Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
LCT/LCA
Landscape Character Area - Description and extent within the study area
pressures are slowly denuding the farmed landscape of its characteristic features and
increasing the sense of fragmentation of undisturbed rural landscape.
LOWLAND HILLS TYPES
Lowland
Hills and
Ridges –
Bathgate
Hills
Lowland
Hills and
Valleys
A highly distinctive landscape with characteristics reminiscent of a true upland, formed
by a grouping of interlocking hills of varying topography between 200m and 300m in
height. Smoothly contoured lower hill-slopes contrast with the more uneven higher
ground, which is often distinguished by rugged, broken slopes and rocky outcrops.
Minor watercourses occur frequently throughout the hills, creating locally-incised
valleys. The River Avon, flowing in a steep-sided wooded valley, forms a sharplydemarcated
western boundary to the area.
Several medium and large-scale coniferous woodlands, the most significant being
within Beecraigs Country Park, are prominent features, particularly where they run
along hilltops.
The area is rich in ancient artefacts, including refuge and standing stones, forts, ruined
towers and castles, the most prominent being the well-preserved prehistoric centre of
worship and burial which caps Cairnpapple Hill, Cockleroy Fort, and the medieval
preceptory at Torphichen. A winding minor road network links scattered farms and
settlements of mixed vernacular and modern origin.
Several footpaths track across the hillsides to viewpoints and monuments, and further
low-key recreational facilities including a visitor centre and camping/caravan site are
sited within Beecraigs Country Park.
Spectacular panoramic views can be obtained from the open hilltops, northwards
across the Forth to the Southern Highlands, and southwards to the Pentlands.
This extensive landscape type is representative of the majority of the Dunfermline
landscapes, extending across the whole District in a wide band between the upland
slopes, foothills, volcanic hills, coastal hills and coastal braes. The landform of this
extensive LCT is very variable but typically consists of gently undulating, rounded low
hills often with relatively large areas of plantations, and policy planting associated with
large estates.
RIVER VALLEY TYPES
Braod
Valley
Upland
The valley is partially enclosed to the west and north by the foothills, and to the south
east by the steep wall presented by the Southern Uplands. At about 200 metres AOD,
the basin is comparatively elevated and exposed. This is reflected in the broadleaved
and mixed zhelterbelts and small conifer plantations which are very common on the
lower valley sides and along the edge of the basin.
This is a comparatively settled though very rural landscape, with a dense network of
roads, farms and small villages. The A73 and the West Coast Mainline pass through
the valley.
COASTAL TYPES
Coastal
Margins –
Linlithgow/
Queensferry
Farmlands
Extending along the coast from the western edge of Edinburgh and inland towards
Linlithgow, the gently rolling lowland terrain is interrupted by higher hills and ridges of
which the most significant areas lie on the southern fringes of Linlithgow, where the
strong ridgelines rise to merge with the Bathgate Hills, and east of Queensferry, where
Mons Hill rises up from the coastal plain. The coastline west of the Forth Bridges is
fringed with mudflats, backed by wooded slopes with areas of raised beach above. To
the east, the piers and bridges of Queensferry give way to a sequence of small rocky
headlands culminating in Hound Point, where the shoreline swings south-eastward.
The predominant land cover of arable ground merges with smaller areas of improved
pasture on higher ground or along parts of the coast. Several extensive wooded
estates, notably Dalmeny, Hopetoun, Dundas Castle and the Binns, have a major
influence on the landscape character, through an abundance of deciduous and mixed
March 2013 9-33 ES Chapter 9
Landscape and Visual
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