The Sillees Valley Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Wide valley of the Sillees River filled with steep sided drumlin hills.Intricate pattern of small fields, tall hedges, traditional farms, small loughs and forest plantations.
• Variation between intensive farming on some farms and rush-infested pasture and rough grazing; hay meadows a feature.
• Woodland limited in extent but bushy hedgerows and hedgerow trees give sheltered character.
• Forestry occurs in intermediate sized blocks.
• Small villages and dispersed traditional housing in rural areas; replacement dwellings close to main roads.
• Many historic features including numerous raths and the fine Plantation Castle at Monea.

Landscape Description

In west Fermanagh, the Sillees Valley is a distinct and well defined lowland area. It is separated from Lough Erne by a ridge of limestone which rises to 200m at Cullen Hill and is bound to the west by the dramatic cliffs of the Knockmore Scarpland. The lowlands are choked with steep-sided drumlins which rise higher and are packed tighter towards the north-west. The Sillees River winds around between the hills through Carran and Ross Loughs to Upper Lough Erne. The drainage pattern is intricate. The striking pattern of the drumlin hills creates a strong sense of enclosure which is emphasised by the small fields, tall hedges and abundant trees; gaps between drumlins reveal views over flat wet areas to hills beyond.

Forest plantations and woods are dispersed across the area adding variety to the landscape pattern. Small plantations fit well into the landscape, especially when incorporated within existing hedges.

There are a few large villages including Monea, where there is an impressive castle and Derrygonnelly, the largest local service centre. Elsewhere, settlement is dispersed along winding roads and occupies the higher ground of the drumlin tops and sides. Traditional single storey houses are often associated with groups of farm buildings.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

The landscape is generally in good condition. The rolling patchwork of bushy hedgerows and hedgerow trees provides a robust framework which may accommodate changes in land use and some scattered new development.

Poor drainage impedes agriculture and in some places farm units remain subdivided into minute rush infested fields. Elsewhere, improved drainage has led to the development of larger fields and good grassland, although seasonal flooding has allowed the retention of flowery hay meadows beside the river.

There is much evidence of the dereliction of older properties and their replacement with new developments along roadsides, particularly on the fringes of Derrygonnelly.

Principles for Landscape Management

• The management and replanting of hedgerows and hedgerow trees will ensure their continued survival. This is preferable to the use of wire fences.
• New woodland could be accommodated within existing fields or in individual drumlin sized patches, retaining hedgerows and planting deciduous species to soften edges.
• Land use change around loughs and Monea Castle may alter the character of their wider landscape setting.
• The retention of attractive waterside flowery meadows would be beneficial, keeping drainage improvements and the use of fertilisers to pastures on more elevated land.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• Scattered farms and associated settlement traditionally occupies the higher ground of the drumlins and ridge tops.
• Old derelict houses could be restored or the sites used for new housing.
• Traditional houses are white painted, 1and a half storey stone cottages.
• There is characteristically more development on the higher ground of the ridge to the east of the lowland than in the damp valley bottom.