Carrigatuke Hills Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Large scale, smooth rolling hills and deep wooded valleys.
• Extensive conifer plantations and residual peaty moorland create a series of geometric blocks on the highest and wildest hills.
• Many mature trees, tree-belts, and small woodlands on lower hills.
• Large houses, farms and buildings amongst rolling hills are linked by numerous winding roads.
• Long panoramic views over the surrounding lowlands.

Landscape Description

The Carrigatuke Hills extend across southern Armagh from the Ring of Gullion to Keady. This is a large scale landscape of smooth rolling green hills and deep wooded valleys. The higher hills have a wild exposed character, with areas of blanket bog and heather moorland. The hills form a broad continuous upland area with few valleys. The rounded summits are separated by broad upland plateaux. Large conifer plantations create a series of straight edged blocks on the highest hills, where they stand out clearly against open moorland. On the lower rolling hills there are many small woodlands, mature trees and treebelts resulting in a landscape of well treed character.

Bushy hedgerows bound fields, giving a locally enclosed landscape and creating a strong field pattern which enhances the distinctive landform of rounded hills. Wooded streams and loughs are attractive features of the valleys which drain from the hills. These include the valleys of the Carnagh estate, Glen Anne and Ballymoye. Large houses, farms and buildings amongst rolling hills are linked by numerous winding roads, houses and farms, which are often at the end of long tracks. There are no small settlements and Newtownhamilton is the local market town. Archaeological features are associated with some of the hill-tops, such Mullyash Mountain. There are extensive and breathtaking views from the hill-tops particularly Carrigatuke, over the surrounding lowlands.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

The landscape condition is good with a strong hedgerow structure which remains consistent throughout the landscape. The tops of hills and upper slopes are particularly sensitive owing to their visibility. The wetlands and areas of blanket bog on the upland plateau are important

Principles for Landscape Management

• Forestry is replacing peat moorland on upland slopes and reducing landscape diversity. The remaining open moorland requires conservation and management to ensure its long term sustainability.
• The ongoing management of deciduous woodlands and shelterbelts would be beneficial to extend and conserve these important and characteristic landscape elements.
• The edges of upland forestry could be enhanced by irregular planting of deciduous and coniferous species to create varied edge and age profiles. Gaps should be left between areas of forestry to maintain a diverse landscape.
• Streams and loughs within the hills are important features which would benefit from conservation and management. Priorities for action include promoting waterside access, planting to enhance the landscape and ecological value of the features and monitoring water quality.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• TV masts on the hill summits should be kept to a minimum.
• Large farm buildings require sympathetic siting so that they are sheltered by landform and existing vegetation. New native planting alongside developments would help integrate development into the landform. Non-native planting would not fit well into the landscape.
• The large scale rolling hills provide opportunities to shelter pockets of development. It would be out of character on tops of the higher hills and moorlands but the lower hills and valley sides are more typical locations.
• The restoration of old stone cottages and farms is preferable to the construction of new buildings.
• Traditional buildings are typically at the end of long access drives rather than on roadside locations. Stone or white painted pebbledash with grey slate roofs are the traditional building materials.
• The settings to historic monuments and open hilltops would benefit from protection against development.