Slieve Croob Summits Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Distinctive and prominent rugged summits.
• Open grassland with rocky screes.
• Narrow passes link valleys via tortuous routes.
• Small stone cottages, many derelict.
• Sheep grazing on marginal pastures and grassy summits.
• Conifer plantations, notably the Drumkeeragh Forest.
• Archaeological sites on upland fringes.
• Good panoramic views over the surrounding area.

Landscape Description

The Slieve Croob Summits are a series of rounded summits formed from intrusive igneous rocks within a surrounding lowland area of sedimentary rocks. They stand out as distinct massive rocky summits with thin grass cover and shattered rocky screes. The land rises to a height of 534m at Slieve Croob. The lower slopes are marginal pasture divided by broken stone walls and small stone cottages, many of which lie derelict. Stunted, wind-sculpted trees stand against these cottages or nestle in the more sheltered slopes of this exposed environment. The summits are an open, rugged landscape, with only a few conifer plantations. Drumkeeragh Forest, on the slopes of White Hill, is the largest. Few roads cross the landscape but viewpoints such as Windy Gap allow panoramic views over the surrounding lowlands, as well as across to the Mourne Mountains. The prominent ridge-lines are visible from miles around, particularly those formed by the Slieve Croob/Slievenisky complex and Slievegarran. Cashels, raths and standing stones are found on many of the slopes leading to the Slieve Croob summits. The most important is the Legananny Dolmen, an important chambered grave site

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

These wild uplands are relatively unspoilt in terms of human impact, although derelict cottages contribute to the rather desolate landscape of the summits and there are numerous transmission masts on the summits of Slieve Croob. Grazing pressures keep grass close-cropped, revealing subtle variations in landform and texture. The landscape is highly sensitive to change as a result of its openness and high visibility over great distances. Much of the area falls within the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; its scenic qualities are therefore recognised and merit continued conservation.

Principles for Landscape Management

• Forestry should be sensitively sited to enhance landform and avoid obliterating field or other textural patterns in the landscape; upland areas with a relatively rolling landform may accommodate large scale plantations more easily than small blocks of woodland, which may seem distracting. A deciduous edge may help to integrate the plantation into its context.
• Maintenance of stone walls would ensure they remain characteristic features of the landscape and would help to retain the important linkages in the settlement pattern.
• The landscape setting of the many archaeological sites should be a priority for conservation and landscape management action.
• Ongoing management of grazing pressures will help to conserve the upland grassland habitat and characteristic views of the rugged, textured landform.
• Car parks and viewpoints which reflect traditional landscape patterns and features, such as stone walls and small, rough surfaced parking places, will be integrated most easily into the landscape.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• This upland landscape is extremely sensitive to built development; renovation of traditional stone cottages should take precedence over building new dwellings.