loch lomond north · ‘the bonnie banks o’ loch lomond’. the islands have associations with a...

S P EC IA L Q UA LITI ES O F LO C H LO M O N D

LOCH LOMOND NORTH

Key Features

Highland Boundary Fault

Loch Lomond, the Islands and fringing woodlands

Open Uplands including Ben Vorlich and Ben Lomond

Small areas of settled shore incl. the planned villages of Luss & Tarbet

Historic and cultural associations

Rowardennan Forest

Piers and boats

Sloy Power Station

West Highland Way

West Highland Railway

Inversnaid Garrison and the military roads

Islands with castles and religious sites

Wildlife including capercaillie, otter, salmon, lamprey and osprey

LOCH LOMOND NORTH

154 Special Qualities Appendix

Summary of Evaluation

Sense of PlaceThe sense of place qualities of this area are of high importance. The landscape isinternationally renowned, so its importance extends far beyond the Park boundaries.The North Loch Lomond area is characterised by a vast and open sense of place andlong dramatic vistas. The loch narrows north of Inveruglas and has a highland glencharacter with narrow and uneven sides and huge craggy slopes. The forests andwoodlands along the loch shores contrast with surrounding uplands to create alandscape of high scenic value. The Loch Lomond Islands are unique landscapefeatures with a secluded character, they tend to be densely wooded and knolly andhummocky in form.

The upland hills, which include Ben Lomond and Ben Vorlich, surrounding LochLomond provide a dramatic backdrop to the loch. The upland hills are largelyundeveloped and have an open and wild sense of place. However, there areexceptions, with evidence of pylons and masts on some hills and recreationalpressures causing the erosion of footpaths on some of the more popular peaks.

Cultural HeritageThe cultural heritage qualities of the area are of high importance. The loch contains animportant collection of crannogs, a prehistoric manmade lake dwelling. The lochislands contain the densest collection of archaeological remains within the Park. Thisis because the islands were attractive places to settle and easily defended. Remainsconsist of several castles, as well as many other types of site including an early churchsite on Inchcailloch.

The woodlands fringing the loch shores have bloomery mounds which are evidence ofiron working, reflecting a time when these plantations were oakwood whose bark wasused in tannin.

The uplands included numerous small groups of shielings and lime kilns along theburn sides. Boundary markers can be found on the high boundary between Argyll andStirling and it is possible they could date back to the early historic period but theirdate is not known.

The remains of the early 18th century military garrison at Inversnaid still survive abovethe east shore of the loch. The Garrison was built at the request of the Duke ofMontrose to defend his territories against Rob Roy, and for control of the Highlands ingeneral. Its site is now occupied by a farm and the remains incorporated into farmbuildings.

The Loch Sloy Power Station is a dramatic landmark building on the shore nearInveruglas and was the first of the large hydro-electric schemes of the North ofScotland Hydro Electric Board, built in the 1950s.

Settlement is located on loch shores and Luss is an outstanding planned village.

BiodiversityThe area is of high biodiversity importance for a number of reasons, but primarilybecause of the high diversity of fish species that the loch supports (including lamprey,powan and salmon), and the large area of Atlantic oak woodland that surrounds muchof the loch and covers many of its islands. Most of this woodland is designated as aSAC and supports a rich and varied lower plant community.

Many of the islands are designated as part of the Loch Lomond SPA because theysupport a population of capercaillie, the most southerly population in Scotland. Inaddition, many of these islands and the woodlands surrounding the loch support alarge diversity of breeding passerine birds including pied flycatchers, wood warblersand capercaillie.

Some of the islands are of historic or curiosity value for supporting populations ofnon-native mammals such as red-necked wallabies and fallow deer.

The uplands are of high importance for a range of montane and upland plantcommunities and associated invertebrates. Ben Lomond and Ben Vorlich aredesignated as SSSIs. Species include black grouse, ptarmigan, upland waders, eagle,pine marten, red deer, mountain hare and water vole.

GeologyThe area is of particular importance for its geology. The Highland Boundary Faultdefines the physical landscape, ecological and cultural transition between highlandand lowland. Garabal Hill is of world importance for its igneous rock exposures andhistorical and present day research into fractional crystallisation.

LOCH LOMOND NORTH

Special Qualities Appendix 155

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


AssociationsLoch Lomond is an iconic landscape with important historic and culturalassociations. Sir Walter Scott’s poem ‘The Lady of the Lake’ (1810) althoughwritten about Loch Katrine refers to a fiery cross made from sacred yew treesgrowing on the wooded island of Inchcailloch. Inversnaid on Arklet Water iswhere William Wordsworth met the ‘sweet highland girl’ he wrote about insong. Inversnaid also inspired Gerard Manley Hopkin’s poem Inversnaid. Thereare many songs and poems written about Loch Lomond, probably most famous‘The Bonnie Banks O’ Loch Lomond’.

The islands have associations with a number of clans who built islandstrongholds. Vikings invaded Loch Lomond in the 13th century and there is anunusual hogbacked tomb at Luss Churchyard. From Victorian times to thepresent day the loch has attracted tourists who travel around the loch by ferry.

