Kingdom Of Mourne Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Distinctive open 'stone wall country' on the southern slopes of the Mournes.
• Rolling mountain footslopes, dissected by numerous rocky streams and rivers.
• A patchwork of improved and semi-improved grazing in medium sized square fields divided by robust stone walls of glacial granite boulders.
• Numerous scattered small scale individual houses and farms along dense network of narrow roads, often aligned perpendicular to the slopes.
• Scattered trees and yellow gorse along field boundaries and patchy woodland in valleys.
• Coniferous plantation on hillslopes.
• Views to coast and into Mourne Mountains.

Landscape Description

The Kingdom of Mourne comprises the rolling footslopes of the Mourne Mountains, including the outlying mountain of Knockchree. The land falls to the coastal fringe to the south and is dissected by numerous parallel streams and rivers running broadly north-west to south-east towards the coast. A patchwork of medium sized square pastures is divided by highly distinctive and robust stone walls of glacial granite boulders. These rounded boulder walls without mortar dominate the landscape, creating a unique and unified landscape pattern. Vegetation is limited to occasional scattered trees, distinctive yellow gorse along field boundaries and patchy deciduous woodland in the valleys.

Large regular shaped coniferous plantations clothe the summit of Knockhree and the valley slopes of Annalong River. There are numerous scattered individual houses and farms along a dense network of narrow roads, which are aligned perpendicular to the slopes and in parallel with the landform. Most roads run along spurs with occasional links across the valley streams via stone bridges. Buildings are a mixture of old white painted stone cottages and farms and new pebbledash bungalows and houses. Most buildings are small in scale. There are long views to the coast and to the Mourne Mountains, the latter providing a backcloth to the intricate pattern of blocky stone walls and fields. This rural 'stone wall landscape', is known locally as the 'Kingdom of Mourne'.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

The national importance of this scenic landscape is reflected by its AONB status. Its open character and highly distinctive landscape pattern is crucial as a setting to the Mournes. Any disruption to the stone wall pattern would be highly damaging to landscape character. Archaeological sites are of importance for tourism within the area, as are the wooded estate landscapes of Mourne Park House and the area below Silent Valley Reservoir. Much of the rich cultural heritage of the Mournes is located within this farmed area, which would be sensitive to agricultural change or intensification.

Principles for Landscape Management

• Removal of stone walls for other uses and to enlarge fields is detrimental. An on-going programme of restoration and repair is essential to conserve this unique and striking landscape feature.
• Careful landscape and visual assessment should be carried out before altering the existing land use or landscape pattern in any way. Change which would mask the pattern of drystone walls, such as the planting of woodlands, would be inappropriate.
• The setting of archaeological sites, including isolated standing stones is important and should be a priority for conservation.
• There is scope to improve facilities for visitors to the area and thereby prevent erosion of rural roads. The use of local stone in the construction of picnic areas/viewpoints etc. is essential.Monitoring water quality in rivers and streams is important in keeping them pollution free. Encouraging farmers to use fewer chemicals would be advantageous.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• Continued scattered housing and bungalow development throughout the area is leading to the erosion of its rural character. In particular, the impact of ornamental plants and garden 'furniture' often has a negative influence. The area has reached its capacity for such development and the restoration of any derelict stone buildings should be a priority over the construction of new buildings.
• Large scale or vertical development (including telegraph poles and telecommunication masts) would be particularly disruptive in this area, as would the use of any building material other than stone.