North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), incorporates much of the Durham Dales, and is a stunning landscape of open heather moors, dramatic dales, tumbling upland rivers, wonderful woods, close-knit communities, glorious waterfalls, fantastic birds, colourful hay meadows, stone-built villages, intriguing imprints of a mining and industrial past, distinctive plants and much, much more.

As well as being an AONB the North Pennines is also a European and Global Geopark - a UNESCO-endorsed accolade awarded to areas with world-class geology. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are recognised as the equal of our National Parks and were established with the purpose of conserving and enhancing natural beauty so you'll be sure of finding some spectacular landscapes with plenty of opportunities to explore on foot and on bikes.

So welcome to the North Pennines, a place where you can stretch your legs, spread your wings and explore one of the finest landscapes in England. This place has inspired many of Britain's most famous artists, writers and people of ideas for centuries. Come and let it inspire you too!