Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
LCT/LCA
Pronounced
Volcanic
Hills and
Craigs –
Cullaloe
Hills
Upland
Foothills –
Cleish Hills
Landscape Character Area - Description and extent within the study area
Agriculture is the predominant land use in the Rolling Farmlands landscape type.
The Cullaloe Hills comprise a series of hills generally falling towards the coast, with a
steep sided, densely wooded ridge along its western edge (Cullaloe Woods). The
ridge generally extends from around 170m to up to 219m AOD at its highest. Ground
levels in between the ridge and the coast vary between 35m AOD and 175m at Hawk
Hill to the east.
Cullaloe leish Foothills extend to the east of Dunfermline.
The Cleish foothills are a complicated series of peaks, ridges and valleys covering an
extensive area between the lowlands and uplands. They comprise generally gradually
sloping hillsides, from around 150m AOD but rising occasionally very steeply to up to
245m.
Cleish Foothills extend to the north and north-west of Dunfermline.
UPLAND TYPES
Pentland
Hills/ Old
Red
Sandstone
Hills
Disected
Plateau
Moorland –
Pentland
Hills
Although of modest height, rising to just under 580m at the highest summit, by virtue
of their dominant location and visual prominence, the Pentlands assume primary
importance as a landscape feature in the Lothians. The hills extend south-westwards
for more than 15 miles from the edge of Edinburgh over the boundary with the Scottish
Borders and South Lanarkshire.
At their northern edge, the hills form a north-facing escarpment overlooking the city,
continuing southwards as two parallel ridge lines separated by a deep internal valley
containing the Glencorse and Loganlea reservoirs, draining to the North Esk System.
To the west of the main watershed, the hills drain to the Water of Leith, and feed a
series of reservoirs including Bonaly, Torduff and Clubbiedean.
Above the limit of enclosure, around 300m, the slopes are dominated by rough
grazing and grouse moor, while below lie improved fields of pasture, often bounded by
drystone dykes, shelterbelts, and small woodland features.
The hill mass itself is sparsely populated, with the main settlement concentrated along
the fringing roads to the east and west. Several farms are however located within the
valleys and lower slopes, the main internal access road being along the Flotterstone
valley upstream to Loganlea reservoir. Traces of more ancient occupation of the hills
is evident in cairns, forts and enclosures scattered throughout the area. In addition to
agriculture and water catchment, military training and recreation are the chief land
uses on the hills. The Ministry of Defence landholdings are located in the north of the
range between Dreghorn and Flotterstone Glen, and include a firing range at
Castlelaw Hill.
The hills have Regional Park status in part, and contain two country parks, at Bonaly
and Hillend. Other important recreation locations are Flotterstone, Swanston,
Threipmuir and Harlaw. A network of footpaths and a few minor tracks, some following
the routes of old drove roads, link the most important access points. Hillend Country
Park contains an important dry-ski facility which has a major visual impact on the
northern slopes both during the day and when floodlit at night.
The visual importance of the Pentlands stems from their prominence as a backdrop in
external views, the panoramic outlook from their summits and ridges, and the
perceived tranquillity and isolation of the interior areas. The proximity of the city
fringes, the settled river valleys, and the encircling main roads emphasise the
importance of the Pentlands as a rural landscape resource at the regional level.
An upland plateau landscape characterised by level-topped hills of heather and
coarse grassland, dissected by distinct steep sided valleys.
Plateau
Outliers –
An upland plateau landscape characterised by hills and ridges covered by a mosaic of
coarse grassland, heather and forestry, clearly separated from adjoining types by
March 2013 9-30 ES Chapter 9
Landscape and Visual
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