Craggy Dromara Uplands Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Rolling, upland drumlin landscape with scattered rocky outcrops.
• Rugged, craggy character.
• Pastures of varied shapes and sizes, many enclosed by stone walls.
• Holly is a characteristic hedgerow species.
• Patches of scrub, clumps of gorse and marshy land provide contrasts in texture and character.
• Stands of Scots pine.
• Derelict farmsteads juxtaposed with recent dispersed development along straight roads on lower slopes.
• Conical gateposts.

Landscape Description

An elevated drumlin landscape to the east of Dromara with a rugged, relatively wild character and a rough texture. The summits are separated by a rolling plateau of marginal farmland and the rounded drumlin landform is broken by numerous rocky outcrops and clumps of gorse. Pastures are of varied shapes and sizes and many are enclosed by low, broken stone walls. Overgrown hedgerows, clumps of gorse, rocky outcrops and patches of marshy farmland give the landscape an untamed character, although these pockets of rough land are interspersed by rolling pastures. There are no woodlands, but stands of Scot's pine and groups of mature oak trees shelter some of the older farmsteads. Holly is characteristic of hedgerows. Derelict farmsteads are often juxtaposed with more recent bungalow development along principal roads, such as the B2 and the roads alongside Lough Aghery and Cluntagh Lough. Traditional white farmsteads with stone barns are prominent and are often sited close to dramatic rocky outcrops. A rath, sited on a local skyline to the north west of Dromara, is a special local landscape feature and forms part of the setting for the attractive historic mill buildings at Woodford.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

This is an area of relatively poor quality farmland, with many patches of wasteland but there are also areas of better farmland to the north, towards the lower margins of the Hillsborough Slopes. In such areas, hedgerow removal has led to an erosion of the farmland pattern, reducing its capacity to accommodate development. Built development is often prominent in this fairly open landscape, particularly in elevated plateau areas; the smooth lawns and ornamental planting form a strong contrast to the surrounding rough pasture. The northern slopes of the Craggy Dromara Uplands, the lowland valley to the east of Ballykeel and the fringes of Lough Aghery are particularly sensitive to change as they are prominent in important views. The lough fringes are also important for nature conservation and the loughs themselves contain crannogs, of great archaeological interest.

Principles for Landscape Management

• Reinstatement of hedgerows and hedgerow trees would enhance landscape condition. Holly and rowan are characteristic species in local hedgerows. Priority should be given to the conservation and restoration of hedgerows and hedgerows trees which are prominent on local skylines.
• Waterlogged areas between drumlins and on fringes of loughs are vulnerable to drainage schemes; habitat conservation in these areas will also conserve landscape character.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• Local roads are already reaching their capacity to accommodate linear ribbon development.
• The presence of existing trees of stature and the planting of native species may assist the integration of new buildings in the landscape.
• Conservation of existing stone walls and gateposts, using local stone for repairs and building new stone walls will help to retain local identity.
• Restoration of derelict buildings and their adjacent paddocks will conserve the traditional built styles of the area.