Belfast Basalt Escarpment Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Distinctive dark basalt cliffs with stepped profile and steep scarp slope which tower above the northern edge of Belfast.
• Small scale patchwork of improved pasture with scrub encroachment.
• Unkempt, gappy hedgerows.
• Open skyline; deciduous woodland covers lower slopes.
• Transmission masts on summits and dominant pylon infrastructure.
• Prominent, abandoned quarries.

Landscape Description

The edge of the Antrim basalt plateau is well defined by a steep scarp slope which wraps around and contains the north west edge of Belfast. The black basalt outcrops have a distinctive, sheer profile which is broken by a series of steep, wooded glens. The Hills are pitted with quarries and have a rugged, almost brutal character. They provide a dramatic contrast to the dense urban areas below. The dark basalt overlies a thin band of chalk, which forms a strong contrast in colour whenever it is visible. Belfast Castle, at the northern end of the narrow strip, is set in a densely wooded designed landscape which contrasts with the rugged, rural character of the scarp edge. Further to the west, the steep wooded landscapes associated with Collin House lie derelict. The lower escarpment slopes are a mixture of hummocky open pasture with gappy hedgerows and stands of deciduous woodland on steeper slopes.

There are extensive areas of regenerating scrub and gorse. Narrow roads provide steep links between the ridge-top road and Belfast, winding up the basalt edge. The slopes are pitted with quarries. Most are abandoned and have a rugged, untidy character and many are associated with fly tipping. The quarries are prominent and a strong influence on landscape character and quality. The basalt edge provides an opportunity for panoramic views over the city of Belfast. The northern edge of the city has a high density, well defined boundary which is contained within the geometric field pattern.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

Seen at close quarters, the landscape of the Belfast Basalt Escarpment is generally in a rather degraded state, with neglect and loss of field boundaries giving the area an untidy character. Fly tipping is evident along some of the local roads and in some derelict quarries. The scarp slope is a prominent landmark of the area and its open character, distinct profile and high visibility render it particularly sensitive to change. Despite the degraded condition of some areas, it creates a distinctive setting for Belfast which merits conservation and management. The entire area is therefore classified as an `Area of Scenic Quality'.

Principles for Landscape Management

• Restoration of abandoned quarry workings will improve the visual appearance and landscape condition of the escarpment. Quarries in prominent positions are particularly important.
• Management of degraded hedgerows and replanting along post and wire boundaries will strengthen landscape patterns and enhance the condition of the landscape.
• Management and replanting of the remaining deciduous woodland on the lower slopes of the escarpment will ensure that these slopes remain wooded, creating recreational opportunities for residents of Belfast and enhancing the setting of the city.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• The characteristic slope profile may be preserved by retaining an open, rural character and limiting the extent of development into the prominent upper slopes.
• Edges of urban settlement which are tightly contained within field boundaries may be integrated most easily with the scale of the landscape.