Does anyone else think Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are not outstanding?

[garlictwist]

And perhaps should be renamed "areas of slightly above average natural beauty?"

Just trying to decide where to go on holiday this year. Over the years I've been to a lot of the so-called AONBs in the UK and think that the title is really misleading and a lot of it is in fact rather meh.

I live on the edge of an AONB (Nidderdale) and it's quite pretty but just a load of bleak moorland and hills really.

I grew up in the Lake District and do think that could be termed "outstanding", as can parts of Scotland, but most of these so-called AONBs leave me pretty cold.

I am prepared to be swayed so if anyone can convince me that any of them are worth a visit, speak now!

Maybe my standards are too high.

Well some are better than others but I never visited one I thought was shit

If you think Nidderdale is average you should try Cannock Chase - it pretty much proves your point.

Forrest of Bowland is extremely underwhelming, as is Cannock Chase but the most others (Cotswolds, Lake District and Brecon Beacons etc.) all deserve their status.

Nidderdale is lovely but yep there are many more places I would deem outstanding
Parts of the Lake District, cheddar gorge, for eg

I work for an AONB - although they’re called areas of outstanding natural beauty, the views aren’t the only thing they’re designated for. Rare or particularly special habitats, geology, waterways, cultural heritage, historical significance and wildlife are also factors in a particular area being considered worthy of conservation.

The Lake District etc is a National Park and a whole other ball game (the budget of one National Park is more than the combined budget of all AONBs in England) 🤣

It is a landscape that needs special protection rather than somewhere that looks particularly pretty IYSWIM. It may be the only example of its type or what is left.

A lot of our natural landscapes are put at risk from industrial use, eg quarrying, or gravel extraction. Limestone pavements used to be particularly at risk from people coming and removing the stone for gardens. Moorlands are at risk from practices in farming that increase productivity. There are a lot of economic pressures on landscape.

The designation allows more control and also more money to come in to conserve landscape.

Gower takes my breath away..

Like MindatWork says, National Parks are much larger designated areas. There are also small areas called Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

A lot of these rely on local people looking after them - I live close to one and it is owned by our village. We have people who volunteer and work with outside agencies to keep it maintained and keep the habitat healthy for the butterflies that it supports. It is a lot of work. They are all stars