Landscape Character Types

Elevated open farmland with views west towards Fullabrook Down wind farm and the coast beyond.

Summary description

This Landscape Character Type (LCT) covers the North Devon Downs, including the elevated ridges between Combe Martin, Berrynarbor and Ilfracombe. It comprises an area of high open farmland with broad, rounded ridges slowly dropping in altitude towards Barnstaple and the Taw-Torridge Estuary. The northern and western parts of the LCT are characterised by frequent coastal views. These areas fall within the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Heritage Coast. The downland above Saunton is within the buffer zone of the North Devon Biosphere Reserve.

Link to Devon Character Areas

DCA 27: Exmoor Fringe

DCA 43: North Devon Coastal Downs

DCA 44: North Devon Downs

DCA 45: North Devon High Coast

Key characteristics

• Rolling downland landscape with broad rounded ridges and hilltops, dropping in altitude in the south to meet the Taw/Torridge Estuary.
• Northern and coastal sections of the landscape underlain by resistant Morte slate, whilst softer bands of sandstone, shales and mudstone characterise the more undulating southern parts.
• Landscape drained by springs feeding into steep valleys and combes (separate LCTs). Views to these wooded valleys provide contrasting colour and texture to this strongly agricultural landscape.
• A simple agricultural landscape dominated by the sky - glimpses of the coast convey a maritime influence to areas of downland closer to the sea.
• Sparse woodland cover, limited to occasional blocks of coniferous plantations, small farm woods and wind-sculpted pine shelterbelts. Sporadic clumps and avenues of beech sit on prominent ridgelines.
• Mixture of medium-scale curving medieval fields and larger post-medieval and modern fields with straight boundaries. Some areas of open downland remain.
• Range of boundary styles including grassy Devon banks with patches of wind-pruned gorse and scrub (particularly where exposed), flower-rich banks with mixed-species hedges, and Morte slate-faced grassy banks.
• Square-cut beech hedgebanks, particularly in the east where influenced by the proximity to Exmoor. Post-and-wire fences enclose some of the more intensively farmed fields.
• Semi-natural habitats limited to fragmented sites of species-rich acidic and neutral grassland, rush pasture, small patches of semi-natural woodland, scrub and bracken.
• Two Sites of Special Scientific Interest and several County Wildlife Sites intersect the border of the LCT.
• Historic features include prehistoric burial sites, ancient hilltop enclosures, historic quarries and deserted medieval villages; many are Scheduled Monuments.
• Several historic parkland estates (Grade I and II listed).
• Strong local vernacular including cream and whitewashed cob/render, exposed local stone with slate roofs and some local use of thatch. Square stone church towers are characteristic landmarks, with listed buildings and several Conservation Areas in historic villages.
• Sparsely settled and peaceful character, with dispersed farmsteads sited in dips in the landform and nucleated villages and hamlets located in tributary valleys and around crossroads.
• Settlement linked by straight roads enclosed by hedgebanks, with occasional gaps providing long views across the landscape.
• Caravan and holiday parks, as well as other tourism-related land uses detract from traditional landscape character and tranquillity, particularly in locations close to the coast.
• Recreational value offered by several National Cycle Network routes (3, 27, 276), the popular Tarka Trail and Macmillan Way West, plus the public rights of way network through farmland.
• Hill summits afford expansive views across the landscape and beyond, including to the coast and estuary.
• Fullabrook Down Wind Farm forms a dominant feature on the skyline and is visible from many parts of the wider LCT.

Straight single-track road bound by tall grassy Devon hedges.

Valued landscape attributes

• Dramatic and far-reaching views enjoyed by people.
• Smooth rolling skylines, often only broken by protruding square church towers and wind turbines.
• Valued wildlife habitat within the farmland and associated with the hedge network.
• Scattered rural communities create a peaceful landscape.
• Historic features (parkland estates and scheduled monuments) give sense of time depth.
• Important for recreation and includes National Cycle Network routes, the Tarka Trail and Macmillan Way West.

Agricultural landscape of large, smoothly rolling square fields.

Management guidelines

Protect

Protect parkland trees from damage to their root systems through ploughing or agricultural inputs. Retain veteran trees as wildlife habitats and new generations of open grown trees should be encouraged.

Manage

Manage the beech clumps and pine shelterbelts which form characteristic features within the open landscape.

Manage species-rich Devon hedgebanks through the regular coppicing of characteristic wind-sculpted hedgerow trees and re-laying of gappy sections to reinforce habitat networks.

Replace lost lengths of field boundary, respecting traditional bank styles and species composition, particularly in locations at right angles to slopes to help reduce soil erosion and run-off into watercourses.

Manage and enhance the wildlife interest of agricultural fields by encouraging the creation of uncultivated field margins, reducing hedge cutting cycles, introducing grass buffer strips around intensively farmed fields and other wildlife-friendly farming methods (also reducing diffuse pollution draining from the downland).

Manage and re-link fragmented patches of species-rich grassland and rush pasture, supporting farmers to extensively graze these areas as integral parts of their farming systems.

Plan

Respond to the UK-wide policy drive for woodland planting in line with the Devon Local Nature Partnership 'Right Place, Right Tree' guidance to ensure the distinctive characteristics of the landscape are retained and enhanced (including long, open views), whilst contributing to the provision of ecosystem services (including access and recreation) and nature recovery networks.

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

Identify opportunities for enhancing agriculture (e.g. through the new Environmental Land Management scheme) that would reinforce local distinctiveness and beauty of the countryside whilst also delivering other objectives, for example restoring ponds, hedgerows, orchards and copses as part of the farming landscape.

Plant replacement parkland trees as many existing specimens are reaching maturity; encourage open-grown trees within the wider countryside (choosing a diversity of species to improve resilience).

LCT 5C Downland (PDF) [1MB]