Exploring the UK's natural beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is exactly what it says it
is: a precious landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty
are so outstanding that it is in the nation's interest to safeguard
them.
There are 40 AONBs in England (the Quantock Hills, pictured, is one) and Wales and nine in Northern Ireland.
Created by the same legislation that led to the national parks – the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act – the AONBs were established to conserve the beauty of the best of largely lowland rural Britain’s populated agricultural landscapes. This made them quite distinct from the national parks, which themselves were deliberately created in more remote, mainly upland areas that had large expanses of open land suitable not only for nature conservation, but also for the promotion of recreation. They were also designed to be run quite differently, the parks developing their own bureaucracies, complete with planning powers, large staffs and central funding, while the AONBs remained tied to local government, with a tiny core staff and relatively meagre finances.
Since 2006, Geographical has focused upon one AONB on per issue – a great opportunity to explore the diverse AONB landscapes, which range from rugged coastline to water meadows to gentle downland and upland moors. Read our introductory article .
There are 40 AONBs in England (the Quantock Hills, pictured, is one) and Wales and nine in Northern Ireland.
Created by the same legislation that led to the national parks – the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act – the AONBs were established to conserve the beauty of the best of largely lowland rural Britain’s populated agricultural landscapes. This made them quite distinct from the national parks, which themselves were deliberately created in more remote, mainly upland areas that had large expanses of open land suitable not only for nature conservation, but also for the promotion of recreation. They were also designed to be run quite differently, the parks developing their own bureaucracies, complete with planning powers, large staffs and central funding, while the AONBs remained tied to local government, with a tiny core staff and relatively meagre finances.
Since 2006, Geographical has focused upon one AONB on per issue – a great opportunity to explore the diverse AONB landscapes, which range from rugged coastline to water meadows to gentle downland and upland moors. Read our introductory article .
Antrim Coast and Glens
Stretching along the Northern Ireland coast from Ballycastle to Larne, this area of deep valleys and spectacular cliffs shares a rich cultural legacy with nearby Scotland. It’s also home to the odd bird or two, writes Olivia EdwardRead on
Binevenagh
Binevenagh AONB encompasses a dramatic coastal landscape that forms the backdrop to one of the world’s most beautiful train journeys. Natalie Hoare investigatesRead on
Lagan Valley
Stretching out from the centre of Belfast along the River Lagan, the Lagan Valley AONB straddles the divide between the big city and the surrounding countryside. Olivia Edward discovers the charm of the area’s waterwaysRead on
South Devon
A strip of coastline that encompasses five river valleys, sandy beaches and winding country lanes, South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has long been a stronghold of maritime heritage. Marc Grainger investigatesRead on
Lecale Coast
Nestled between Strangford Lough and the Mourne Mountains, the fertile soils of the Lecale peninsula have drawn successive cultures to it, while its coastal fringes are a magnet for wildlife. Natalie Hoare investigatesRead on
Malvern Hills
Olivia Edward visits an area of outstanding natural beauty where the striking hills have been hewn from some of England’s hardest and oldest rocksRead on
Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs
Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB is very rural and refreshingly uncrowded. Natalie Hoare discovers how its rich cultural and historical heritage has long been a draw to archaeologistsRead on
Howardian Hills
Occupying a rectangular chunk of North Yorkshire, the Howardian Hills AONB contains an astonishingly high concentration of historic country homes. Natalie Hoare discovers what drew these aristocratic familiesRead on
Llyn Peninsula
Olivia Edward visits a remote corner of Wales where the Welsh language continues to thrive and a tiny coastal island has lured both pilgrims and pinnipeds for centuriesRead on
North Devon Coast
Natalie Hoare visits an AONB that showcases coastal cliffs, sandy beaches, fishing villages, the vast combined estuaries of the Taw and Torridge rivers, and the largest sand dune system in England within its three segmentsRead on
The Chilterns
Olivia Edward heads to the undulating chalk hills and characteristic brick cottages of an AONB whose centuries-old traditions are at odds with its proximity to the metropolis of LondonRead on
The Ring of Gullion
Natalie Hoare visits the evocatively named Ring of Gullion Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which encircles an impressive ring dyke, the formation of which has both puzzled geologists and inspired a rich folkloreRead on
Forest of Bowland
When is a forest not a forest? When it's this Lancashire AONB - ancient royal hunting land that now supports a healthy farming community. Report and photographs by Olivia EdwardRead on
East Devon
Olivia Edward goes in search of bats and cliff-top farmland among the rural woods and spectacular coastlines of the West CountryRead on
The Sperrins
Stretching from the Strule Valley to Lough Neagh, the Sperrins AONB encompasses a glaciated landscape that’s rich in history and contains internationally important blanket bog. Natalie Hoare investigatesRead on
