Quoile Valley Lowlands Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Pronounced drumlins divided by marshy hollows, loughs and bogs.
• Winding rivers, fringed by trees and woodlands, are attractive local landscape features which provide a contrast to the undulating farmland.
• Estates with well maintained, robust stone walls and mixed woodlands.
• Avenues of beech and stands of pine.
• Rocky outcrops and gorse, especially on steep or exposed slopes.
• Dense, evenly distributed network of roads and lanes with densely scattered white-finished farm houses and small stone dwellings.
• Raths, standing stones and earthworks.

Landscape Description

The Quoile Valley Lowlands extend north-south down the centre of Down District, encompassing the courses of the Ballynahinch, Annacloy and Blackstaff Rivers. To the west, the land rises to the summits of Slieve Croob and to the east, the numerous islands of the Strangford Drumlins and Islands stretch into the sea lough. The height and density of the drumlins varies; the landform becomes progressively shallower towards the south but the drumlins on the fringes of Strangford Lough are relatively steep and have a pronounced egg-shaped form. Water courses wind around the drumlins and form small inland loughs or bogs in the inter-drumlin hollows. The loughs often have wooded margins and the bogs show varying degrees of vegetational succession, from open heather and rushes to gorse scrub and small trees. The prominent field pattern is emphasised by well maintained stone walls and hedgerows. Small to medium sized farms support mainly sheep and cattle grazing, although there are arable fields on the better drained drumlins.

Avenues of beech and stands of pine are characteristic features which stand out in the landscape, especially where they occur on the summits of the smooth hillocks. The influence of estates adds to the appearance of a fairly well wooded landscape. Large, white-finished farm houses and small traditional stone dwellings are both present, as well as scattered modern housing; they are connected by a dense network of roads and lanes. Red painted outbuildings are common and add character to the landscape. The drumlin landforms create distinctive landscape settings for the many clustered settlements, including Ballynahinch and Downpatrick. Small roads cross the numerous watercourses on stone bridges. Raths, standing stones and mottes are prominent landscape features, creating a strong sense of landscape history.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

The stone wall and hedgerow structure is a good indicator of landscape condition. It is generally robust and emphasises the pronounced sweeping landforms of the drumlins. Most buildings are in good condition, although some of the smaller stone cottages lie in ruin or a state of semi-dereliction. Landscape sensitivity is lowest in the wooded areas where undulating topography and tree cover create opportunities to accommodate and screen development. Some of the inter-drumlin hollows are important for their fenland flora and one such site, at Woodgrange, has been designated as an ASSI.

The trees and woodlands along the river corridors and fringing the inter-drumlin hollows are valuable for nature conservation, as well as for their scenic contribution to the landscape. The area around Downpatrick is part of the Strangford Lough Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Principles for Landscape Management

• Priority should be given to the management of the river corridors and their associated vegetation; buffer zones would help protect water channels from the impact of runoff from the surrounding fertilised farmland.
• Management of local estates (and their associated features), hedgerows and stone walls will ensure the robust landscape structure is maintained; replacement of beech avenues and stands of pine should be a priority.
• Planting of conifer plantations in place of deciduous species will result in a change of character; deciduous woodland should be replanted and managed where possible.
• The setting of archaeological features should be identified and conserved; public access may be encouraged to raise their profile in the landscape and prevent unwillful neglect or erosion of settings.
• Management of the damp hollows between drumlins, through control of drainage schemes, vegetational succession and fly tipping, will conserve the character of these wetland habitats.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• Farm outbuildings may be landmarks within the landscape if they are painted appropriately; red finishes are characteristic of the area.
• Traditional stone cottages are particularly characteristic of the area; restoration of these is preferable to new built development.