Ring of Gullion Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Ring of volcanic hills with a knobbly, uneven skyline and many rocky outcrops.
• The central volcanic plug of Slieve Gullion forms a distinctive landmark within the enclosed, broad circular basin.
• Open moorland on hilltops with pasture on the lower land, bordered by gorse hedgerows and derelict stone walls on the upper slopes. 'Ladder farms' form distinctive patterns on some hill slopes.
• Extensive coniferous forestry plantations on the hillsides.
• Remote, enclosed landscape with a distinctive sense of place and rich association with myths and legends.
• Radio masts and hilltop towers on skylines, scattered development on lower slopes with many abandoned farmsteads and barns.

Landscape Description

Situated on the southern border of Northern Ireland, the Ring of Gullion is a distinctive circle of hills around the striking landmark of Slieve Gullion, which originated as a volcanic plug. The 'Ring' is underlain by a dome of intrusive igneous rocks. The volcanic hills create a knobbly, uneven skyline with many rocky outcrops. Between the steep hills are river valleys and extensive areas of bog. Cam Lough is a linear lough within a valley to the north of Slieve Gullion. The vegetation is predominantly upland grass, heather and moorland on the hilltops, with pasture on the lower land, bordered by stone walls and gorse hedgerows. Field boundaries form striking patterns on some hill sides, particularly in areas where there are long 'ladder farms'. Commercial forestry plantations occur in large blocks on the hillsides.

In the southern part of the area, these extend across the summits and diminish the apparent scale of the landform. The lower slopes are dotted with a mixture of stone small holdings and modern pebbledash bungalows. The majority of the new development is sited in an ad-hoc fashion, often at a distance from the roads. Forkill and Meigh are two of the main settlements within the area. The whole area has an enclosed, isolated character, with derelict stone walls on the upper slopes and abandoned stone farmsteads and barns. It has long been an important 'gateway' landscape at the border between the Republic and Northern Ireland. The area is extremely rich in archaeological and historical features, including a variety of cairns, castles and cashels. Radio masts and towers dominate the skylines.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

The Ring of Gullion has a special visual character resulting from its unique physical structure and the way in which the land has been farmed and settled through thousands of years of occupation. Ridge-tops, skylines and the higher open hill slopes are the most sensitive components of the landscape as they are so prominent but all development is highly visible in the long views into the central basin from the roads which cross the distinctive enclosing uplands. The whole area is extremely sensitive to change. The condition of some lower slopes has been degraded by extensive piecemeal development, for example near Meigh. Walls are often in poor condition and some pastures have been infested by scrub and rushes. The positioning of masts/towers on hilltops has eroded their wild, open character.

Principles for Landscape Management

• Forestry fits relatively well with the landform and existing plantations could be used as models for the development of new forests. There are opportunities to create well-integrated forests as existing plantations are progressively felled and replanted. Irregular edges, the inclusion of deciduous species and some areas of open space would be of benefit.
• Restoration of stone walls would improve the landscape quality and visual structure of upland slopes and would help avoid the loss of these important landscape features.
• The management of loughs, streams and wetlands through the monitoring of water quality, careful grazing management, natural regeneration and the planting of riverside and lough-side trees and shrubs would increase their scenic, ecological and recreational value.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• The uplands are very scenic and wild and over development would not be characteristic.
• The restoration of traditional dwellings should be encouraged.
• Development on ridges would be highly visible but the landform may accommodate some small scale development within low undulating areas.
• The proliferation of scattered piecemeal development throughout the inner basin of the Ring is already threatening the special scenic qualities of this distinctive landscape; further ad hoc development should be discouraged and the use of building materials carefully controlled.