STRATHYRE AND LOCH EARN - Cairngorms National Park 1.5 Strathyr… · around Loch Earn and Dundurn where he was said to have preached and a well at the top of the hill is known as

S P EC IA L Q UA LITI ES O F B RE A D A LB AN E

STRATHYRE AND LOCH EARN

Key Features

Small flats strips of farmland around watercourses

Open upland hills

Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’Chroin

Loch Lubnaig and Loch Earn

Pass of Leny

Glen Ogle

Landmark historic buildings and heritage sites including Edinample Castle and Dundurn Pictish Hill Fort

STRATHYRE & LOCH EARN

84 Special Qualities Appendix

Summary of Evaluation

Sense of PlaceThe visual/sense of place qualities are important. The open upland hills dominatemuch of this area, with Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’ Chroin the highest peaks, creating anopen and vast sense of place with diverse features such as rocky outcrops and scree.Although open uplands are characteristic of much of the highland area of the Parkthey are distinctive in the Breadalbane area as being generally higher and moreunbroken with distinct exposed upper slopes. Loch Earn and Loch Lubnaig are the twomain lochs in the area and both have quite distinct characters. Loch Lubnaig isenclosed by heavily planted glen sides and rugged craggy hills such as Ben Ledi andthe loch shores are largely undeveloped. Loch Earn in contrast is broad in expanse andflanked by steep hills to the north and south. There are areas of residential,recreational and commercial development along areas of the north and south shore.

The flat glen floors are a focus for communication routes and settlement. The flatstrips of farmland around the watercourses provide an enclosed landscape whichcontrasts with the surrounding hills.

Cultural HeritageThe cultural heritage of the area is of high importance with substantial evidence ofcontinuity of use of the landscape. Detailed survey of Leny Woods identified recessedplatforms which may be the remains of prehistoric house stances and prehistoric cupmarked stones have been identified at Craggan providing further evidence for the longhistory of settlement in this area. The Pictish fort of Dundurn lying to the south east ofSt Fillans and Dunmore Fort to the west of Callander are important defensive sites.Three Roman Forts have been recorded in the Park and the Bochastle Roman Fort liesjust to the west of Callander. These Roman forts were constructed in the late firstcentury AD and were all positioned at the mouth of highland glens. Medieval sites areoften highly visible in the landscape and include the 16th century Edinample Castleand the ruin of St Brides Chapel and burial ground near Loch Lubnaig and St Fillan’sburial ground at Dundurn.

The densely forested glens around Loch Lubnaig conceal surviving areas ofmedieval/post medieval deserted farmsteads, townships and shielings. The oakwoodsat Leny Woods also retain widespread evidence for the former use of the woods as asource of charcoal and there is evidence of lime working in the shape of quarries andkilns on the moorland to the north of Callander.

Settlement occurs along the flat strath floors and loch shores around Loch Earn.Lochearnhead and the nearby deserted settlement of Glen Ogle retain early 19thCentury or possibly 18th Century vernacular rubble cottages, with some retention oforiginal thatch. There are 2 unusually good surviving examples of these cruck framedcottages in Lochearnhead. In contrast to Lochearnhead, St Fillans is characterised by arun of gabled Victorian villas, many drawing on Arts and Craft inspiration and includingdecorative barge boarding and tree trunk porches.

The farmed strath floors are characterised by Improvement Period rectilinear fields.There are also a few country houses and areas of policy and parkland associated withthis period such as Leny House and Ardvorlich House. The glen and strath floors wereimportant routes for travel through the area and surviving structures include the mid18th century Major Caulfied military road and bridges. There are also remains of thenow disused Callander to Oban railway including important railway viaducts in GlenOgle.

BiodiversityThe area is of medium to high importance for biodiversity. Moorland and upland plantcommunities, moorland birds and mammals including golden eagle, red kite, redgrouse, red deer, mountain hare and hen harrier all occur in the upland areas and are adistinctive part of the Park’s landscape.

Although much of the glens are forested there are important pockets of broadleavedwoodland and ancient woodland sites, particularly along the riparian corridors withinthe conifers. Significant pockets of semi-natural woodland occur in the woodedupland glens around Loch Earn, including oak wood and alder wood, hazel and ashwoodland and passerine bird assemblage. These woodlands are of high importance,particularly in areas designated for their nature conservation value and ancientwoodland.

The area also includes important wetland habitats. The Loch Lubnaig marshes areimportant for their fen, reed swamp and emergent plant communities, rare waterbeetles and other invertebrates. The River Teith is an important area for salmon andlamprey and the Pass of Leny Flushes SSSI for nutrient rich upland flushes and speciessuch as fragrant orchid. The rushy pastures in the fields along the flat strath floorssupport wildlife such as waders.

Many of the buildings in the settled areas support bat roosts, especially pipistrelles.

GeologyThe area also has some geological sites of high importance including Leny Quarry,designated as a SSSI for Cambrian fossils and their implications for the sedimentaryand tectonic history of the area.


Special Qualities Appendix 85

AssociationsThe area has historic and cultural associations. Strathyre was described by Sir WalterScott in ‘The Lady of the Lake’ (1810) and Ardvorlich House and Loch Earn areconnected with ‘A Legend of Montrose’ (1819). The area has religious associations withSt Fillan, a different St Fillan from the St Fillan of Strathfillan, particularly the areaaround Loch Earn and Dundurn where he was said to have preached and a well at thetop of the hill is known as St Fillan’s well. There are also the remains of St Bride’sChapel near Loch Lubnaig and St Blane’s Chapel on the shores of Loch Earn.

