The siting and design of aquaculture in the landscape: visual and ...

3.5 Sheltered but expansive lochs
3.5.1 Key characteristics
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These lochs are generally enclosed by hills and often feel quite separate from the open sea.
They are broader relative to their length and feel less confined than steep-sided lochs. Because
of the wider extent of the water surface and the less pronounced enclosure created by the
surrounding low hills they feel less contained.
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The landform near to the water edge is frequently gentle in gradient, sometimes with low rocky
outcrops or ledges, creating a gradual transition from the flat water surface to the steeper
hillsides.
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Often, the eye is drawn to a skyline of hilltops over an expanse of water.
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The coastline is generally indented with small bays and sometimes islands or skerries.
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Roads tend to be less constrained by the surrounding topography so they are less likely to run
close to the edge of the loch and may rise up surrounding hill slopes
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Views from roads part of the way up the hillside allow viewers to look down upon the water.
Views of the loch from low-level views may be intermittent because of intervening ground and
woodland.
In these landscapes, cages and lines can readily dominate the water surface of small bays and lochside indentations,
resulting in the loss of a key characteristic. Often the relative intimacy of the coastline makes it difficult to accommodate
the mass of large cages or extensive areas of lines.
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