Moyle Moorlands And Forests Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Open upland reaching 550m at Trostan. Large scale, smooth moorland landscape dissected by small rocky burns.
• Rough grazing of unimproved grassland and heather; extensive areas of blanket bog.
• Extensive and prominent conifer plantations on lower hillslopes.
• Exposed landscape with few roads or settlements; scattered farms on edges of the uplands.
• Archaeological features are a characteristic of the summits. Extensive views are available across open moorland and to coast.

Landscape Description

The Moyle Moorlands and Forests, south of Ballycastle, comprise an open exposed upland area of metamorphic schists and Lower Basalt, which reaches 550m at Trostan. It is a large scale, sweeping moorland landscape with distinctive peaks such as Knocklayd and Slieveanorra. The uplands are dominated by rough grazing of unimproved grassland and heather without field boundaries and by large areas of blanket bog, some of which has been cut for peat. Extensive conifer plantations on the hillslopes, such as Ballypatrick Forest, contrast with the open moorland, and additional land has been drained in preparation for new planting. The plantations often have harsh straight edges, although there are areas of broadleaf woodland on the lower slopes. Picnic and parking facilities are provided for recreational activities within the forests. Pastures on the fringes of the uplands are often sedgy, with degraded gorsey banks and stone walls separating fields.

Settlement is confined to the lower moorland edges and more sheltered valleys, where traditional white-painted stone farms are situated at the ends of long access tracks. Cottages and farm buildings on higher land are frequently abandoned. There is no development on the uplands. Few roads cross the area, and those which do are often unfenced, offering long open views across the moorlands and to the coast. The area is an important backdrop to the glen landscapes which penetrate them, and is highly visible in long views from the lowland landscapes to the west. Archaeological features, such as chambered graves and standing stones, are associated with the moorland summits and in places have been masked by forestry. Old field patterns are seen on some of the lower fringes. Recently radio-masts and windfarms have become a feature of the skylines. There is a disused quarry on Knocklayd.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

The scenic quality of the landscape is reflected by its designation as part of the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The landscape is highly sensitive to change due to its open exposed character and the fragile upland ecosystem which prevails. Commercial forestry and peat cutting have eroded the otherwise pristine landscape. Further drainage of peat bogs for forestry and changes in grazing pressure would cause notable damage to moorland vegetation. Construction of reservoirs in these uplands would have major impact. The open skylines are extremely visible and very sensitive to change, as illustrated by the existing radio-mast and wind-farms.

Principles for Landscape Management

• The management of grazing levels to conserve heather and grass moorland would be beneficial.
• The control of peat cutting is important, particularly if mechanised techniques are used, to help prevent damage to highly visible areas. Intact areas of blanket bog of high ecological value are particularly vulnerable, as well as the steeper slopes, which would be very prone to erosion if vegetation were to be removed.
• The integration of new and existing forestry plantations with the wider landscape would be improved if they occupied the lower ground, avoided high summits, had irregular edges and included broad-leaved species. Future plantations should also be located at a distance from stream corridors and historic features. Clearings within forests allow for greater visual and ecological variety.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• Wind farms, radio-masts and reservoirs are the main types of development likely to affect these upland areas. Careful siting and design would be required to ensure that the resulting visual and noise impacts do not damage the character of the area, or the landscapes of the Antrim Glens, for which they are a backdrop.
• New buildings in this upland landscape would be out of character and difficult to conceal, except within or at the fringes of forestry areas. The retention of trees around developments when the forests are felled would ensure their continued assimilation into the landscape.
• The restoration of some of the derelict traditional farm houses on the fringes of the area would be preferable to new development.