Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
LCT/LCA
Plateau
Moorland –
Forestry/
Windfarm/
Open Cast
Mining
Plateau
Farmland
Landscape Character Area - Description and extent within the study area
Throughout the farmland, several open-cast coalmines are located, in varying stages
of operation or restoration, the disruptive visual influence of which is exacerbated by
the dominant zigzagging pylon lines to the north of the area.
The A89 runs along the edge of the southern slopes, and through the linear villages of
Blackridge and Westrigg, former mining communities.
The topography is comparatively level with extensive plateau basins rising to soft
contoured ridges. The landscape is of an open, exposed and rather wild character
despite occasional isolated hill farms, and sheep and cattle grazing. A series of
important transport corridors linking Glasgow and Edinburgh cross the plateau. The
moorlands provide long views across the Glasgow conurbation, emphasising the
contrast between the remote upland and the developed lowlands.
• Landscape character influenced by areas of afforestation such as at Forth. This
impact upon colour, textures and the lengths of view possible.
• Landscape character strongly influenced by the presence of large scale windfarms
such as Blacklaw.
• Landscape character strongly influenced by the presence of opencast works such
as Broken Cross
The LCT occurs on the lower slopes of the Plateau Moorland areas encircling
Glasgow and the Conurbation. The LCT is characterised by its transitional location
between the sheltered landscapes of Rolling Farmlands and Broad Valley Upland, and
exposed uplands and moorlands.
The few existing settlements are extremely prominent in the landscape because of the
height of the land and the lack of sheltering/screening landform. Hamilton, Motherwell,
Larkhall and Carluke, for example, are visible over a wide area. The lack of complex
landform makes these plateau areas easier to build on. Transport and communication
routes also tend to favour this uniform and accessible landscape and it houses major
roads, rail lines, pylons and telegraph poles, all of which have considerable impact in
the exposed landscape.
LOWLAND PLAINS TYPES
Lowland
Plains –
Lower
Almond
Farmlands
This LCA stretches westward from the periphery of the City of Edinburgh and rises
gradually to the south, reaching a high point at Dalmahoy Hill (246m). Both the River
Almond and the Water of Leith cut steeply incised sections of valley north-eastward
through the area, forming conspicuous local variations in character. Their steep slopes
are accentuated by woodland cover, or by relatively unproductive poor grassland.
The linear village of Currie and the nearby village of Balerno are situated on the main
A70 road on the banks of the Water of Leith. To the north, the A89 is straddled by the
settlements of Uphall and Broxbum. Elsewhere, the area is liberally scattered with
small villages or hamlets, townhouses and mansions, farmsteads, cottages and other
dwellings.
Important designed landscapes include the extensive estate of Dalmahoy, with its
parkland, woodlands, golf courses and prominent boundary wall, and Newliston, set
within a dense framework of shelterbelts. In addition to the development pressures on
the western outskirts of Edinburgh, where the landscape is dominated by the airport
and nearby industrial estates and commercial centres, the M8 motorway and several
parallel major roads sever, and further lessen the integrity of, the farmland.
Further disruption is added by numerous pylon lines and several visually prominent
bings and quarries. The complex network of road, railway and canal routeways has
led to the building of numerous aqueducts, viaducts, and road and rail bridges of
various ages and styles.
As well as being an important landscape in their own right, the Lower Almond
Farmlands are visually very important in providing the setting of the city from the
western aspect. In addition, high quality expansive views to the nearby landscapes of
coast and hills are possible from the higher ground, becoming confined within the river
valleys and lower slopes. However, industrial, residential and transport development
March 2013 9-32 ES Chapter 9
Landscape and Visual
Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2013 ©