County Galway Landscape Character Type CDP 2022 2028

Galway County Landscape Character Type. Produced as part of the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028. See www.galway.ie for further details. The Landscape Character Type identifies an area of land that has an appearance that is readily recognisable as being different and distinctive from other areas. A total of 10 character areas have been identified in the County.Each part of the County has been classified according to the type of landscape that it is part of, as follows;Coastal Landscape - the Coasts of Galway are highly distinctive, but very complex and varied, types of landscape that vary considerably between low and high tide.Island Landscape - large, inhabited islands, unconnected to the shore - more than 3km from the coast.Uplands and Bog Landscape - an extensive area of very open landscapes with low levels of settlement, roads or agriculture. Upland and Bogs make up much of the centre of those western parts of the county that are nearest to the Atlantic.Lake Environs Landscape - this type covers Lough Corrib and Lough Derg, Ireland’s second and third largest lakes respectively, both highly prized as recreational and scenic resources.North Galway Complex Landscape - an extensive grassland plain stretching from the Suck River in the east to the watershed of the River Clare in the west. It includes elevated areas such as Slieve Dart in the north, as well as lakes, turloughs, raised bogs, wetlands and winding rivers.Central Galway Complex Landscape - an extensive plain of grasslands comprising medium-to-large fields with low enclosures and many areas of low stone walls. This area contains the majority of the county's population with associated high levels of rural housing, roads and settlements.Urban Environs Landscape - around all major settlements, can establish extensive landscapes of urbanised appearance and character for a considerable distance around each centre.Shannon Environs Landscape - establishes an extensive area of distinctive character along much of the southeastern boundary of the county.Karst Landscape - distinctive localised landscape created where the northern-most extentBurren exposed limestone forms a southern boundary of County Galway. The characters that define the Karst Landscape extend beyond the southern boundary of County Galway.Slieve Aughty Landscape - distinctive uplands of the Slieve Aughty Mountains define the much of Galway's southern boundary with County Clare.      Galway County Council provides this information with the understanding that it is not guaranteed to be accurate, correct, or complete. Galway County Council accepts no liability for any loss or damage suffered by those using this data for any purpose.