Qualities valued by local communities(Source: Community Futures and Park Plan Workshop on Special Qualities, April 2004)

• The fact that some of the lochs and mountains are tranquil while some aremore active.

• The River Teith for its pristine water habitat.

• The diversity of wildlife including eagles, sand wasps, pine marten, red squirreland deer.

• The archaeology, specific mention of early settlement at Leny.

• Gaelic place names

• Clans

• Landscape icons which engender strong emotions.

• St Fillans, Christianity.

• Glen Ogle, specific mention made of the railway

• Dundurn Hill and associations

• Cultural and historic associations are a special part of Breadalbane.

• Munros and the high peaks

• Breadalbane as the ‘Highland’ part of the Park.

• Loch Earn, quiet and tranquil qualities

• Loch Lubnaig



MAP 4A - LANDSCAPE CHARACTER TYPES



MAP 4B - HISTORIC LAND USE



MAP 4C - RELICT HISTORIC LAND USE



MAP 4D - NATURE CONSERVATION DESIGNATIONS & LANDSCAPE CHARACTER TYPES



The open upland hills dominate theStrathyre area, creating an open andlarge scale landscape with diversefeatures such as rocky outcrops andscrees. The individual hills aredistinctively shaped, compactcorries and spurs of Ben Vorlich andStuc a Chroin contrasting with thesmoother landform of hills to thesouth.

The upland hills are remote anddifficult to access, and whilstimportant landmarks in the widerlandscape these open upland hillsare less visually dominant locally tocommunities. They tend to bescreened by or seen acrossintervening landform, or seensomewhat foreshortened. HoweverBen Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin dohave recognisable silhouettes andform a part of the visual signature ofthe Highland Line, particularlyimportant in distant views from thesouth and east. This visual edge ofuplands would be particularlyvulnerable to development thatimpacts on its unbroken silhouette.The upland slopes and summitsoffer panoramic views over thesurrounding area, taking in thelowlands and neighbouringhighlands, accessible only by foot.These areas are remote andgenerally unspoilt although there issome evidence of masts, pylons andunsympathetic tracks. Openupland hills are a characteristic of allthe highland area of the Park, but aredistinctive in the Breadalbane area asbeing generally higher and moreunbroken, with distinct exposedupper slopes which sit beyond theenclosed glens. The open, exposed,remote qualities mean wildness andtranquillity can be experienced.

There are certain pressures on allupland hill areas including pylon,mast and wind farm development.Recreational pressures are alsoevident on popular upland tracks,which can easily become severelyeroded. The high visibility of theuplands and the general absence ofstructures or developments meanthat any intrusion on the scene islikely to be highly visible anddetrimental to the unspoilt qualitiesthat underpin the areas opportunityfor wildness and tranquillity, as wellas introducing scale reference.

Inappropriate development inneighbouring landscapes can alsoadversely impact on the experienceof these uplands.

BENEFITS CONTRIBUTION TO BENEFIT? EVALUATION OF IMPORTANCE TRENDS & PRESSURES

Sense of place

There are several well preservedconcentrations of shielings on eastGlenample.

Important to local people, visitorsand specialists.

Shieling groups contribute tolandscape character and areappreciated by walkers, both visitorsand locals. They may also havespecialist value, as many of thegroups are likely to haveconsiderable longevity and severalphases of development can be seenvisually. It may be also possible toidentify regional types.

Unfortunately those in Glen Amplealthough well preserved are cut offboth physically and visually from thefarmsteads and townships withwhich they were originallyassociated as part of the medievaland early post medievaltranshumance agriculture whichexisted at that time over much ofthe Highlands.

May be at risk in future throughreduction.

CulturalHeritage

LCT: OPEN UPLAND HILLS

A landform of peaks, moorland, rocky outcrops, gullies and screes. The highest peak within the area is BenVorlich.

HLA: Prehistoric to present moorland and rough grazing with some late 20th century intervention



There is also a recently reported cupand ring marked stone which lieshigh on the pass below Ben Ledi.

Dundurn Hill Fort is situated in theuplands to the south of St Fillans.The ruins of St Fillans chapel lie atthe foot of the Hill.

Although the cup and ring markedrock is not scheduled it is not onlyan unusual example but lies veryhigh on the route across the hills.Particularly of interest to specialists.

Dundurn Hill Fort is a Pictish fort ofhigh importance. Scheduled AncientMonument in recognition of itsnational importance. The chapeland burial ground are listed.

This is a site of great religioussignificance to both Christians andPicts.

The cup and ring marked rock maybe at risk in future through thereduction in grazing and theresultant extension of bracken or natural regeneration.

Possible impact of bracken onarchaeological remains.


LCT: OPEN UPLAND HILL (CONT)

CulturalHeritage

Moorland and upland plantcommunities, moorland birds andmammals including golden eagle,red grouse, red deer, mountain hare,hen harrier. Possibly water voles.

Important to local people, visitors and specialists

The upland wildlife and habitats are a critical part of the landscape in this area and the park as a whole. They arewidespread in several othercharacter areas, and are ofsignificant biodiversity importance.

Overgrazing by sheep and deer maycurrently reduce the habitat qualityin some places.

Early christianity and St Fillan. The chapel burial ground is the burial place of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich.

Biodiversity

Associations

MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• The open upland areas need to be protected from development to maintain their open and wild character.

• Neighbouring uplands and lowland landscapes should also be protected from inappropriate developments thatwould adversely impact on the peace and quiet and the view.

• Recreation and access pressures require to be managed to minimise damage.

• Interpretation and improved access to the shieling sites could be promoted.

