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About the AONB
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The Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is one of Britain's finest landscapes covering 233 square miles (603 square km) of the Yorkshire Dales. 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 dramatic landscape of contrasts that provides the perfect opportunity for invigorating outdoor adventure, getting close to nature or simply soaking up the scenery and getting away from it all. Its central feature is the long, majestic dale of the
River Nidd that runs from the wild fells around Great Whernside,
south and east towards the Vale of York. On the western side of the
AONB is a remote and wild gritstone landscape, with heather
moorland that is internationally important for wildlife. The
eastern side of the AONB is a much softer, pastoral landscape with
rolling farmland, sheltered river valleys and picturesque towns and
villages, scattered with historic parks and
gardens.
Nidderdale AONB is a working landscape that has been shaped by
centuries of human activity. The valley has been moulded by a rich
land use history that embraces agriculture, mining, quarrying,
textiles and water supply. 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.
There is a great wealth of places to visit - from
World Heritage Sites to world-famous breweries, from endless
moorland horizons with only birds for company to Michelin-starred
restaurants. You will find just a taste of what Nidderdale
AONB has to offer on this website, but Nidderdale AONB really is a
wonderful place worth taking the time to discover and
explore.
Explore this site for lots of useful information such
as things to do and places to visit. You can
also download a copy of our visitor guide
(PDF 5.32MB) or our visitor pack to help you plan your
trip.
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