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

l Communities in the Loch Lomond area value the scenic qualities of thearea including the lochside, the mountains, the islands, woods and accessto the loch.

l It was felt that the Loch still retained its quietness and this was valued.This view came across most strongly from communities situated on theeast side of the Loch.

l The area was also valued for it nature conservation qualities including the Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve and the Reserve at Inversnaid.Particular species mentioned include red squirrel, red deer, roe deer andferal goats.

l The Islands were of high importance to local communities for theirarchaeology, nature conservation and scenic qualities.

l The ancient oak woodlands fringing the loch and within forest gladeswere valued for their nature conservation and history.

l The heritage and rich folklore of the area was valued.

l The recreational qualities of the area were valued. Particular areasmentioned, include Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, boating and golf on thewest of the loch, the West Highland Way and the West Loch Lomondcycle route.

MAP 7A – LANDSCAPE CHARACTER TYPES

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


MAP 7B – HISTORIC LAND USE

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MAP 7C - RELICT HISTORIC LAND USE

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


MAP 7D - NATURE CONSERVATION DESIGNATIONS

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


The open upland hills (including theLuss Hills) provide the backdrop forthe Loch Lomond setting, adding tothe dramatic vistas and helping toframe the lochs and loch sidewoodland. Ben Lomond is asignature landscape feature for thisarea and the Park.

The open upland hills are highlyvisible from the loch sidesettlements (such as the view of BenLomond from Luss). They are ofhigh significance to tourists andthose travelling through the Park,important as the skyline and framingbackdrop to the Loch Lomondlandscapes. Ben Lomond and theloch are the defining landscapecharacteristics of the Loch Lomondarea, a main focus of the Park. BenLomond is a landmark summit, thefocus to the Loch Lomond area andvisible from out with the Park, fromas far away as the south of theClyde, as well as dominating theLeven Valley.

The upland hills have high qualityviews over the loch and whilst thehills do not have much formalisedaccess, there are some footpaths.The hills are largely undevelopedand remote, although there is someevidence of pylons and masts whichdetract from the overall wildcharacter.

Upland hill areas are under pressurefor the development of masts,pylons and windfarms. Recreationalpressures causing the erosion ofupland paths and disturbance to theupland ecosystem are also presenton the more popular peaks.

BENEFITS CONTRIBUTION TO BENEFIT? EVALUATION OF IMPORTANCE TRENDS & PRESSURES

Sense of place

Includes numerous small scatteredgroups of shielings and lime kilnsalong the burn sides, and a numberof bloomery mounds. An area offield systems with rig cultivation ishighlighted in the HLA under relictmedieval/post medieval settlementand agriculture at Blairvockie whereit co-exists alongside an area of18th/19th century rectilinear fields.There is a further small relict area ofmedieval/post medieval settlementand agriculture at Ardess where itspills over into the Wooded GlenLCT.

The shieling groups are associatedwith the joint tenancy townshipswhich are located on more shelteredlower ground in the bottom of theglens.

Both the shielings and the lime kilnstend to survive well and are lesslikely to be affected by treeplanting, usually because they liealong the burn sides.

The shieling groups in particularcontribute to landscape character,often appearing as clusters of greystone surrounded by areas of brightgreen vegetation reflecting theformer presence of cattle. Althoughthey are much appreciated bywalkers as evidence of past land use,they also have specialist value, asmany of the groups are likely tohave considerable longevity andsome clearly show several phases ofdevelopment. The lime kilns tooare often associated with differencesin surrounding vegetation cover.

None of these groups areconsidered to be nationallysignificant and there may be betterpreserved examples elsewhere inthe Park.

Both Blairvockie and Ardess are inthe ownership of the National Trustfor Scotland, with thearchaeological sites on the latterholding forming part of the ArdessHidden History Trail.

Affected by natural degradationalthough regeneration and thespread of bracken may besignificant issues. Both can obscurefeatures, especially in summer, anddamage archaeological evidence.

CulturalHeritage

LCT: OPEN UPLAND HILLS

A landform of peaks, moorland, rocky outcrops, gullies and screes. The slopes of Ben Lomond on the eastside of the loch are included in this area. It also includes the northern area of the Arrochar Alps both BenVorlich and Ben Vane.

HLA: Prehistoric to present moorland and rough grazing

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


Boundary markers (upright stones)can be found on the high boundarybetween Argyll and Stirling. It ispossible that these markers coulddate back to the early historicperiod.

Hillwalkers and specialists

Provides sense of history andcontinuity

Medium importance

No known threats apart from naturaldegradation


LCT: OPEN UPLAND HILLS (CONT)

CulturalHeritage

Ben Lomond SSSI, Ben Vorlich SSSIfor a range of montane and uplandplant communities and associatedinvertebrates The upper edges ofnative woodlands fall into this LCTincluding Pollochro Woods SSSI(part), West Loch Lomond WoodsSSSI (part), Loch Lomond WoodsSAC (part). Species including blackgrouse, ptarmigan, upland waders,eagle, pine marten, red deer,mountain hare, water vole.

