Landscape Character Types

Steep, narrow combe road enclosed by trees and tall hedgebanks

Summary description

This Landscape Character Type (LCT) comprises the distinctive coastal combes of North Devon, which carve through the landform on their way to the sea. These combes include linear settlements in their valley bottoms and at their coastal mouths, including Combe Martin, Croyde and Woolacombe. Much of the LCT is within the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and North Devon Heritage Coast. The southern part of the LCT is also within the North Devon Biosphere Reserve buffer zone.

Link to Devon Character Areas

DCA 43: North Devon Coastal Downs

DCA 45: North Devon High Coast

Key characteristics

• Steep-sided and narrow branching combes carving through the surrounding rolling landform to the coast, with some designated geological features.
• Mixed fields, including small-scale irregular medieval patterns following valley contours and larger post-medieval and modern fields along the combe bottoms and summits. Medieval strip fields can feature around settlements.
• Fields bound by a range of Devon hedge styles, including sections faced by Morte slate, as well as windblown, sparse hedges on exposed slopes.
• Rough sheep-grazed pasture characterises much of the landscape, including open tracts on steep combe slopes and summits.
• Dense woodland (including ancient oak) is found at the heads of some combes, whilst lines of trees follow the stream courses and provide shelter to settlements. Many of the woodlands are County Wildlife Sites.
• Plantation woodland is located within some of the coastal combes.
• Other habitats include mosaics of unimproved grassland, heath and scrub, with maritime grassland, heath and scrub occurring towards the coast.
• Early settlement and land use indicated by the presence of prehistoric heritage assets including an Iron-Age hillfort and a standing stone. Listed buildings include limekilns, silver mines and other mineral workings, and stone churches in settlements.
• Long linear settlements generally follow the narrow valley floors, whilst dispersed farmsteads (including some listed buildings) and hamlets are scattered throughout, nestled into valley sides. Many historic villages include Conservation Areas, with some modern expansion.
• Traditional vernacular of whitewash walls and grey slate roofs, with local variations of exposed stone and thatch, and Victorian and Edwardian properties in some coastal towns.
• A strong sense of containment, with views often limited by the steep wooded combe slopes. Levels of tranquillity vary greatly according to the proximity of development.
• The landscapes around popular coastal villages are influenced by modern resort activities, including holiday parks, caravan and camping sites and car parks, which erode the rural character and sense of tranquility.
• The South West Coast Path passes along the coastline, often connecting with rights of way running inland along the combe bottoms. Several National Cycle Network routes also cross through the northern parts of the LCT.

View south from Lee Bay to the wooded valley sides of Borough Valley combe. Morte slate is a distinctive building material in this area.

Valued landscape attributes

• Strong medieval strip field systems indicating early settlement and land use and providing a sense of time-depth in the landscape.
• Locally distinctive pattern of linear settlements contained within the landscape (mainly within the combes), some with farmsteads in village centres.
• Industrial heritage, including stone-built harbours, lime kilns and mining remains.
• Traditional vernacular of cob, Morte slate, thatch, whitewash and stone.
• Edwardian and Victorian influence evident in seaside towns and villages.

Car park and mixed traditional and modern residential properties at Hele Bay

Management guidelines

Protect

Protect ancient oak woodlands in coastal combes. Control access by livestock, promoting natural regeneration to enhance longevity whilst using extensive grazing to promote the diversity of woodland ground flora.

Protect the habitat mosaics of unimproved grassland (including maritime grassland), heath and scrub present within the valleys.

Protect traditionally farmed areas and resist further agricultural intensification which has resulted in the loss of field boundaries.

Manage

Manage, sustain and support agricultural use, increasing the biodiversity of farmland, providing incentives for farmers to graze 'marginal' land such as unimproved grassland and coastal heath as an integral part of their farming systems (including through the new Environmental Land Management schemes and other initiatives).

Manage hedgerows and replace lost or over mature hedgerow trees and wind-sculpted tree belts; restore lost field boundaries where possible.

Manage and re-link woodlands, encouraging the use of traditional techniques such as coppicing, and retaining the diversity of woodland types within the area.

Manage and re-link semi-natural coastal habitats to maximise their biodiversity and strengthen their resistance to coastal squeeze and climate change. Restore and develop areas of coastal heath and create buffer zones between cliff communities and improved agricultural land where possible.

Plan

Encourage a diverse mix of habitats and nature recovery networks, including plantations, broadleaved woodland and grassland.

Create, extend and link woodland and wetland habitats to enhance the water storage capacity of the landscape (reducing flood risk) and improve water quality through reducing soil erosion and agricultural run-off.

Encourage natural regeneration of woodland, ensuring that any new planting is in line with the Devon Local Nature Partnership Right Place, Right Tree guidance to retain and enhance the distinctive characteristics of the landscape. Aim to connect fragmented sites, including within combes and on steep coastal slopes.

Plan for the diversification and future sustainability of conifer plantations in the landscape, exploring options for the restoration of open habitats such as species-rich grasslands and opportunities for access/recreation.

Restore lost or degraded lengths of hedgerow to strengthen ecological connectivity and natural flood management whilst respecting the characteristic local field patterns. Follow guidelines published by Devon Hedge Group.

Plan for the future effects of climate change along the coast, allowing natural processes to take place as much as possible, whilst ensuring local people are involved in decision-making relating to future landscapes.

LCT 4C Coastal Slopes & Combes with Settlement (PDF) [1MB]