AONBs are designated in recognition of their national importance and to ensure that their character and qualities are protected – for everyone to enjoy. There are 46 AONBs in Britain (38 in England and Wales and eight in Northern Ireland) and together with the 15 National Parks, they cover around 25% of our countryside.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are part of a family of protected areas recognised and classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) throughout the world. AONBs and National Parks in England and Wales fall into Category V – Protected Landscapes.