Garron Plateau Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Open, uneven moorland plateau reaching 438m at Mid Hill.
• Distinctive stepped slope profile with rocky outcrops, steep descents and deeply incised streams.
• Moorland grasses predominate with sheep grazing as the major land use.
• Wind-blown beech trees and stone walls stand silhouetted against the moorland backdrop.
• Heather cover occurs on the summits covering extensive tracts of peat bog.
• Derelict stone cottages.
• Small scale peat cutting.

Landscape Description

The Garron Plateau is part of a `table' of Upper Basalt which stretches from central Ballymena to the coast at Garron Point, where dramatic cliffs with a distinctive stepped profile plunge into the sea. A distinctive landmark is Lurigethan and its Promontory Fort. The area is similar to the Larne Basalt Moorland in geology, land use and settlement, but its relief is more uneven, with rocky outcrops, deeply incised water courses and steep cliffs. The elevation is higher with summits reaching over 400 m in many places. Carncormick, Mid Hill and Soarns Hill are the highest mountains in the area.

The uneven landform harbours many upland loughs and reservoirs. Extensive sheep grazing predominates on lower slopes, where there are some stone walls dividing fields and occasional beech trees. Peat bogs on the more elevated summits support bog communities of heathers, moorland grasses and rushes and small-scale peat cutting is evident here. Glenariff Forest Park is a large area of conifer forest at the head of the famous Glenariff Glen. There are only a few isolated cottages and barns on the uplands and roads do not penetrate beyond the edge of the plateau. Many of the buildings lie derelict. Scattered archaeological features are associated with the plateau fringes. This wild upland area remains largely undisturbed by human intervention, and there are long views from its edges over the surrounding landscapes and the sea.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

The condition of this landscape, which falls within the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, contributes to its scenic value. Open moorland is grazed to sustain a diverse vegetation structure, and the presence of peat bog is a valuable asset to the habitat of this area. Post and wire fencing on the open moorland is in good condition. The variety of upland habitats (grassland, moorland and moss) is sensitive to large-scale changes in land use, such as the development of commercial forestry. The open and elevated nature of the landform, which allows long views and exposed skylines, renders it sensitive to the vertical elements, such as transmission masts, which would be highly visible. The most sensitive areas occur in the wildest and highest summits where valuable peatland habitats have been designated as the Garron Plateau ASSI in recognition of their scientific value. Two other areas on the eastern side of the plateau hold ASSI designations (Blackburn ASSI and Gortnagory ASSI).

Principles for Landscape Management

• The maintenance of existing carefully controlled grazing will conserve the extensive moorland vegetation, which is of ecological and landscape value.
• Distinctive landscape features such as mature beeches, pines and stone walls should be maintained.
• Distinctive moorland vegetation cover may be maintained by heather management and avoidance of excessive peat cutting.
• Commercial forestry exerts a pressure for change; plantations should be carefully sited to ensure they do not block views or alter the experience of an open and exposed landscape.
• Any new reservoir sites would need to be subjected to environmental assessment before their development.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• This exposed and wild landscape is unsuitable for new built development; the restoration of existing small stone dwellings would help conserve these as built features of the landscape.
• Careful consideration should be given to the siting of vertical elements such as radio masts and wind farms.