Lough Bradan Landscape

• Steep drumlins and valleys in lowland areas, with a transition to undulating sandstone plateau and rolling moorland on upland summits.
• Small-scale pattern of pastures, with rushes and moss within damp hollows and rough grazing on moorland tops.
• Forestry expanding on gley soils of lowland drumlin hills, with the incorporation of existing trees and hedges in plantations; large scale forestry plantations on higher ground.
• Semi-natural woodland on cut-over bogs and steep valley and drumlin slopes.
• Sparsely populated, with many derelict buildings; houses small and associated with farms.
• Variety of archaeological features, including a stone circle

Lough Bradan extends from NE Fermanagh to the Lough Bradan Forest in West Tyrone. The area is characterised by valleys and steep drumlins on the lowlands, with a transition to an undulating sandstone plateau. The plateau is slightly elevated and fingers of this more resistant rock extend out into the drumlin lowlands. To the north east, the land rises to the massive rounded summits of Pollnalaght (268m), Dooish (341m) and Tappaghan Mountain (333m).

In lowland areas, there is an alternating pattern of forest and marginal pastures, dissected by small rivers which link the areas of bog, damp woodland and meadow which lie between the drumlins. The patchwork of small, angular fields breaks down to scrub and open grazing on the fringes of the moorland. The upland has a simpler landscape pattern, with rough grazing, peat cutting and large forestry plantations such as that of Lough Bradan Forest. Avenues of native trees, often in poor condition, are a feature of the lowlands and there are a number of small wooded estates in the Fermanagh lowlands, towards the shores of Lower Lough Erne.

Land quality in the lowlands varies considerably. The well drained land around the Glendarragh Valley is intensively farmed as grassland; it has a tidy, well managed appearance with clipped hedgerows. However, the sandstone soils are of poorer quality and forestry has become increasingly important, taking over former land uses. For instance, the historic small wooded estates of Clonelly and Tubbrid have been given over to commercial forestry. Settlement in the area is closely related to the alignment of local valley roads. The small villages of Ederney and Lack are within the Glendurragh valley but elsewhere, settlement density is low and there are scattered farmhouses and cottages. Derelict buildings are found throughout the area. The area retains its historic townland boundary patterns and numerous archaeological features including a well preserved stone circle at Drumskinny.

The landscape has a varied use, with forestry and peat cutting leaving extensive areas in poor condition. Small areas have been subject to fly-tipping and land has often been left unmanaged and allowed to degenerate to moorland. Remnant hedgerows and derelict buildings on the upper slopes suggest that these areas have been farmed more intensively in the past.

Quarries are found in this area (on the Dunaree Hills) and may in some cases be a catalyst for the downgrading of upland moorland. Quarry scars, poorly designed screening mounds and equipment are all visual eyesores.

• Conifer plantations should ideally be designed to fit within existing deciduous boundaries, with open areas retained to conserve the setting of local landscape features and archaeological sites. The design of the prominent lowland margins of forests merit particular attention and would often benefit from additional planting of broadleaf species, to soften and integrate the forest edges with the surrounding landscapes.
• Peat cutting is damaging extensive areas of moorland. It is advisable that the remaining areas of scenic and ecological value are protected.
• New quarries require landscape and visual assessment prior to site selection and existing abandoned quarry sites would benefit from restoration.

• The large buildings associated with the forestry and saw mill industry are inappropriate in a rural setting and may be screened with mixed woodland planting.
• Traditional buildings are typically painted white and associated with stands of trees; they are usually linked to farms.
• The visual clutter associated with telecommunication masts on open skylines may be minimised by amalgamating equipment onto single masts.