This spatial dataset contains the digital boundaries of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) statutory landscape designation in Wales. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has a legal duty to maintain and make available AONB boundaries.
Following recommendations from a review commissioned by Welsh Government, in 2024 AONBs were rebranded as National Landscapes. Both names of AONB and National Landscapes are currently in use. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty remains the legal name for this statutory designation.
AONBs are designated for the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty and differ from National Parks in that they do not have a recreation remit. AONBs are managed by their constituent Local Authorities.
NRW is the designating authority to create any new AONB in Wales or boundary variations to existing ones, however these must be confirmed by Welsh Ministers. NRWs statutory powers derive from the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act (NPAC) 1949 and Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Any new AONBs designated by NRW would now be under powers derived from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
Five AONBs have been designated in Wales: Gower (1956) was the first AONB designated in England and Wales, Llŷn (1957), Anglesey (1967) and Wye Valley (1971), which straddles the border with England. The Clwydian Range AONB was designated in 1985 and extended by the then Countryside Council for Wales (a predecessor organisation to NRW) in 2011.
The data has been held digitally since mid-1990s. The boundary has been transferred to OS MasterMap by NRW and has been subject to joint checking by NRW staff and the relevant Local Authority staff.
