About the AONB

The Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is among the finest landscapes in the country.

The AONB was designated in 1958 and covers 39 miles of coast from Berwick to the Coquet estuary. Within this stretch of coastline is some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Europe.

aerial Bamburgh

The area is best known for its sweeping sandy beaches, rolling dunes, rocky cliffs and isolated islands. Amidst this striking landscape is the evidence of an area steeped in history, covering 7000 years of human activity. A host of conservation sites, including two National Nature Reserves, testify to the great variety of wildlife and habitats also found in the AONB.

You can download a map of the AONB here

Follow these links to find out more about this amazing place

Key Facts

The Northumberland Coast AONB was designated in 1958
It covers 138 square kilometres, along 64km of the Northumberland Coast
It is never wider than 2.5km and only 50m wide at it’s narrowest point
It has two National Nature Reserves (Lindisfarne and the Farne Islands)
It has 3 Special Protection Areas for birds
It has 2 Special Areas of Conservation
It has 2 Ramsar sites – wetlands of international importance
The Farne Islands supports a population of 4000 grey seals, the largest colony on the east coast
Lindisfarne NNR supports internationally important assemblages of wintering wildfowl
It has 21 Scheduled Ancient Monuments
In 2009, all of its bathing beaches exceeded EU guidelines for water quality
There is a 103km continuous coastal footpath

Designation History

The Northumberland Coast AONB was designated in 1958. An interesting history of the processes and decisions that led to its designation was written by Ray Woolmore in 2004.

You can download a copy of the history of the designation here