Important to all groups

High biodiversity importance

The upland habitats, flora and faunaare all somewhat degraded due tovery high levels of sheep grazingover the last 200 years, and veryhigh red deer numbers in somelocations in the last few decadesthough numbers have been reducedrecently in places. Climate changeis a threat to the survival of somespecies.

Biodiversity

Garabal Hill SSSI (part), of worldimportance for its igneous rockexposures and historical and presentday research into fractionalcrystallisation

Important to specialists

High geological importance

The forestry on the bottom half ofthe site is managed to maintainaccess to key rock exposures.

Geology

Ben Vorlich and Ben Vane form part of the Arrochar Alps taking their name from the village of Arrochar and theirdramatic craggy appearance, especially when covered in snow.

Associations

MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• The upland hill areas should be conserved to retain their open and wild character.

• Ongoing conservation and grazing management should help to maintain the character of the area, its archeologicaland biodiversity benefits.

• The boundary markers should be left alone and conserved as they are.

• Control of bracken and vegetation regeneration advisable to conserve archaeological remains e.g. via agri-environment schemes.

• Seek to retain the open setting of archaeological features where appropriate and avoid obscuring archaeologicalfeatures.

• The biodiversity benefit could be enhanced. Ecologically more sympathetic management would allow plantcommunities such as heath, treeline and montane scrub to recover.

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


Views focus up and down theseglens, framing the landscapes thatlie beyond, including summits, theloch and glen floor.

Open upland glens are significant inparticular to hill walkers and are atypical feature of the Park’s highlandareas. They are a component of theopen uplands. The examples in theLoch Lomond landscape areaccessible, with some adverselandscape impacts by commercialafforestation, HEP infrastructure,pylons, pipelines and bulldozedtracks. The glens are of somesignificance to hill walkers, but arenot highly visible from the settledvalleys or roads.

The glens would suffer from furtherdevelopment or landuse change.


Sense of place

Shieling groups are typical of theupland glens in an area where thereis very little archaeology recorded.

Hillwalkers and specialists

Contributors to sense of place

Mainly in open areas unaffected byafforestation, should be highlyvisible but may not be readilyunderstood

Shieling sites can be subject tovegetation overgrown eg. brackenwhich obscures features.

CulturalHeritage

A range of largely undisturbedupland habitats, with upland birds asdescribed for Open Upland HillsLCT.

Medium biodiversity importance The upland habitats, flora and faunaare all somewhat degraded due tovery high levels of sheep grazingover the last 200 years, and veryhigh red deer numbers in somelocations in the last few decadesthough numbers have been reducedrecently in places. Climate changeis a threat to the survival of somespecies.

Biodiversity

Garabal Hill SSSI (part), of worldimportance for its igneous rockexposures and historical and presentday research into fractionalcrystallisation.

Important to specialists.

High geological importance.

The forestry on the bottom half ofthe site is managed to maintainaccess to key rock exposures.

Geology

LCT: OPEN UPLAND GLEN

The higher, upland glens provide open vistas and varied views as a result of their elevation and openness. Keyfeatures include burns and steep waterfalls, with scrub moorland and bracken. The glens have few trees andpartly intact dykes.

HLA: Prehistoric to present moorland and rough grazing


• Encourage grazing and forestry management to retain the open feel of the glens.

• Potential for native woodlands to provide a setting and obscure the existing inappropriate developments.

• Shieling sites can be subject to vegetation overgrowth e.g. bracken which obscures features. Shieling sites should beprotected and managed if possible.

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These coniferous plantations are acharacteristic locally to the shoresand mid slopes above Loch Lomond,providing context and framing to theloch shores. They also occur inmore remote areas to the west.

The coniferous forests contribute tothe setting for the northern loch.They are highly visible as elementsin a wider landscape, across the lochfrom roads, settlements and uplandslopes and summits. This area issignificant to visitors, being adestination in its own right, peoplepassing through on the major northsouth trunk road and railway, andresidents. Elsewhere in more remoteupland glens they can become adominant characteristic.

The coniferous planting has acoherent character and visualquality, but can detract from thesurrounding more apparently naturalwoodlands.

Forested glens are often underpressure due to demand forrecreation activities. Change is alsounderway in many of the forestedareas with the introduction of nativetree species. Overall there is anabundance of forested glen.


Sense of place

Due to the nature of this LCT,coniferous woodland, very littlearchaeology is recorded. Mostimportant of these are severaldeserted farmsteads and bloomerymounds, the latter evidence of ironworking, reflecting a time whenthese oak woods wereused/managed for charcoalproduction associated with ironworking and the bark was also usedin tannin.

There are probably more significantarchaeological sites of this typeelsewhere in the Park and certainlyelsewhere in Scotland. These fewexamples do, however, present animportant and fairly accessibleresource to interpret both the pre-improvement settlement historyand the use of the oak woodlands.Wester Sallochy was formerly partof an interpretive trail established bythe Forestry Commission but is nolonger maintained as such.

