Understanding the AONB

 

The Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is one of Britain's finest landscapes.  It is part of a family of protected areas that include national parks in Britain as well as national parks and nature reserves in many other countries throughout the world. 

It is a working landscape that has evolved over centuries of human activity. The central feature of the AONB is the long majestic dale of the Nidd, running from the wild fells around Great Whernside, south and east towards the Vale of York. The valley has been moulded by a rich land use history that embraces agriculture, mining, quarrying, textiles and water supply. The dale edge is broken by craggy gritstone outcrops such as Brimham Rocks and Guisecliffe. All of these features are echoed in the smaller dales of the Washburn, Laver, Skell and Burn.

The varied landscape has created diverse habitats which support a wide range of flora and fauna of national and international importance. It is also a rich and complex historic environment with a wealth of medieval landscape features still visible in the more recent legacy of the AONB's industrial past.
 
Photo by Tessa Bunney: View over Nidderdale