Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
9.3.125 As the road travels south west around the base of Auchinoon Hill the smooth profiles of
grazing land and moorland open up to reveal distant views over the broad expanse of
Harperrig Reservoir at the base of the Pentland Hills which rise as a series of peaks beyond.
Small blocks of deciduous and coniferous woodland lie in the middle distance, partially
obscuring views towards the site and the turbines at the Pates Hill Wind Farm. The rising
land of Auchinoon Hill obscures views to the right. The Pentland Hills form the focus for views
throughout this section of the road. As the road bends sharply to the left at Causewood
mature woodland belts obscure views towards the site. Low stone walls and grazing land to
the left of the view allow the distant peaks of the Pentland Hills to remain the focus of the
view. The road turns sharply to the right at Wester Causewayend passing through further
deciduous tree belts and trees within the agricultural landscape. Views towards the site are
obscured. As the road continues approximately 1 km to the south, the view opens up as
vegetation in the landscape decreases. Distant views towards the site within a landscape of
grazing land and large expanses of coniferous plantation define the scene. The Pates Hill
Wind Farm is visible emerging from forestry to the right of the view. The peaks within the
Pentland Hills are largely obscured by the roiling foothills within the regional park. This open
scenery continues either side of the road, visible beyond low stone walls, to within
approximately 0.5 km of the site. At this point conifer plantations increase either side of the
road limiting views out across the landscape. As the road passes by the southern edge of the
site views to the left and the Pentland Hills are screened by mature stands of commercial
conifers. Views over the site comprise blocks of conifers of different ages within the Camilty
Plantation. The geometric shapes are visible through a narrow roadside belt of deciduous
woodland. The tops of turbines at Pates Hill are visible above the tree tops to the right of the
view. This route is represented by the adjacent location at viewpoint 2, described at
paragraphs 9.5.34 and 9.5.73 to 74 below.
The B7008 Travelling South from West Calder to the A70
9.3.126 The ZTV indicates that approximately 6 km of this road would provide a potential location for
views of the proposals. However, roadside trees and woodland obscure many views. From
the edge of West Calder, views from the road are filtered through mature field boundary trees
in pasture towards a back drop of a wooded low ridge. Over head power lines cross the view
on the skyline. Travelling south the road enters the wooded Harwood Water valley, curtailing
distant views towards the site. Between the river and the northern edge of Harburn, the
landscape is traditional pastoral agricultural and attractive in nature. Views are restricted to
occasional glimpses between blocks of woodland and roadside trees and hedgerows to the
Pentland Hills in the distance. West of Harburn the road follows the perimeter of the Harburn
House estate for a distance of approximately 2 km. Mature trees and belts of woodland and
conifer plantation line the sides of the roads in many locations preventing significant views
out. In areas where pasture boarders the road some distant views across woodland towards
the site can be gained. As the road approaches the site boundary, the conifer plantation at
Camilty is set back from the road around the Roman Fortlet site. The grassland allows open
views over forestry to the tops of the Pentland Hills in the distance. Adjacent to the site
boundary the road is either completely contained by mature plantation or set within large
areas of recently planted trees which provide contrasting types of views for occupiers of
vehicles.
March 2013 9-46 ES Chapter 9
Landscape and Visual
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