• Monitor the effect of changes in stock numbers and bracken spread on archaeological remains.

• Overgrazing by sheep and deer may currently reduce the habitat quality in places and could be remedied throughchanges to management. Restructuring of upper woodland edges may enhance the ecological and landscapetransitions from the forested glens.

• The biodiversity benefit could be enhanced. More ecologically sympathetic management would allow plantcommunities such as tall herbs, heath, treeline and montane scrub to recover

• Consider management agreement for scheduled Dundurn Hill fort and access and interpretation if appropriate.



The wooded upland glens haverelatively large stands of oak,punctuated by isolated Scots Pineand fringe the southern shore ofLoch Earn. Some policy plantingexists, particularly at ArdvorlichHouse.

These more natural woodlands aresignificant in creating a relativelynatural local landscape thatcontrasts with neighbouringStrathyre, Glen Dochart andBalquhidder, rather dominated bycommercial forestry plantations.They contribute a more naturalcharacter and an element ofdiversity.

Not known


Sense of place

This area includes the importantmedieval St Blane’s chapel which is ascheduled ancient monument.

The two disused railway lines crossthe area and include two viaducts,one of which is listed and part of theold military road is in this area.

It also includes Edinchip house andits policies and Ardvorlich Houseand its gardens.

St Blane’s is of national importancealthough its existence is probablynot widely known

The railways and the road are part ofthe important history of lines ofcommunication in the Highlands andmay be of wider general interest.The national cycle route alsocrosses this area

Under no particular pressurealthough there is general concernover the condition of military roadsacross the whole Park area.

CulturalHeritage

Biodiversity Significant pockets of semi naturalbroadleaved woodland andassociated flora and fauna, includingEdinchip Woods SSSI for ancientsemi natural broadleaved woodlandincluding oak wood and alder wood,Coille Chriche SSSI for alder wood,hazel and ash woodland andpasserine bird assemblage.Edinample Meadows SSSI forunimproved grassland.

Important to local people, visitors,travellers and specialists.

The biodiversity of the full range ofwoodland types is of highimportance overall, especially indesignated areas and ancientwoodland.

Not known

LCT: WOODED UPLAND GLENS

The wooded upland glens occur on the south shore of Loch Earn. Semi-natural and riparian woodland, usedfor grazing, recreation and forestry. Landscape of straths, gullies and burns.

HLA Period: 18th to 20th century woodland and forestry.


• There is positive potential for the expansion of these woodlands locally and through other glens as an increasingproportion of overall forest and woodland cover, but with care to balance against important open landscapes. Thewoodland could suffer if not well managed.

• The biodiversity of the native woodlands could be improved in quality or expanded through controlled grazing tofacilitate natural regeneration and restructuring of adjacent plantations to improve ecological links. The unimprovedgrassland needs careful management to maintain.

.



U and V shaped narrow glens withsteep sides, rocky outcrops andscrees, burns and waterfalls.

Glen Ogle is an importanttransitional glen between Loch Earnand Strath Dochart and the A84 runsthrough it, as well as the remains ofa military road and a now disusedrailway. Otherwise the glens areremote and undeveloped. Thehigher upland glens provide framedviews to the glen floors and lochsand mountain scenery beyond.However plantations enclose thehead of Glen Ample and this is lessapparent. The glens contribute tothe overall open character of theopen uplands and are wellrepresented in the Breadalbane area.

Glen Ogle is of particular scenicnote, with the combination of therugged and diverse topography anddramatic railway architecturecreating a unique identity,particularly well appreciated fromthe road by people travellingthrough the landscape. Morerecently the development of thelong distance cycle route hasopened up another fine perspectiveof this extremely special glen.Whilst adversely affected by theimpacts of pylons, hill tracks andsome insensitive forest margins atthe foot of the glen, the drama ofthe scenery and experience movingthrough it ensures that the overallimpression remains positive and highquality.

The open upland glens are avaluable landscape and ecologicalresource.

Potential pressures on thislandscape include afforestation, newwoodlands, hill tracks,and hydro-electric power developments.

Glen Ogle has been subject toinstability and landslides and may beaffected by insensitive roadupgrading and engineeringmeasures.


Sense of place

LCT: OPEN UPLAND GLEN

The open upland glens in the area include Glen Ogle and Glenn Kendrum to the north of Lochearnhead andalso Glenn a Chroin and a small upper area of Glen Ample.

Open upland of moorland and heather, with burns and rocky outcrops, drystone dykes.

HLA Period: Prehistoric to present moorland and rough grazing



There are areas of relictmedieval/post medieval settlementand agriculture in Glen Ogle.

The Glen has a long history ofcommunication and various routessurvive to the present day. The routeof the military road, built by MajorWilliam Caulfield in 1749, runsthrough Glen Ogle. The listedbridges are with one exception all onthe present public road and arethought to date to the early 19thCentury. The bridges in the lowerand further west military road onlyone is listed and is dated around1749. The railway viaducts are listedand are of considerable engineeringinterest.

There are more significantarchaeological sites of this type bothelsewhere in the Park and elsewherein Scotland but all examples areimportant to local people, visitorsand specialists.

The military roads in the Park are ofspecialist interest but may also havetourism value. Their significanceextends beyond the Park as theywere built at the start of the processwhich occupied the highlands, de-gaelicised Scotland, and contributedto the widespread depopulation ofthe Highlands.

Potential development pressures on these slopes including energyschemes and forestry.

Damage has occurred from flashflooding in Glen Ogle to bothmilitary road and its bridges. Somebridges are in danger of collapsefrom neglect

The condition of the military roadand associated structures is an issuein the Park.