Sites can be obscured by bothstanding and fallen trees and brashas well as damaged by falling trees

CulturalHeritage

There are significant areas ofbroadleaf woodland amongstplanted conifers incudingRowardennan Woodlands SSSI(part), a component of the LochLomond Woods SAC for Oakwoodswith an assemblage of lower plantsand otters, contiguous withbroadleaf woodland in the WoodedUpland Glens LCT. Red deer, pinemarten, black grouse, otter,capercaillie may be present.


Very high biodiversity importance.

The historical trend has been to acatastrophic loss and fragmentationof this habitat type in the UK.

Garabal Hill SSSI (part), of worldimportance for its igneous rockexposures and historical and presentday research into fractionalcrystallisation

Important to specialists

High geological importance

Coniferous forestry on the lowerparts of the site is managed tomaintain access to key rockexposures.

Biodiversity

Geology

LCT: FORESTED UPLAND GLEN

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

HLA: Prehistoric to present moorland and rough grazing, 18th to 20th century and 20th century woodland

LOCH LOMOND NORTH



• Forestry restructuring is resulting in the planting of native tree species within the forests and the introduction ofopen spaces within these wooded areas. These are benefits which will enhance the landscape character.

• Heritage trail at Wester Sallochy could be re-established perhaps in association with the project at Easter Sallochy.• There is a small-scale project currently underway at East Sallochy attempting to recreate a pre-improvement

agricultural holding. This type of project is beneficial for raising awareness of the cultural heritage of the area.• Forest restructuring may present opportunities for improving the condition/setting of archaeological sites.• Scope exists to reverse the historical losses of broadleaf woodland by felling the planted conifers and replacing

them with new broadleaved woodland, especially on FCS land and though SFGS elsewhere.

Natural looking landscape with lowdensity of trees scattered over thehill sides. Natural transition areabetween the loch and shore andopen upland hills. The LochLomond Oak Woods are a definingcharacteristic of the east side ofLoch Lomond.

This landscape character type ishighly significant in establishing theapparently natural landscapequalities associated with LochLomond. The woodlands fringemuch of its shores and in placesextend over the surrounding slopes,thereby forming quite a dominantfeature. The woods tend to be of anopen character and they reveal theunderlying topography, emphasisinglandscape diversity. They are highlyvisible from the loch, the loch shore,main roads and settlements, framingthe loch and forming a naturalappearing transition to the openupper slopes, important to the areashighly valued scenic quality. Thewoods are important to the settingof villages and to local culture andform the context of muchrecreational use of the Park,including the West Highland Way,other foot and cycle paths, car andcoach touring. They offer framedviews out, with the loch and uplandsetting framed by trunks andcanopies, with great interest fromthe changing seasons and weather.

Woodland glens which are notaffected by plantation forestry arerare. The woodlands are typicallyunder threat from overgrazing.


Sense of place

There is not a great deal of recordedarchaeology in these areas on thewest shore because of thenarrowness of the land strip alongthe loch side and the steepness ofthe slopes behind. There was amilitary road (post 1745) on the westside of the loch but most of it isunder the route of the modern roadand has been destroyed. Despitebeing narrow and steep, especially inthe north of this zone, the east sideof the loch was formerly much moredensely settled with numerousdeserted farmsteads and townships,some now surrounded bywoodland. These would have beenlinked to the shielings which werenoted higher up the slopes in theadjoining LCT of Open Upland Hills.

The HLA records a number of areasof relict medieval and postmedieval settlement around these...(continued)

The remnant townships are of valuefor genealogical research(sometimes visited), often beyondScotland, and they have specialistarchaeological value as they maycontain evidence of medieval andpost-medieval settlement. Little isknown about early ironworking, andthese sites also have specialist value

They form part of the commonestrelict settlement type in theNational Park. In the North LochLomond area as in other parts of theNational Park, eg in Cowal, theyhave been badly disrupted by 20thcentury forestry planting, which hasseparated settlements (withinplantations), from infields (usuallyunder trees), and rough pasture andshielings (usually in open higherground beyond the trees, but cut offfrom the settlement)...(continued)

The resource is at risk duringharvesting and restocking operationsas well as from wind throw, naturalregeneration etc.

CulturalHeritage

LCT: WOODED UPLAND GLEN

Wooded slopes, low density semi-natural woodland of oak, birch, Scots Pine. Found along the shoreline andslopes of Loch Lomond.

HLA: Some 18th to 20th century forestry and woodland and some later 20th century planting. There aresmall patches of prehistoric to present moorland and rough grazing and 18th to 19th century fields andfarming

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


There is also evidence of ironworking and charcoal burning, whichare thought to be of 17th or 18thcentury date but may have medievalorigins. These reflect theimportance of the oak woodlandelement of these areas. This areaalso contains two importantscheduled Iron Age sites, the dun atArrochymore and the fort atStrathcashel.

There are likely to be betterpreserved examples of townshipselsewhere in the National Park, e.g.with settlement, fields, and shielingsstill intact and related to each otherand not cut off by forestry, but theexamples in North Loch Lomondmay be of particular value to thosewhose ancestors came from thesesettlements, or to local people aswell as to walkers and other visitorsas a number lie on or close to theroute of the West Highland Way.Little is known about early ironworking and these sites also havespecialist value.

