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Assessment of Highland Special Landscape Areas 14. Kyle and Plockton SLA Ref.

number/Name

14. Kyle and Plockton

Location and Extent REFER TO MAP FIGURE 14.

This section of coast stretches from the immediate vicinity of the Skye Bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh to include Plockton and the south side of outer Loch Carron west of Portchullin. It includes the many small islands and skerries which lie close to the shore in this area. Area 18.12km2 (1812.90ha)

Overview This is a tranquil stretch of intricate, mainly low-lying coastline

scattered with nearshore islands and skerries, and smooth sandy bays. Inland from the shore, moorland is punctuated by rocky outcrops and hamlets with white cottages. The picturesque village of Plockton and the busy town of Kyle are focal points for visitors.

The backdrop to this area (or put another way, the outlook from it) encompasses a diverse array of headlands and islands – large, medium and small in scale – where four major sea inlets - Loch Carron, Loch Kishorn, the Inner Sound and Loch Alsh - all meet..The distant views across water to prominent hills and mountains on Skye, Raasay, and in Applecross are distinctive and strongly influenced by weather, light and tidal conditions. They are an attractive feature of journeys by road and rail into this area and across the Skye Bridge. Key Landscape and Visual Characteristics

 The Intricate landform forms sheltered pockets at varying elevations and with a range of orientations which offer a changing experience travelling through the landscape.

 Small harbour settlements are scattered along the coast.

 Inland landcover is dominated by undulating moorland with abundant gorse, frequent exposures of the distinctive Torridonian Sandstone, and pockets of mixed broadleaf and coniferous woodland

 Views across water to the prominent skylines of the Torridon and Cuillin mountains contrast with the small scale foreground detail of the numerous islands, bays and inlets.

 This is a complex coastline animated by skerries and outcrops, tidal fluctuations and ever changing weather and visibility conditions. Areas of sand are revealed at low tide to provide transitory links between islands and generous expanses of beach in a diverse series of bays.

Assessment of Highland Special Landscape Areas 14. Kyle and Plockton

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Special Qualities

Intricate Coastline and Picturesque Vistas

 The village of Plockton is notable for the arrangement of cottages aligned along a palm tree lined road which hugs the gentle curve of the sheltered bay on the eastern side of a

protective headland. Plockton is a long orderly model village, surveyed and planned for Hugh Innes in 1801. There are many very attractive predominantly 3-bay early 19th century

houses. The scene is enlivened by the presence of numerous skerries and boat activity, and overlooked by the imposing Duncraig Castle.

 Kyle of Lochalsh provides a focus of activity and vibrancy which contrasts with the tranquillity of Plockton particularly in the winter months.

 The Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh railway line acts as a physical and visual boundary to the area and affords travellers a stimulating sequence of intricate coastal views across the loch to southern Applecross. Tourist activity is focused on the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the area’s land and seascapes and promotes a healthy approach to conserving and

promoting the quality and condition of the natural resource

 Impressive blankets of gorse scattered moorland punctuated by rocky outcrops and trees highlighted with bright croft houses and surrounded by the contrasting scale of the

spectacular mountains of Wester Ross and the Cuillins.

 The Skye Bridge is a notable (and some would say graceful) engineering structure in a national context, an important threshold for the traveller to or from Skye, and it also provides unique elevated views of the attractive coastal setting.

Assessment of Highland Special Landscape Areas 14. Kyle and Plockton Sensitivity to change  Large scale buildings or structures could detract from the intimate,

intricate scale of the coast.

 Development which would introduce activity and noise could threaten the tranquillity of the area.

 Marine based development which could detract from the pattern of small islands and skerries.

 Additional or upgraded roads or access tracks could detract from the quiet nature of existing roads. Widening or straightening the roads may attract more through-traffic and this, along with

construction of new tracks, could reduce the tranquillity of the area.  Development could obstruct, or impinge on, views from the road

towards the coast, islands and open water.

 Removal of woodland could result in the loss of shelter and reduce the diversity of experience of enclosure and exposure.

Potential for landscape enhancement

 Remove or redesign coniferous plantations to better reflect landforms and other landscape features while maintaining the shelter afforded to Plockton.

 Manage woodland and roadside shrubs to maintain or create views to the coast to alternate with areas of enclosure.

 Seek to minimise the visual impact of the rock armour used for future works on the railway line and other infrastructure projects.  Remove unsuitable roadside signage

Assessment of Highland Special Landscape Areas 14. Kyle and Plockton

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designations/interests

 Plockton, originally called Am Ploc, was a crofting hamlet until the end of the early 1800s when the landlord, Sir Hugh Innes cleared tenants from inland areas with an option to resettle in the expanded fishing port.

 Plockton’s place on the tourist map was firmly established by the BBC drama series ‘Hamish Macbeth’.

 Eilean Ban lighthouse is by Stevenson, built 1857. The keepers cottages were converted by the author Gavin Maxwell (of Ring of Brightwater fame) in 1968. Maxwell died before he could turn Eilean Ban into a commercial Eider breeding colony. The house has recently been restored and is now a small museum.

 Plock of Kyle site of a WWII heavy anti-aircraft battery, consisting of two 3 inch guns and an accommodation camp. The battery has now gone, but many of the hut bases survive.

 The railway connection from Strome Ferry to Kyle of Lochalsh (about 10 ½ miles) cost £200,000 – in proportion to its length the most expensive stretch of railway ever constructed in Britain. A considerable amount of explosives were used to cut through the rocky landscape and a number of the stores used to house the explosives survive alongside the railway

 The Skye Bridge which provides an easy route to and from Skye but was the subject of controversy before, during and after construction largely regarding the requirement for high toll payments.

 The 63 miles of railway from Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh was opened in 1897 after a lengthy and expensive construction period which required the building of numerous bridges and substantial sections of rock cutting.

 A number of rare marine habitats recognised in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan thrive in the shallows and inlets around the coast including maerl beds, seagrass beds and rafts of crofters wig seaweed.

 Kenneth Mackenzie, the Brahan Seer reputedly predicted that ‘The

day will come when long strings of carriages without horses shall run between Dingwall and Inverness, and more wonderful still, between Dingwall and the Isle of Skye.’

Landscape Character The Landscape Character Types found in this area are described in: Stanton, C. 1996. Skye and Lochalsh landscape assessment.

Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 71.

All Landscape Character Assessments can be found on the Scottish Natural Heritage website at www.snh.org.uk