpected views over There are many hamlets and small villages within fields, farms and woodland. this LCT, mostly located in river valleys. They include 230 Exmoor Landscape Character Assessment 2018 I1:TheBrendons Key Characteristics of the Wooded and Farmed Hills with Combes l Underlying geology primarily of l Medium-sized fields on valley sides, Devonian sandstone and Morte slates delineated by banked, mixed hedges. (with limestone outcropping in river l Winding lanes connect the linear valleys) giving rise to red soils, hamlets and small villages that nestle particularly in the east. alongside streams in valley bottoms. l Low-lying, narrow valley floors meet l A landscape containing a range of steep valley sides that give rise to a historic landscape features, particularly series of interconnected rounded hills. associated with mining and industrial l Numerous fast-flowing streams and land uses. rivers, often fed by springs. l Open hilltops offer extensive coastal l The landscape has significant woodland and inland panoramas. cover- deciduous, coniferous and l Red soils, green pastures, arable crops mixed- ranging from geometric and dark green plantations create a plantations to sinuous swathes. colourful and strongly textured l Other semi-natural habitats include landscape. grassland and streams. l Cultural associations with Sir Francis l Parkland character in the eastern part of Drake, who lived at Combe Sydenham. the LCT, around the large estates of Nettlecombe and Combe Sydenham. 231 Part 4: Landscape Character Assessment of Exmoor l LCT I: Wooded and Farmed Hills with Combes Natural Landscape Features The landform is one of the most striking features of areas of ancient woodland, and plantation on this LCT, with elevation ranging from 100m to almost ancient woodland sites. The pattern and size of 400m AOD, low-lying narrow combe valley floors, woodland is varied, ranging from small irregular steep valley sides and interconnected rounded hills. broadleaf and mixed woodland swathes within the The underlying geology is varied and complex, and combes, to large geometric coniferous blocks that is revealed in the many Local Geological Sites (often drape over the hilltops. The largest areas of located in quarries) within this LCT. Much of the area coniferous plantation are located along the southern is underlain by slate, siltstones and sandstones, but boundary e.g. Kennisham Hill, Langham Hill, Hazery there are localised areas of limestone in the river Plantation and Eastern Woods. There has also been valleys, and there are some surviving lime kilns, extensive coniferous planting to the south of Combe which were used for burning limestone to create Sydenham. Although smaller in size, these areas of lime for improving acidic soils. The Devonian plantation have a strong visual connectivity with the sandstone gives rise to distinctive red, fertile, well- Plantation (with Heathland) Hills landscape type drained soils, and as a result there is some arable which lies to the north. agriculture, particularly in the eastern part of the LCT. Mixed hedgerows and hedgerow trees make an There are numerous springs emerging on high important contribution to the overall well-treed ground, which feed a network of fast-flowing and character of the landscape- mature beech and oak flashy rivers and streams. Most are tributaries of the trees are particularly eye-catching features. The Washford River system, which runs north-east to eastern part of the LCT also contains mature meet the sea at Watchet. parkland trees, including veteran trees, in the The landscape has significant woodland cover, designed landscapes at Nettlecombe (a Site of including deciduous, coniferous and mixed Special Scientific Interest) and Combe Sydenham. woodland, and some surviving orchards. There are Red soils, green pastures and hedgerow trees in the eastern part of the LCT Deciduous woodland and conifer plantation at Combe Sydenham Designated Nature Conservation Sites Site of Special Nettlecombe Park Ancient Woodland Scattered throughout. Largest Scientific Interest include Langridge Wood, Forehill (SSSI) Wood and Chargot Wood County / Local Numerous sites, including Local Geological Allercott Quarry West; Atowey Farm Wildlife Site (C/LWS) woodland, grassland, streams and Site (LGS) Quarry; Kingsbridge New Mill Quarry; quarries Golsoncott Quarries; Leigh Barton Quarry 232 Exmoor Landscape Character Assessment 2018 Historic Landscape Features and the Built Environment This is primarily a farmed landscape, with the incorporating extensive earlier deer parks and wood majority of field patterns dating from the medieval pasture. Combe Sydenham (formerly the seat of the period, although there are also small patches of Sydenham family, with connections to Sir Francis post-medieval and ancient enclosures. The Drake) contains the remains of a complicated water irregular-shaped fields form a patchwork pattern, catchment system with leats and ponds, but much clearly edged by banked, mixed hedges (on lower of the parkland is now under conifer plantation. The ground) and some beech hedges (on higher area around the house is now a country park. A ground in the south of the LCT, where it merges smaller parkland estate can also be seen at Chargot, with the Enclosed Farmed Hills with Commons). Luxborough. This estate contains a Grade 2* listed Commercial game shooting takes place within the house, and surrounding parkland, lakes and woods Wooded and Farmed Hills with Combes , often in (today used for game shooting). conjunction with traditional farming or forestry, and Although today the area has a strongly agricultural game crops, feeders, pens and birds may be seen feel, in the nineteenth century the Brendon Hills throughout the LCT. were exploited for their mineral resources, Many of the farms and hamlets are have been particularly iron ore. Mines on Brendon Hill (in the established for several hundred years. They contain adjacent Enclosed Farmed Hills with Commons numerous Listed Buildings, and two of the LCT) were served by the West Somerset Mineral farmsteads are Conservation Areas. The fields Railway (WSMR) which connected Gupworthy with contain excellent examples of gutter systems the coast at Watchet, from where the iron ore could which drained higher land, and flushed spring grass be transported by boat. The WSMR comprised two with warmer water to extend its growing season. conventional sections of track linked by an incline The village of Clicket (south of Timberscombe) was between Comberow and Brendon Hill. The lower abandoned in the late nineteenth century, but the parts of the track (within the Wooded and Farmed crumbling ruins of houses can still be seen. Hills with Combes LCT) is a road today, and the Together with adjacent deserted medieval incline is still visible up the steep, wooded valley farmsteads, it is designated a Principal side. Many of the mines, settlements, stations and Archaeological Landscape. other buildings have since been lost as features There are two areas of designated historic parkland, within the landscape, but others remain, including both towards the east of the LCT. Nettlecombe miners’ cottages, structures associated with the Court is a sixteenth century red sandstone manor WSMR and industrial placenames (e.g. Tacker house (Listed Grade I) surrounded by a parkland Street). Slate was extracted from Treborough listed Grade 2 on the Register of Historic Parks and Quarry for over 600 years, and today the site is Gardens. It is a late eighteenth century park, within Treborough Woods County Wildlife Site. Nettlecombe Court Nettlecombe Park in spring 233 Part 4: Landscape Character Assessment of Exmoor l LCT I: Wooded and Farmed Hills with Combes All the settlements within this LCT are small, with and include red sandstone, painted stone and some villages and hamlets comprising clusters of render, with slate or thatch roofs. There are also farms, often in association with a church. Most are examples of locally-distinctive walling using vertical nestled in the combe bottoms alongside rivers; slates, such as at Chidgley. Roadwater, Kingsbridge some nucleated