LCT: OPEN UPLAND GLEN (CONT)


CulturalHeritage

Red deer and conspicuous birdsincluding skylarks, waders, shorteared owl, golden eagle and henharrier occur. Likely to be a refugefor watervole colonies

Important to local people,specialists and some categories ofvisitors such as hill walkers andstalkers. Of medium biodiversityimportance.

Generally subject to high grazingpressure from sheep and deer.Limited expansion of tree cover inthis LCT, eg. along stream sideswould enhance in-stream habitat for trout. This is occurring already in some locations. A reduction ingrazing to allow heather, herbs andother plants to expand cover andreduce the dominance of grasseswould allow some bird species, eg. grouse, to increase.

Biodiversity


• The undeveloped and predominantly open character should be conserved. Retain the open qualities by supportingupland agriculture, but seek enhancements to open habitats through management of grazing regimes.

• Encourage new native woodland along burn sides or in relation to local enclosing slopes or features.

• Investigate bio-engineering and broader landuse solutions to stabilise the slopes and road line.

• Resist any further development or afforestation.

• Parts of the military road are included in the Glen Ogle trail. This route would benefit from enhancement, bothphysical and interpretive improvements.



The steep slopes and variedtopography of Strathyre provides arugged setting for predominantlyconiferous forestry, with somewoodland diversity along watercourses and around crags and screes.

The forested upland glens are adominant characteristic surroundingStrathyre Glen as the steep slopesare seen foreshortened immediateto the roads, but in full view acrossand up the loch. The forests here arehighly visible to people travellingalong the A84 and are also a maincomponent of the setting to therural village of Strathyre andCallander. Plantation forests canhave some negative impacts onlandscape character and visualquality.. However the rugged natureof the topography in this area andthe presence of the loch and farmedstrath floors, provides a bettersetting for the commercialplantations, relieving potentialmonotony and oppressive aspectsand creating considerable drama.

Commercial plantations in theupland glens (and glen slopes)comprise the prominent type ofwoodland in the Breadalbane areaand within the individual glens,where there is a relatively poorrepresentation of more naturalwoodlands.

Forestry can tend to extend too farup slope, with insensitive marginsand artificial abrupt transitions tothe open ground and it can be anintrusion within upland glens, suchas Glen Ample, where it becomes adominant feature. The forestry alsodetracts from hill walks. Otherfeatures, such as engineered forestroads, erosion scars and drainageditches can also cause significantnegative visual impact.

At present there is an abundance of forested glen, with felling andreplanting likely to be the key forces for change.

BENEFITS CONTRIBUTION TO BENEFIT? EVALUATION OF IMPORTANCE TTRENDS & PRESSURES

Sense of place

CulturalHeritage

These dense plantations conceal avariety of sites includingmedieval/post medieval desertedfarmsteads, townships and shielings.The oakwoods at Leny Woods retainwidespread evidence for the formeruse of the woods as a source ofcharcoal while others havebloomery mounds of iron workingslag which may date back to themedieval period. Detailed survey hasidentified well preserved recessedplatforms in Leny Woods which maybe the remains of prehistoric housestances. A number of limekilnsassociated with improvements inagriculture in the 18th and 19thcenturies also survive.

With the important exception ofLeny Woods these sites are nodifferent from many others of thetype throughout the Park. In thisarea they have been badly disruptedby 20th century forestry planting,which has separated settlements(within plantations), from infields(usually under trees), and roughpasture and shielings (usually inopen higher ground beyond thetrees, but cut off from thesettlement)

(Continued overleaf)

As with any archaeological siteslocated in forestry there are issues of potential damage by felling andrestocking as well as potentialdamage from wind blow.

LCT: FORESTED UPLAND GLEN

Steep glens with coniferous woodland and native grassland with heather. Examples include Strathyre Forest.

HLA: Prehistoric to present moorland and rough grazing, largely 20th century forestry and woodland.



Leny House and the surroundingpolicies and parkland form animportant element of thisImprovement Period landscape.

Sections of Major Caulfield’s militaryroad from Stirling to Fort Williamlies in this area although much of itlies under the present public roadand has been therefore beendestroyed

(Continued from overleaf)

There are likely to be betterpreserved examples of townshipsand farmsteads elsewhere in theNational Park, e.g. with settlement,fields, and shielings still intact andrelated to each other and not cut offby forestry. However, theseparticular examples may be ofspecial value to those whoseancestors came from thesesettlements, or to local people.

Leny Woods contains one of thedensest collections ofarchaeological remains within thePark. This in part reflects theintensive archaeological survey workwhich has been undertaken in thesewoods in advance of restructuringbut also reflects the importance ofthis area for past settlement as wellas woodland management. It isnationally important but has not yetbeen officially recognised by thescheduling of any of the sites.

The military roads in the Park are ofspecialist interest but may also havetourism value. Their significanceextends beyond the Park as theywere built at the start of the processwhich occupied the highlands, de-gaelicised Scotland, and contributedto the widespread depopulation ofthe Highlands.

LCT: FORESTED UPLAND GLEN (CONT)


CulturalHeritage

River Teith SAC for salmon andlamprey, Pass of Leny Flushes SSSIfor nutrient rich upland flushes andspecies such as fragrant orchid.Pockets of broadleaved woodlandand ancient woodland sites,particularly along riparian corridorswithin the planted conifers.

Important to local people, visitors,and specialists.

Of high biodiversity importance.

River systems and fish populationsare impacted by river engineering, eg HEP. Native woodland habitatsare fragmented, reducing theirecological health.

