What is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)?
Q: What is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)?
A: An AONB is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. It is designated by the UK government, Welsh Government or Northern Ireland Executive with the aim of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the landscape.
Q: How many AONBs are there?
A: There are 35 AONBs in England, four in Wales, one (Wye Valley) that is in both England and Wales and nine in Northern Ireland.
Q: When was the first AONB awarded?
A: The first AONB was awarded in 1956 to the Gower Peninsula, south Wales.
Q: What is the smallest AONB?
A: The smallest AONB is the Isles of Scilly (1976), 16 km2 (6.2 sq mi).
Q: What is the largest AONB?
A: The largest AONB is the Cotswolds (1966), 2,038 km2 (787 sq mi).
Q: How much countryside do all of England and Wales' combined AONBs cover?
A: All of England and Wales' combined AONBs cover around 18% of their total countryside.