Surrey Hills
Olivia Edward visits an AONB where coordinated efforts are underway to preserve the rural idyll and countryside character that belies its location just south of Greater London.Read on
Arnside and Silverdale
Olivia Edward dodges treacherous quicksand and keeps an ear out for booming birds in Britain’s smallest AONBRead on
Nidderdale
On the edge of the Yorkshire Dales is an AONB whose reservoirs and ruins reveal its uses for both practical and pleasurable purposes, writes Olivia EdwardRead on
Shropshire Hills
The Shropshire Hills are often overlooked by tourists but are filled with unusual sights and species including ancient holly trees and freshwater mussels. Olivia Edward visits the area to meet the people working to protect its assetsRead on
Cannock Chase
Natalie Hoare visits the UK’s smallest mainland AONB, which encompasses the largest surviving area of lowland heath in the Midlands and once acted as a training ground for more than half a million soldiersRead on
Strangford Lough
The largest inlet in the British Isles, Strangford Lough is a magnet for wildlife, from brent geese to basking sharks. Now, the fast-flowing narrows are a testing ground for renewable energy technology, writes Olivia EdwardRead on
Blackdown Hills
Riven with river valleys and dotted with Iron Age hillforts, the Blackdown Hills are being opened up by a new trail system. Olivia Edward meets some of the people working to improve access and preserve the regionRead on
Isles of Scilly
Despite suffering regular batterings by the Atlantic Ocean, the Isles of Scilly are a haven for unusual plant and animal species. But, as Natalie Hoare discovers, the threat of sea-level rise is a real cause for concernRead on
Solway Coast
Once a lawless region inhabited by smugglers and bandits, the Solway Coast, located in a largely forgotten corner of northwestern England, is still a wild and beautiful landscape of panoramic views. Olivia Edward reports Read on
North Pennines
Olivia Edward heads to the UK’s second-largest AONB to discover how traditional cattle farming is helping to conserve Britain’s hay meadows and why the area’s peat moorlands are a weapon in the fight against climate changeRead on
Isle of Wight
Natalie Hoare heads to the Isle of Wight, which, along with its two heritage coasts, includes some of the most spectacular land- and seascapes in EnglandRead on
The Lincolnshire Wolds AONB
The Lincolnshire Wolds still bear the indelible impressions of numerous medieval villages that have long since returned to the soil. But it's the rolling hills and chalk streams that draw visitors today, writes Olivia EdwardRead on
High Weald
Natalie Hoare heads to the UK’s fourth-largest AONB, often described as a quintessential English landscape, stretching across Kent, Surrey and SussexRead on
Tamar Valley
The Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has a long mining history, the remains of which now complement its gorges and rivers to form part of a World Heritage site that is rich in wildlife, writes Olivia EdwardRead on
Causeway Coast
The jewel in the crown of this impressive AONB is the internationally renowned Giant’s Causeway. But as Christian Amodeo discovers, the road to the provision of protection has been rockyRead on
Wye Valley
As the only AONB to straddle the border of England and Wales, the Wye Valley’s trustees strive for cohesion to safeguard its picturesque beauty. Christian Amodeo follows the Wye’s majestic, meandering courseRead on
Norfolk coast
Bordering Britain’s largest marine embayment, the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty provides a safe haven for almost half a million birds each winter. Jo Sargent explores the region’s rugged coastlineRead on
Chichester Harbour
With nearly half of its designated area covered by water, Chichester Harbour is perhaps England’s most aquatic AONB. Jo Sargent investigates this haven for wildlife, which sits among some popular sailing watersRead on
Suffolk Coast and Heaths
Although the Suffolk Coast and Heaths is home to Britain’s newest nuclear plant, it also contains some of the country’s most important bird reserves. Jo Sargent explores an AONB seemingly riddled with contradictionsRead on
Kent Downs
Home to the iconic Heritage Coast White Cliffs, the Kent Downs encompass a mixture of rolling chalk grassland and ancient woods. Jo Sargent investigates the only AONB to fall within the boundaries of Greater LondonRead on
North Wessex Downs
Jo Sargent visits the historical landscape of the North Wessex Downs AONB as it celebrates the 35th anniversary of its designationRead on
Northumberland Coast
The Northumberland Coast AONB encompasses sweeping sandy beaches, rolling dunes, rocky outcrops, offshore islands and an impressive array of wildlife, as Natalie Hoare discoversRead on
East Hampshire Downs / Sussex Downs
The East Hampshire Downs and the Sussex Downs – within the boundaries of an unconfirmed national park, and discovers how crucial sheep and grazing are to the conservation of the countrysideRead on
Mendip Hills
An area that has been heavily influenced by its lead-mining heritage, the 198-square-kilometre Mendip Hills AONB rises above the Somerset Levels south of Bristol, providing views of the Severn estuary, Somerset and beyond. Read on
Quantock Hills
England’s first AONB and Great Britain’s second is famed for offering sweeping views across the surrounding countryside but, as Natalie Hoare discovers, it offers visitors a whole lot more besidesRead on
Exploring the UK's natural beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or AONB, is a designation created 50 years ago to protect the most beautiful and distinctive landscapes in the UK. Nigel Hicks reportsRead on