The two scheduled sites are ofnational importance and areevidence of the area’s long historyof settlement. Strathcashel isalready visited by numerous visitors

LCT: WOODED UPLAND GLEN (CONT)


CulturalHeritage

Extensive tracts of ancient nativebroadleaved woodland including.West Loch Lomond Woods SSSI,Pollochro Woods SSSI (part),Craigrostan Woods SSSI,Rowardennan Woodlands SSSI,West Loch Lomondside WoodlandsSSSI (part), Conic Hill SSSI, for arange of woodland types andassociated lower plants. LochLomond Woods SAC for oakwoodsand otters. Species capercaillie,black grouse, pied fly catcher,redstart, warblers, pine marten,otter, red deer, red squirrel,invertebrates


Very high biodiversity importance.

The historical trend has been to acatastrophic loss and fragmentationof this habitat type in the UK.Extensive work underway to restorenative woodland along east LochLomond.

The woods on the west side of Loch Lomond are threatened byover grazing by sheep.

Biodiversity

The Highland Boundary Faultincluding key features shown ingeological aspects of Conic HillSSSI.

Specialists, visitors, local people, bydefining the physical, landscape,ecological and cultural transitionbetween highland and lowland

Of the Highest Importance

None

Inversnaid, on Arklet Water is where William Wordsworth met the 'sweet highland girl' he wrote about in song.Inversnaid inspired Gerard Manley Hopkins's poem 'Inversnaid'.

Geology

Associations


• These woodlands require careful management, with management of grazing to ensure that the natural regenerationof trees can occur, but there remains a degree of openness.

• There is potential to provide access and interpretation to archaeological sites in these woodlands and to provideinterpretation of the past woodland history and traditions, especially on sites close to the West Highland Way.

• The archaeological sites could be enhanced. There is potential to clear woodland and avoid further damage especiallyfrom unmanaged natural regeneration. Some of the townships could be enhanced by selective felling to open outthe settlements remains, creating paths to them, and possibly re-opening connection routes to their shielings.

• The interpretation at Strathcashel could be improved and extended to include information on the nearby crannog.• Scope exists to reverse the historical losses of broadleaved woodland by felling the planted conifers and replacing

them with new broadleaved woodland, especially on FCS land and through SFGS elsewhere• The geology could be enhanced through sympathetic land management to retain the distinctive geological landform

of the area.

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


Open glen sides contribute to thediversity of the landscape as theyprovide a visual contrast withwooded and forested glen sides.

This landscape type is important asan element of diversity in thelandscape, contributing to thescenic quality of local areas of theLoch Lomond landscape. Localtopographic features are visible andcan add to landscape character andvisual diversity also. Whilstoccurring elsewhere in the Park, thesignificance of these areas of openground are important wherewoodland predominates and onLoch Lomond these areas tend toform more naturalised transitions tothe open woodlands.

Open areas tend to be marginal interms of farming viability and canbecome obscured by naturalregeneration and new planting.


Sense of place

Little recorded on the steep glensides except the presence of themilitary road which preceded themodern road. There is a scheduledpulpit rock at Clach nan Tarbh whichpresumably relates to Scotland’scovenanting history. There is someevidence of former agriculturalsystems as at Arrochymore.

Military way is only of localsignificance because most of itunderlies the modern road. Thepotential connection to Scotland’scovenanting history is nationallysignificant and of interest to localsand visitors.

There are more significant evidenceof former agriculture systemselsewhere in the Park although allexamples are of potential interest tovisitors undertaking genealogicalresearch.

None knownCulturalHeritage

Geal and Dubh Lochs SSSI (part) forbotanically rich, nutrient poor lochs,meadows and flushes.

Important to visitors and specialists

Low to medium biodiversityimportance, high in SSSI.

The sort of feature represented bythe SSSI is generally under pressurefrom development and drainage foragricultural improvement but thislocation is safe so far.

Biodiversity

Covenanting historyAssociations

LCT: OPEN GLEN SIDE

Landscape of steep glens, lochs and burns, scree outcrops, steep waterfalls.

HLA: Prehistoric to the present moorland and rough grazing and some 18th to 19th century fields and farming.

HLA Relict Landuse: There are several areas of medieval/post medieval settlement


• Conserve and enhance traditional upland farming and associated features.

• There may be some scope for footpath or access development along the military road where it is off the line of themodern road

• There may be scope for interpretation of covenanting connections along with other similar sites in the Park

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Farmed strath floors are importantareas of diversity in the LochLomond landscape, providing strongvisual contrast to the surroundinguplands. Traditionally managedfarmed lands, these areas give ahuman dimension to the landscape,which has an otherwise grander andwilder character.