Biodiversity


• The landscape qualities created by this type of plantation have the potential to be enhanced due to forestrestructuring and the promotion of native tree species and networks of open space.

• Interpretation could be provided to explain both the archaeology and good forestry practice exhibited at Leny Woods

• There may be opportunities to identify additional archaeology in forests which have not yet been surveyed.

• The biodiversity benefits could be enhanced through restructuring of the woodlands to restore broad corridors ofriparian native broadleaved woodland to benefit the river system and reconnect isolated broadleaf stands.



Open glen sides contribute to thediversity of the landscape as theyprovide a visual contrast withwooded and forested glen sides.Interesting large scale openlandscapes with varied features suchas waterfalls and screes, which relateto the open upper slopes andsummits. In places there appear tobe relict landuse patterns, whichcreate great visual diversity andassociations with crofting patternsnormally found much further northand west in Scotland.

The open glen sides are visible tolocal people and visitors, highlyvisible from the A85 along southernLoch Earn, and make a positivecontribution to landscape characterand visual quality. The open glensides reveal the diverse topographyof glens and provide a setting to theuplands of Ben Vorlich and Stuc aChroin, which contributes to scenicquality at the local detail scale andin the wider glen context. The openglen sides have good quality viewsdown onto the strath areas, but theglen sides are not greatly accessibledue to their topography and lack ofmany paths. The areas are generallyunspoilt with apparently naturalwoodlands fringing the transition tolower slopes and loch shore.However insensitive forest marginscan detract from their quality. Thislandscape type is not wellrepresented within this area,although found elsewhere in the Park uplands.

These open areas are under pressurefrom the expansion of commercialforests, the invasion of bracken andrhododendrons and grazing. Theyshould be protected as theycontribute to the diversity of thelandscape


Sense of place

This area includes the Neolithicchambered cairn at Edinchip.Several deserted farmsteads, kilns,and a township are also recordedboth to the south of Edinchip and inlower Glen Ample.

The remains of St Bride’s Chapelincluding an 11/13th century crossand gravestones of the McKinlay’s (relatives of the US President of thatname) is situated on the south sideof Loch Lubnaig.

The cairn is a scheduled ancientmonument of national importanceand is of interest to locals,specialists, and visitors, includinginternational visitors. St Bride’s Chapel is also scheduledand is of national/internationalinterest.The remnant townships are of valuefor genealogical research and theyhave specialist archaeological valueas they may contain evidence ofmedieval and post-medievalsettlement. The townships relate tothe former Gaelic speaking area andwere typical of land use up until theClearances. They form part of thecommonest relict settlement type inthe National Park. The ones in GlenAmple have been badly disrupted by20th century forestry planting, whichhas separated settlements, on thelower glen sides and floors and theshielings which lie on open higherground beyond the trees, but cut offfrom the settlement.

Damage from enclosing trees maybe an issue on the cairn.

Recent flash floods may also havedamaged archaeology in GlenAmple having swept away the listedbridge on the public road.

CulturalHeritage

Associations

LCT: OPEN GLEN SIDE

Landscape of steep glens, lochs and burns, scree outcrops, steep waterfalls. The open glen sides occur alongthe shores of Loch Earn and there is a small area just to the south east of Loch Lubnaig.

HLA Period: Predominantly prehistoric to present moorland and rough grazing. There is relict medieval/postmedieval settlement and agriculture


• To increase areas of open glen sides through commercial forestry restructuring.• Potential to improve management, interpretation and access to the Neolithic chambered cairn at Edinchip.



US President McKinlay

Farmed strath floors are importantareas of diversity in the Breadalbanelandscape, flat and agriculturallymanaged, they provide strong visualcontrast to the enclosing uplandslopes, which are dominated byforestry and woodland throughStrathyre, around Callander and StFillans. Traditionally managedfarmed lands, are notably managedwith distinct field patterns giving ahuman dimension to the landscape.They are a component of the ruralsetting of the settled loch shore.Winter flooding is a feature of themeadows at the foot of BalquhidderGlen.

The strath floors have a distinctivecharacter due to their flattopography and contrast with thesurrounding uplands. Thislandscape type is generallyimportant as an element of diversityin the Park’s glen landscapes andspecifically contributes to the scenicand distinctive qualities of theBreadalbane glens. The farmedstraths form important punctuation,alternating with lochs as peopletravel up and across the Strathyreand Loch Earn Glens on the A84 andA85, and they tend to provide thesetting for the villages. In this areathe extent of farmed strath floors islimited to the heads and outflows oflochs. Whilst occupying only asmall proportion of the landscape,the straths are visually highlysignificant, compositionallyimportant within views and in termsof allowing views across and throughthe glens.

The areas have good quality views ofthe surrounding hills and uplandareas and they are more accessiblefrom the small rural roads and tracksthat follow ‘the quiet side’ of theglens. The scenic contribution ofriver and meadow landscapes can beexceptional, with traditional haymeadow management adding to thesummer scene and atmosphere.Significantly this landscape type, aswhere it occurs elsewhere in thePark, helps to establish a farmedcountryside setting to the ruralvillages of a generally unspoilt andtraditional quality.

The farmed strath areas may comeunder pressure from settlementexpansion and for touristdevelopments in the future.Changes or decline in agriculturalpractise could lead to the decline oftraditional features, such as fieldboundaries, or the expansion ofwoodlands through naturalregeneration or new planting.


Sense of place

Around Callander there is aconcentration of ImprovementPeriod 18th and 19th centuryrectilinear fields. Leny House andthe surrounding policies andparkland form an element of thisImprovement Period landscape andlie in the adjacent Forested GlenLCT.

