The Lough Macnean Valley Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Dramatic limestone crags and long narrow loughs.
• Reed swamps, fen, semi-natural woodland and scrub on lough shores. Species rich grassland on limestone. Linear hillside plantations.
• Old dwellings being replaced by modern houses; some ribbon development.
• Important archaeological sites, including monuments, medieval churches and interesting vernacular farm buildings.

Landscape Description

The Lough Macnean valley is in the south-west of Fermanagh. Upper and Lower Lough Macnean, were formed as glaciers excavated deep basins in varied carboniferous rocks, creating impressive steep valley sides and rocky scarps, notably at Hanging Rock. To the east the valley opens out into the flat Arney Valley and to the north-west it connects with the Garrison lowlands. Limestone outcrops along the slopes of Belmore Mountain form a craggy escarpment, divided from the rest of the uplands by an attractive wooded valley, with waterfalls marking the harder rock strata. To the south of Lower Lough Macnean is the limestone escarpment of Marlbank.

The loughs have contrasting characters. The larger Upper Lough Macnean has a shoreline which is broken by wooded promontories and sheltered bays with fringing reed swamps, fen and carr woodland. Surrounding fields tend to be rush infested with overgrown hedges. Lower Lough Macnean is confined by a steep limestone escarpment and has an outstanding landscape setting. It has a more developed agricultural shoreline, with open wet meadows contrasting with occasional thick woodlands. Limestone soils produce good quality grassland and the southern shores and lower slopes are farmed intensively. Farm units are smaller to the north of the loughs, but there is also intensive sheep and cattle grazing. The older settlement pattern reflects the varied patterns of townland boundaries, with long narrow boundaries divided into ladder farms on upper slopes and irregular townlands encircling the drumlin hills. Farmhouses on the higher slopes lie derelict, but in the valley, small farms with gardens are loosely clustered on low hills. The Gardenhill Estate lies to the north of Belcoo. The valley has some significant archaeological sites, including raths and crannogs.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

This is an area of attractive landscape features; loughs and shorelines, limestone cliffs, woodlands and limestone grassland. The varied landscape pattern and dense vegetation in the lowland areas ensure that they are relatively robust but special features such as lough shores are very sensitive. Elsewhere, marginal farmland has rush infested fields with overgrown hedges and scrub encroachment. Derelict field boundaries, including dry stone walls and banks, are being replaced with wire fencing. In some areas important limestone grassland has been damaged by scrub clearance and fertiliser application, reducing its value for wildlife. Quarrying for roadstone is extremely prominent at Kiltyfelan, on the side of Belmore Mountain.

Principles for Landscape Management

• Protection of the natural shoreline vegetation through controlled access to the shore would help avoid damage.
• Selected clearings in roadside vegetation would open up views across lake.
• Zoning of loughs would help combat the conflict between conservation and tourism. The monitoring of the lough water quality would ensure that waters do not become polluted through the impact of increased development (particularly the use of septic tanks) and tourist use.
• A strategy of minimal disturbance will help conserve the limestone grassland; the correct level of grazing and avoidance of chemicals are critical factors.
• The repair of broken limestone walls is preferable to the use of wire.
• Conservation of the existing patchwork of hay meadows, woodlands and hedgerows on the slopes of Belmore Mountain will help retain the existing landscape character.
• Improved siting and design of forestry on slopes would prevent it from blocking views and obscuring landscape features.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• Small white painted stone cottages are characteristic of older settlement.
• The protection of the distinctive lough-side setting to Belcoo is advisable; the hills to the north should also be kept free from development.
• There is a risk that further ribbon development on the fringes of the loughs will detract from this scenic and sensitive landscape.
• The siting and design of tourist infrastructure, such as car parks and caravan sites requires careful consideration to avoid visual intrusion.