This landscape type is generallyimportant as an element of diversityin the Park’s glen landscapes andspecifically contributes to the scenicquality and distinctive qualities ofthe north Loch Lomond landscape.Whilst not highly visible, there areglimpsed views across the meadowlands at the top of the loch, withsmall wooded hillocks, oldshielings, lochans and the river,contrasting with the dramaticvertical fjord like surroundingslopes. This is a small scale andindividualistic landscape area,secluded in nature and an exampleof the richness that the Parklandscapes offer in places just offthe beaten track.

This landscape could easily beoverlooked in its importance. Itcould be subject to changes inlanduse and potentiallydevelopments tourist related.


Sense of place

Lower part of Glen Falloch almostcertainly followed the pattern ofsettlement history visible in manyother glens in the Park – sheepfarms superseding joint tenancytownships, some of them survivingas farms into modern times. Little isrecorded but similar types ofstructures of medieval or later dateas found in other areas are likely tobe present. Not much is knownabout the settlement history.

The Campbell graveyard atGlenfalloch lies in this area. There isalso a length of 19th century canaland a canal basin at Inverarnan,associated with steamers on LochLomond. The 18th century Drovers’Inn is a prominent building on theA82.

Of significance locally and tovisitors. Important to local people,tourists and specialists and forgenealogical research although notall are readily accessible.

Possible pressure from touristrelated developments because ofposition at the head of the loch.

CulturalHeritage

Geal and Dubh Lochs SSSI (part) forbotanically rich, nutrient poor lochs,meadows and flushes.

Important to visitors and specialists

Low to medium biodiversityimportance, high in SSSI.

The sort of feature represented bythe SSSI is generally under pressurefrom development and drainage foragricultural improvement but thislocation is safe so far.

Biodiversity

CampbellsAssociations

LCT: FARMED STRATH FLOOR

Strath valley landscape, flat floodplain areas with knolls, grassland and improved fields, some riparianwoodland. The main area of farmed strath floor is at the head of Loch Lomond.

HLA: 18th to 19th century fields and farming, some moorland and rough grazing from prehistoric to present.Some 18th – 20th century woodland and forestry.


• Conserve and enhance traditional meadow management and features.

• Resist inappropriate developments.

• There may be some scope for improved ecological management of Geal and Dubh Lochs SSSI.

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


The settled shore introduces a builtelement within the generallywooded and apparently naturalshoreline, often delineating theedges of the shoreline with lineardevelopment. They possess widevistas over the loch itself and reflectlocal traditional built form.

The settled loch shore is significantto local people, the main focus forsettlement and reflecting the localbuilt form. These traditional villagesare also of great significance tovisitors as they are key attractions inthemselves strongly reflecting localvernacular, providing access andwide vistas over the loch. They havestrong individual identity. Luss is ofparticular note, representing apristine estate village, withconsistent architectural style anduse of local materials, set in widerdesigned landscape grounds,generally in good condition andupkeep. There are examples ofmore modern developments, butthese do not adversely dominatethe character. Main roads eitherpass through the villages or offerglimpsed views of them in theirrural settings. The villages are smallscale and this emphasises thegrandeur of wider landscape andlochscape contexts.

Pressures on these settlementsinclude new development,particularly related to tourism.

New housing extensions to existinghouses can also potentially have adetrimental affect on the characterand setting of settlements.


Sense of place

Luss Church is on the site of anearlier medieval church, on record inthe 13th century. It is likely that as achurch site it dates back manycenturies before that. Luss is aplanned village characterised byunique small single storey cottages.Although much of the currentvillage is 18th century in date, it isassumed to have a medieval core.There is a rare hog-backedgravestone in the churchyard.

Of significance to Park visitors inparticular

Medieval settlements and churchesare not common on the west side ofthe loch, because of the lack of landsuitable for settlement. Luss churchand village are of major significancewithin their character zone. Thearchitectural and historicimportance of the village isrecognised through its designationas an Outstanding ConservationArea for the architecture of the 18thcentury planned village. The hog-backed stone has wider nationalsignificance.

The site of the church is of majorarchaeological significance. Thecurrent appearance of the church isvery important within theconservation village of Luss

The church and village of Luss arecurrently very well maintained, andthere has been a recent upgrading ofthe cemetery around the church.There may be future pressure fordevelopment on the edge of thevillage which could compromise thesetting of the OutstandingConservation Area.

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). Examples are Luss, Tarbet and Ardlui.

HLA: Complex mosaic of 18th to 19th century fields and farming and an 18th to 19th century planned village,prehistoric to present moorland and rough grazing, 18th to 20th century forestry and woodland and a 20thcentury recreation area.

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


Water birds and osprey may be seenoccasionally from these locations

Significant bat roosts especiallybrown long eared and largepipistrelle may be present in somebuildings. Nests for some birds eg.house martins or swifts on largerbuildings may also be present.

important to local people, visitors

Low biodiversity importance.

These are of greatest importance tolocal people and specialists.

Generally low biodiversityimportant but significant bat roostsmay be important in terms of theScottish population.

Refurbishment of buildings maylimit their usefulness to wildlife.


LCT: SETTLED LOCH SHORE (CONT)

Biodiversity

Luss is associated with early Christianity and particularly Saint Kessog.