Important to specialists, localpeople & visitors to the area.

The field boundaries date back 200years, to the agriculturalimprovements of the 18th and 19thcentury.

If the fields become disused thenthe boundaries may be lost. Thecontinued use of the fields is thebest way to ensure their survival.

CulturalHeritage

LCT: FARMED STRATH FLOOR

Small flat strips of farmland around watercourses. Post and wire fences, hedgerows, degraded dykes andditches, pylons. The primary farmed strath floor in the area is at Strathyre. There are also small areas to thewest of Callander, in Lochearnhead and to the east of St Fillans.

HLA: Mainly 18th to 19th century fields and farming with 19th to 20th century recreation areas and 17th to19th century designed landscape



Important historic features such asremains of the Roman Fort and thecrop marks of the Roman temporarycamp and prehistoric settlementwest of Callander. There are smallareas of smallholdings at Auchtubhand several interesting 18th/19thcentury cottages still survive on thestrath floor in Glen Ogle, includingthe derelict thatched cottage knownas Jock’s croft. The areas of relictmedieval/post medieval settlementand agriculture in Strathyre arereflected in the survival of a smallnumber of deserted farmsteads.There are also two important chapelsites near Callander, at Kilmahogand Little Leny. The former is alsoimportant for its mills, only one ofwhich still survives although inaltered form. There are other siteswith religious associations inBalquhidder Glen.

The area to the east of St Fillansincludes the ruins of the 16thcentury chapel at Dundurn whichlies on the site of an earlier chapeland is adjacent to Dundurn Hill Fort.

The Roman and prehistoric sites atCallander are scheduled as being ofnational importance. The fort isunique in the Park as still havingupstanding visible remains. Thismakes it important for both localsand visitors, including internationalinterest.

Although both graveyards are listedthe religious theme is probably notof national importance and there aremore interesting sites elsewhere inthe Park. The graveyards are alsovalued for genealogical research.

Continuing plough damage may bean issue on the crop mark areas.

Unsympathetic cottage conversionand the design of adjacent newbuildings can threaten the characterof traditional buildings.

The condition of the graveyardsis poor and they are suffering fromneglect.

LCT: FARMED STRATH FLOOR (CONT)


CulturalHeritage

River Teith SAC for lamprey andsalmon, Loch Lubnaig Marshes SSSIfor fen, reed swamp and emergentplant communities. Rare waterbeetles and other invertebrates.Boundary features, rushy pastures infields support wildlife includingwaders

Important to local people, visitors,and specialists

Of high biodiversity importance.

River systems and fish populationsare impacted on by riverengineering, eg Hydro ElectricPower Schemes. Modern farmingpatterns have tended to diminishthe wildlife value, eg through wintercropping & higher livestockdensities.

Strathyre was described by Sir Walter Scott in The Lady of the Lake (1810) and A Legend of Montrose (1819).

Balquhidder Glen has associations with St Angus. Kilmahog with either St Kessog or St Mahog. The chapel atDundurn lies on the site of an earlier chapel which said to have been erected by St Fillan in the 7th century.

Little Leny has associations with the Buchanan clan.

Biodiversity

Associations


• Farmers should be encouraged to continue low intensity agricultural practices, including the traditional managementof hay meadows, which makes a particular contribution to the summer landscape and the maintenance of traditionalfeatures such as dry stone dykes.

• Access to these landscapes could be improved with path network development from the villages and also linksalong the rivers and field boundaries.

• Retain the open character of the farmed strath floors as they contribute to the settlement settings.

• Promote a circular route visiting the various graveyards in the area with on site interpretation.

• Consider management agreements to safeguard the important scheduled remains and secure public access whereappropriate.

• Prepare design guidelines for conversion of traditional buildings.

• The biodiversity benefit could be enhanced through more wildlife friendly farming and measures to improve thehabitat value of the riparian corridors and woodlands. Several RSS schemes and a management agreement on part ofLoch Lubnaig Marshes are already in place.



Strathyre village is most visiblyfocused along the A84, set withinthe dramatic forested Strathyre glen.It extends across the river.

The human scale of the villageemphasises the vertical drama ofthe surrounding slopes, and itspredominantly traditional layout andarchitectural style contribute to therural character.

Dominance of the A84 road corridor,detracts from the character of thevillage.


Sense of place

Strathyre was formerly a station onthe Callander & Oban Railway. Thevillage was originally built toalleviate overcrowding in thetownships. The opening of therailway in 1870 led to furtherexpansion to accommodate holidaymakers. Village is linear in form withan almost continuous row of gableto gable housing on the east side

Important to local people andvisitors. The village has an attractivestreetscape and has some buildingsof historic interest.

New development can detract fromthe traditional character of thevillage.

CulturalHeritage

Associations

River Teith SAC (part) for lampreyand salmon.

High biodiversity importance. The river and the aquatic ecology isvulnerable to inadequate sewerage.

Dugald Buchanan (1716-68) was one of the foremost Gaelic poets of the 18th Century and was born in Strathyre.There is a decorative monument to him on the main road through Strathyre.

Biodiversity

LCT: SETTLED STRATH FLOOR

Strathyre is the main settlement on the strath floor

HLA Period: 19th century to present built up area and a 19th century to present recreation area.


• Ensure that any new develoment contributes positively to the rural character of the village.

• Biodiversity needs ongoing protection through careful development control and sewage treatment.



The settled shore provides a humanbuilt element within the openshoreline, often punctuating theedges of the shoreline withdispersed and linear development.Historic and traditional character ofrural and estate buildings and thepresence of meadow lands, lochshore fringe woodlands and gardengrounds enhance the rural character.

