Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Landscape Character Type: LOWLAND HILLS/UPLAND IGNEOUS AND VOLCANIC HILLS
Landscape Character Area: Ochil Hills
Extent within the LCT extends to a 5-35km radius in a north east direction within the study area.
study area
The prominent mass of the Ochil Hills forms an abrupt northern boundary to the Forth Valley,
stretching eastwards from Dunblane and Bridge of Allan and continuing to spread north and
east into Perth and Kinross District.
According to the Clackmannanshire LCA and the Central Region LCA the south facing lower
part of the Ochil Hills belongs to the Lowland Hills LCT. According to the Tayside LCA the
rest of the hills are classified as Upland Igneous and Volcanic Hills.
The ZTV covers the south facing foothills and spreads unevenly upwards to higher levels. It
also covers the pathway to Dumyat, the pointed view of Nebit and there are some sporadic
ZTV patches over the Ben Cleuch.
Representative VP13 – Ben Cleuch and VP16 – Dumyat.
viewpoints
Wind energy
Installed/Approved: Burnfoot, Greenknowes, Lochelbank.
developments
Key Characteristics/
Landform
Water
Land Cover/Use
Settlements/Roads
Other Features
Experience
Internal/External
visibility
Scale
Diversity
Visual detractors
Designations
Key Landscape
Issues
LCA Sensitivity
Forming the highest ground within the Lowlands of Central Region, the hills reach a peak in
Ben Cleuch (721m). The escarpment line is punctuated by prominent north-south tending
steep-sided glens.
The hills are drained by a large number of short burns and small rivers, flowing northwards
into Strathearn and Strathallan and southwards into the Loch Leven basin.
Across the rolling upper hill summits, peaty ground and extensive stretches of grass and
heather moorland.
Predominantly uninhabited landscape. Farms and hamlets concentrated in main glens such
as Glen Devon.
Several tracks and walking routes penetrate the hill-mass, accessed along the glens from the
Devon Valley below.
Towards the western edge of the hills, a number of coniferous shelterbelts and plantations
intrude in overly geometric in form. The thick coniferous woodland which clothes the hills
above Dollar also appears incongruous.
Generally open landscape of almost conical summits dominated by grass moorland.
INTERMITTENT Valley features lead to locally restricted views.
Locally HIGH on plateau margins.
MEDIUM (Locally small to intimate). Distinctive large-scale topography of rounded upper
slopes and hill summits, with rolling grassy or peaty ridges and braes.
SIMPLE
Masts and aerials are already prominent features;
Localised visual intrusion from forest edges, pylon lines, operating wind energy
developments;
Quarry at Tillicoultry;
Hill tracks, particularly at Alva Glen and Silver Glen, constitute prominent visual scars in
views from south.
Ochil Hills AGLV.
Designed landscape: Castle Campell.
Popular walking routes, e.g. Ben Cleuch (pointed view), Dumyat and The Nebit (pointed
view).
To conserve and enhance open hill character. Intensive recreational use.
Medium to High
The south-facing slopes, one of the most visually sensitive areas in Scotland. Visual impact
of escarpment is accentuated by broad, flat floodplain, giving a landscape experience which
is unique in Scotland.
The value of the landscape is medium to high due to its location within the regionally
designated AGLV. Clackmannanshire LCA state that “The landscape has a strong sense of
place, notable scenic qualities and relatively intact and uncompromised character, which
remains largely unaffected by inappropriate land uses and development. “
Landscape Character Type: LOWLAND HILL FRINGES
Landscape Character Area: East Touch Fringe
Extent within the LCT extends to a 5-15km radius in a west direction within the study area.
study area
The eastern boundary of the Touch Hills is demarcated by the rugged, crag-edged dolerite
outcrops of Gillies Hill and Lewis Hill. These denote the edge of a broad swathe of strongly
rolling, occasional hummocky farmland, which forms a transition in height and form from west
to east between the Touch Hill Slopes and the wide flat valley of the Forth Estuary. To the
south the area is bounded by the steep gorge of the Carron Glen and the broad industrialised
expanse of the adjoining lower Carron River and Bonny Water.
Representative VP18 – Cowie.
viewpoints
Wind energy
Scoping: Rullie, Community project near Torwood.
developments
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 25
Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2010 ©