Tarbet was used as the setting for the novel 'Gillespie' (1914) by J Mac Dougall Hay. Luss was the setting for theScottish television programme 'High Road'.

Associations


• All new developments should reflect the traditional built form and be in keeping with the landscape and existingbuildings.

• There are few gaps within Luss Conservation Area and most buildings are in active use. The historic and architecturalcharacter of the outstanding Conservation Area should continue to be protected and enhanced.

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


CulturalHeritage

Tarbet is a modern settlement. Thefirst edition map depicts only a fewscattered houses and the hotel. Thehotel lies on a centuries oldcoaching inn site although thepresent building is mid 19th century.A few older cottages lie to the northof the hotel. The church and burialground at Ballyhennan may be ofsome antiquity, although it was usedlater as the burial ground forArrochar after it was disjoined fromLuss Parish in the 17th century.

Ardlui may have developed becauseof the presence of the railway andthe opportunity to provide a pier.There is a late 19th century formerstation masters house and station

Local significance only

A number of the buildings are listedfor their architectural and historicimportance.

Development pressures have thepotential to affect the setting of the graveyard

Loch Lomond is the signaturelandscape of the Park. The lochnarrows to the north and dividesinto component areas, each withindividually distinctive characterdetermined by the differing form ofthe water and diverse settings. Theloch tends not to be experienced inits whole but sequentially in theseareas.

Loch Sloy is more remote and lesssignificant as a landscape benefit.

Loch Lomond is of high significanceto local people such as those livingin the loch shore settlements andthose living on the loch islands, aswell as to visitors and thosetravelling through the Park. It is awell renowned landscape of thePark, of high significance to bothhistorical and geological specialists.The loch and Ben Lomond are thedefining landscape characteristics ofthe Loch Lomond area, a main focusof the Park.

The vistas over the loch are of thehighest quality, with opportunitiesfor framed and panoramic loch levelviews and elevated panoramas. Thediverse and high scenic quality ofthe loch is nationally valued and theloch surface is a key characteristicwithin compositions. The interplayof light and weather on the watersurface is ever changing and resultsin dramatic effects. The northernpart of the loch itself is unspoilthowever there is some loch sidedevelopment in places.

Visitor demand on the loch cancause pressures on the landscapesuch as erosion and litter on theshores. There are water qualityissues as a result of recreationalactivities and run-off from adjacentland.


Sense of place

Submerged crannogs lie close to theeast shoreline.

The crannogs are important tospecialists. Underwater resource isnot generally accessible to visitors.

Two of the crannogs are scheduledas being of national importance. Thethird scheduled crannog is in theSouth Loch Lomond area. LochLomond has the largest collectionof crannogs in the National Park.

Not generally visible therefore littleimpact on the landscape charactervalue.

Concern about damage from boats,engines, and wash.

CulturalHeritage

Loch Sloy does not have anyrecorded cultural heritage beyondthe recent development ofelectricity generation in the 1950s. Itwas the first of the large hydro-electric schemes of the North ofScotland Hydro-Electric Board. Thedam was the first buttress-type damto be built in Scotland. The dam isaugmented by a series of tunnelsand aqueducts and the Sloy PowerStation is on the shore of LochLomond just to the south ofInveruglas.

The artefacts of hydro-electricitygeneration are of specialist interest,particularly earlier features.

The structures contribute tolandscape character as well as beingof considerable historic interest.

Medium importance

No particular trends or pressures.

LCT: INLAND WATER & LCT: OPEN LOCH AND SHORE

Open water enclosed by woodland or forest or in an open setting. The northern part of Loch Lomond isenclosed by woodland while Loch Sloy is set within an open upland setting.

HLA: 19th to 20th century

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


Loch Lomond supports a varied fishcommunity, including powan andLoch Lomond Woods SAC for otter.A range of aquatic and emergentplant communities. Protectedspecies include otter, powan, osprey.

Loch Sloy also holds a powanpopulation introduced to helpsafeguard the Loch Lomondpopulation. Water birds may bepresent, particularly some rarerspecies, e.g. divers, in remoterupland lochs.


Loch Lomond is highly significant tothe zone, the Park and the nation, asthe largest area of freshwater inGreat Britain

Of high biodiversity importance.

The loch is under significantpressure from pollution, invasivespecies and development of theloch shore.


LCT: INLAND WATER & LCT: OPEN LOCH AND SHORE (CONT)

Biodiversity

Loch Lomond is used as part of the Glasgow drinking water supply. There have been many songs and poems writtenabout Loch Lomond, including 'The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond'. Ferries on the loch are used as visitorattractions. Loch Lomond has a long tradition as a place for recreation, particularly for people from nearby Glasgowbut also visitors. Early tourists included literary figures such as Dorothy Wordsworth. Steamers operated on the lochfrom the early 19th century until the 1980s. Originally connections to the steamer service were made by coach andthen rail once the trains arrived in the mid 19th century. The ‘Maid of the Loch still survives and is moored at Ballochpier.

Associations


• Management of recreational access to the loch to balance its popular use against other benefits, including tranquilqualities.