The area has high quality viewsacross open water and thesettlements themselves areimportant landmarks in the widerview and very accessible. The area isdeveloped with recreation andtourism developments and housing.There is a mixture of development,some new and some moretraditional. The settlements locateat the heads and outflow of LochEarn and introduce a humandimension to the glen and lochlandscape, sitting within farmedstrath and relict agriculturallandscapes. Occasional loch shoresettlement is common in theBreadalbane landscape and occurselsewhere in the Park. Here itrelates to relict landuse patternsthat can still be read over the openglen sides to the north east. This isunusual in the Park found only hereand in Balquhidder, although it is amore typical characteristic to thenorth and west of Scotland.

These areas are under pressure fromnew tourist developments such aschalets and caravan parks. There arealso pressures related to tourismprovision for water recreationactivities. Inappropriate suburbanlayouts and house styles have beena recent trend in Lochearnhead.


Sense of place

The earliest evidence for settlementin this area is the prehistoric cupmarked stones at Craggan. Thereare a number of farmsteads andassociated corn and lime kilnsnoted here too, some of theseforming part of a small area ofsmallholdings, but their condition isnot known. 18th and 19th centuryrectilinear fields surround the built-up area.

The main settlements in the area areLochearnhead and St Fillans whichare quite different in character.Lochearnhead retains some early19th century (listing records suggestsome may be 18th century but hardto date) vernacular rubble cottages,especially in Glen Ogle and on thenorth shore. There are twoimportant cruck-framed cottages inLochearnhead, with one, at BriarCottage having had its thatchedroof re-instated.

St Fillans is located on the shores ofLoch Earn and is characterised by arun of gabled Victorian villas whichgive the village ‘spa town’ feel.

The cultural heritage of these areasis important to local people, visitorsand specialists.

Lochearnhead has a number ofimportant historic buildings but theintegrity of the historic character ofthe settlement has been affected by20th century residential and touristrelated developments. The smallvernacular cottages are mostprevalent in this area of the Park andwere once characteristic ofLochearnhead and its environs aswell as more common over thewhole area of the Park. They makean important contribution tocultural heritage and landscapecharacter.

The buildings in Glen Ogle are atrisk of being lost due to neglect.However, the buildings in the villageare still in occupation.

CulturalHeritage

LCT: SETTLED LOCH SHORE

Open water shoreline which is enclosed by residential, recreational or commercial development (hotels,piers, jetties, caravan and chalet parks, boat houses), within a rural setting that incorporates small meadowsand loch shore fringe woodlands. Settled loch shores include Lochearnhead and St Fillans.

HLA: 18th to 20th century built up area and 18th to 19th century fields and farming.

There is a relict area of 18th to 20th century crofting / small holdings at Craggan



There are also features from therailway era which survive, includingrailway bridges and viaducts.

In addition to the villages there aresome large country houses alongthe loch shores including therestored 16th century Z plan towerhouse at Edinample (Category Alisted) and Ardvorlich House. Thereis a second castle at Dalveich on thenorth shore of Loch Earn which isvery ruinous.

St Fillans retains much of its historiccharacter. There is a consistentarchitectural style with the run oflarge Victorian villas and someimportant traditional ruraldwellings. A number of buildingsare listed including the 19th centuryDrummond Arms Hotel and thesmall Gothic style church, bothdesigned by Perth architects HeitonJr and Sr.

Small cottages are subject topressure from conversion, which canadversely affect their character.There is also pressure for newhousing on the formersmallholdings at Craggan.


LCT: SETTLED LOCH SHORE (CONT)

CulturalHeritage

Pockets of emergent vegetation,wet woodland, marshy grassland infields along the loch shore.Wildfowl and waders may be seenfrom these locations. Manybuildings in this area support batroosts, especially pipistrelles.

Bats are important to local people,visitors and specialists.

Overall the biodiversity in this areais of medium to low importance.

N/A.Biodiversity

St Fillan - may have been two St Fillans - one associated with Killin and the other this area of Loch Earn. LochEarn and Ardvorlich House also have association with the writings of Sir Walter Scott in his 'A Legend of Montrose'published in 1819.

Associations


• Ensure appropriate planning and careful siting and location of new developments.

• Prepare design guidance, this could take the form of village design statements.

• Any conversions or extension to vernacular cottages should be sensitive to their historic character.

• Outwith this LCT, breeding habitat for some bird species could be improved, e.g. more mature trees for osprey nests,less disturbance at breeding sites for wildfowl.



The broad expanse of Loch Earn isflanked by steep sided hills to thenorth and south. The loch is a broadexpanse of water with a smootheven shoreline, relatively intact lochshore and lower slope woodlands,and occasional small promontoriesand larger deltas with meadows.

In contrast, Loch Lubnaig isenclosed by heavily planted glensides and rugged craggy hills such asBen Ledi and the loch shores areundeveloped. Occasional deltasand meadow features add importantdiversity to the wider and localscene.

These inland lochs are relativelylarge scale waterbodies that give aspectacular impression and havedistinctive identities. They areaccessible from main roads, butoffer a quieter side accessed bytracks and single track roads thatsupport local areas of greattranquillity. The lochs allow longdramatic vistas up through theglens, across to opposite glen sidesand to upland landscapes withreasonable accessibility to theviews, although stopping at the lay-bys can be difficult on the fast mainroads.