• Seek to conserve the Loch Lomond crannogs by protecting from potential damage by boats.

• The use of Loch Sloy for electricity generation could be interpreted better, but not perhaps at this location where it isnot very accessible.

• There is potential to enhance the biodiversity benefits of Loch Lomond. Pollution and development pressures can beaddressed through the Water Framework Directive and better control of activities on and around the loch.

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


These islands are unique landscapefeatures, which possess a secludedlandscape character. They areprominent features and contrastwith the flat and open loch.

The islands are highly visible fromthe shoreline with some of theislands themselves inhabited. Thespecial secluded landscapecharacter is of high significance toboth those local people living onthe loch shore and the islandsthemselves. The islands are of highsignificance to visitors and thosetravelling through the Park, highlyvisible from both the shore and themain road as unique landscapefeatures and of specialist interestdue to historical and archaeologicalevidence.

The islands are prominent featurescontrasting with the flat and openloch and contributing to aparticularly scenic lochscape, adefining aspect of Loch Lomond’slocal distinctiveness, unique to thePark and rare elsewhere in Scotland.

The islands offer high quality viewsover the loch, but the islandsthemselves are only accessible byboat (the larger lowland islands areeasily reached by ferry). Several ofthe larger lowland islands haveresidential development and thereis a small Hotel on Inchmurrin,therefore these islands are notunspoilt but still retain a secludedcharacter. Each island has someevidence of human activity eitherhistorical or present day howevermany of the island landscapes areprotected through environmentaldesignation. Each island has itsdistinctive identity, determined bythe island’s individual forms andnatural and cultural heritage.

The main pressures on the islandsarise from visitor activities. Thesecan include erosion to shorelinesfrom boats, littering and fires.


Sense of place

LCT: HIGHLAND WOODED LOCH ISLAND & LCT: LOWLAND WOODED LOCH ISLAND

Densely wooded islands, knolly and hummocky in form. Examples are Inchcailloch, Inchmurrin, Creinch,Inchlonaig, Inchtavannach, Inchconnachan, Inchmoan, Inchcruin and Inchfad.

HLA Period: Mostly 18th to 20th century forest and woodland with prehistoric to present moorland and roughgrazing. There is some 18th to 19th century fields and farming.

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


The Loch Lomond islands containthe densest collection ofarchaeological remains within thePark. This is because the islandswere attractive places to settle andwere easily defended. Remainsconsist of several castles, as well asmany other types of sites, includingan early church site on Inchcailloch.The loch also contains an importantcollection of crannogs, a kind ofprehistoric lake dwelling. Some ofthese are only visible when thewater is low. There has been majorsurvey work to record the islandarchaeological resources.Inchlonaig is the only islandidentified in the HLA as relictpolices and parklands. There is somelimited evidence of past agriculturaluse on both Inchfad and Inchcruin.

The island archaeology is ofimportance to a range of peopleincluding specialists, visitors andlocal people

The islands archaeology is a majorcontributor to the Park's character,some sites have significance beyondthe Park's boundaries and arenationally important

The islands archaeology has muchto offer in terms of visitorexperience and interpretation.

The islands archaeology is underpressure from natural erosive forcese.g. changes in water levels,vegetation overgrowth and fromvisitor pressure from informalcamping etc. There is no apparentdirect threat from development


LCT: HIGHLAND WOODED LOCH ISLAND & LCT: LOWLAND WOODED LOCH ISLAND (CONT)

CulturalHeritage

Loch Lomond Woods SAC (part) foroak wood, 6 SSSIs: Inchcruin,Inchlonaig, Inchmoan, Inchmurrin,Inchtavannach & Inchconnachan,Endrick Mouth and Islands supportoak, yew and alder woodlands withrich lower plant assemblages, raisedbog. Loch Lomond SPA forcapercaillie. Inchcailloch is part ofLoch Lomond National NatureReserve and Loch Lomond Ramsarsite. Species include insectivorousbirds recorded in very high densities,capercaillie, otter, pine marten,endemic and endangered beetlespecies.


Highly significant to the zone, thePark and the nation, as part of theLoch basin's broadleaved woodlandand key wildlife.

Very high biodiversity importance

The islands are under significantpressure from recreationaldisturbance and invasive species(rhododendron).

Biodiversity

Associations The islands as a result of their long history occupation have very rich historic and cultural associations. The religioussites on the islands are associated with various early Christian saints and the castles with clans including theMacFarlanes, MacGregors and the Earldom of Lennox. The islands are also represented in art and literature. In SirWalter Scott's poem 'The Lady of the Lake' (1810) a fiery cross is made from sacred yew trees growing on the woodedisland of Inchcailloch.


• The loch islands must be protected from development and visitor pressure should be managed.

• Better display and interpretation of existing visitor facility could be promoted on Inchcailloch.

• Many of the archaeological sites are in urgent need of management

• The biodiversity benefit could be enhanced. The disturbance and woodland quality can be better managed, throughimprovements in visitor and recreation management.

LOCH LOMOND NORTH


loch lomond north · ‘the bonnie banks o’ loch lomond’. the islands have associations with a...

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