Motorised water sports on LochEarn can adversely affect thetranquil qualities of the loch and its surroundings The shorelines areunder pressure from informalcamping which has resulted inenvironmental damage. Futurepressures may include furtherdevelopment of tourist facilities,as well as fish farms


Sense of place

There are a couple of crannogs onLoch Earn and one in Loch Lubnaig,with only the crannog at Edinamplevisible above water, the others beingnormally submerged. Theseprehistoric constructed islandsrepresent one of the earliestelements of the area's culturalheritage and some may have beenoccupied successively over a longperiod.

Specialist value, but alsointerpretative value for visitors

Significance is national even thoughnone of these examples is currentlyscheduled.

There are no significant currentpressures, apart from changing waterlevels causing erosion and periodicdrying, and potential damage fromboats or other water craft.

CulturalHeritage

River Teith SAC (part) for lampreyand salmon. Trout. Arctic charr inLoch Lubnaig. Wild fowl andwaders, otter.

The salmon and trout within thelochs are important mainly tospecialists but salmon angling isimportant to local people andvisitors in the rivers that alsocomprise the Teith SAC.

These biodiversity benefits make animportant contribution to thebiodiversity of the Park as a wholeand are of high importance in thedesignated sites.

There is a serious decline in manyof the fish species. Trends may nowbe moving in a positive direction,with decreases in conifer forestryand improvements in regulationsrelating to land and watermanagement, and generallyexpanding otter populations.

Connections with the writings of Sir Walter Scott.

Long tradition of communication along Loch Earn from prehistoric times to present. Heavy level of use in the late18th century to early 19th century to transport lime quarried above Lochearnhead to the lime kilns in St Fillans. Inmore recent times the loch has been used for recreation, in the early 20th century by the motor vessel the ‘Queenof Loch Earn’ and is now popular location for watersports. Loch Earn had the first ever water sports club in Scotland.

Biodiversity

Associations

LCT: INLAND WATER

Loch Earn, Loch Lubnaig

HLA Period: Loch Earn is a 19th century waterbody/reservoir, Loch Lubnaig is natural water


• Opportunities to open up views from the roads where recent alder regeneration has encroached along Loch Lubnaig.• Opportunities to improve viewpoints and access to the loch shores.• Enhancement of loch shore environments where loch fringe woodlands have become degraded.• Restructuring of commercial plantations and an increase in diverse woodlands as a setting to Loch Lubnaig.• Undertake a survey of crannogs to improve knowledge.• The biodiversity benefit could be enhanced via riparian habitat enhancement and removal of artificial barriers to fish

migration, prevention of introduction of non-native fish and plants.



The open moorland hills to thenorth of Callander have an open,wild and remote character, which isclose to the town and accessiblefrom it.

The open moorland hills have awild and dramatic character andcreate a feeling of remoteness.They contain only a few remotefarms. This is an unusual charactertype in the Park, but although it isof a relatively large extent locally itis not really apparent to thosetravelling through the Park due toits relative inaccessibility to cars.Whilst not visible from Callander,they provide an area for quietrecreation, readily accessible bygood footpath links and providing asetting to the dramatic uplandsbeyond.

The area has high quality views dueto the open nature of thelandscape, however these aremostly appreciated by hill walkers.Whilst not visually prominent ordistinctive in itself, this areaprovides an important backdropand intermediary zone from thelowland landscapes to the south.The area is generally quite unspoiltand wild, although there are mastsand pylons, which detract from theoverall 'wild' quality of thelandscape.

Potential pressures within thislandscape include developmentssuch as masts and wind farms,afforestation and waterinfrastructure.


Sense of place

Areas of relict medieval/postmedieval settlement andagriculture and shielings survive.There is also evidence of limeworking in the shape of quarriesand kilns.

These sites are no different frommany others of the typethroughout the Park and there arelikely to be better preservedexamples of both shielings andfarmsteads elsewhere in theNational Park.

It is not known if there are othersubstantial former lime quarries inthe Park but this could be animportant example insupplementing the story of the18th/19th century AgriculturalImprovement.

No imminent threat but possiblefuture removal of stock could resultin the spread of regenerating treesand scrub and bracken.

CulturalHeritage

Moorland plant communities,moorland birds and mammalsincluding Red kite, red grouse, reddeer, mountain hare, hen harrier.

Important to local people, visitorsand specialists

The moorland wildlife and habitatsare a distinctive part of thelandscape in this area and the parkas a whole. They will occur patchilyin several other areas.

Grazing pressure can result in atrend of conversion to grassland.

Biodiversity

LCT: OPEN MOORLAND HILLS

Open moorland south of the Highland Boundary Fault, smoothed and undulating hills with rocky outcrops,screes and gullies. Heather, grasses, sedges and mosses. Occurring to the north of Callander.

HLA: Largely prehistoric to present moorland and rough grazing with some late 20th century



Leny Quarry SSSI for Cambrianfossils and their implications for thesedimentary and tectonic history ofthe area.

High geological importance. No imminent threats, minimalactive management needed.

LCT: OPEN MOORLAND HILLS


Geology


• The semi-natural moorland should be managed to ensure that it is conserved and protected from development andover grazing.

• The possibility of future tree planting and its impact on heritage sites and their setting needs to be carefullyconsidered in these open areas.

• In places, overgrazing by sheep and deer may currently limit the habitat extent and reduce its quality. This could beremedied through changes to management.

• Restructuring of upper woodland edges may enhance the ecological transition from the forested glens to openmoorland.



Documents

STRATHYRE AND LOCH EARN - Cairngorms National Park 1.5 Strathyr… · around Loch Earn and Dundurn where he was said to have preached and a well at the top of the hill is known as