Guide to Cottage Holidays in the UK’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Searching for ideas for a cottage holiday in one of Britain’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)? Britain’s AONBs with their big open green spaces are indeed wonderful places to holiday.
 

Find Cottages in Britain's AONBs

Why Holiday in one of Britain's AONBs?

Whether you enjoy walking, cycling, wildlife watching or other outdoor activities, the UK’s AONBs are special protected places and are amongst the best places in the country to enjoy the great outdoors.  Stunningly beautiful and dotted throughout England and Wales, the AONBs are great places to enjoy tranquillity and time in nature, and are typically quieter than the Britain’s National Parks.

A holiday in a cottage or pine lodge in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty promises good views from your holiday accommodation and when out and about.

If you’re in need of some ideas and inspirations on Britain’s AONBs and what they have to offer, let us help inspire you on what they have to offer. You may also be interested in reading our guide to self-catering holidays in .  

 

Which of the UK's AONBs do you want to discover on holiday?

When it comes to AONBs, there is plenty of choice; there are an impressive 33 areas of outstanding natural beauty in England and 4 in Wales. The Wye Valley is another AONB that is partly found in England and partly in Wales.  Northern Ireland is also home to its own collection of AONBs.

When deciding which to visit, it's first best to decide, do you want to discover?

• England's AONBs or
   

• An AONB in Wales

England’s AONBs:

If you are flexible about which English AONB to discover on holiday, search for holiday accommodation in any of the AONBs.

• View holiday cottages to rent in England's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Some of the best known AONBs in England include:

In England's West Country:
 

• The Blackdown Hills,
   
• Mendip Hills AONB
   
• Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
   
• Tamar Valley AONB in Cornwall and Devon,
   
• Cranborne Chase AONB, North Devon and South Devon in the South West,
   
• the Cotswold Hills AONB in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. 

In the North of England:

• AONBs to discover in the North of England include Arnside and Silverdale,
   
• the North Pennines AONB, the Forest of Bowland,
   
• Nidderdale,
   
• the Howardian Hills AONB, and,
   
• Northumberland Coast AONB.

In the South East of England:
 

• The Chiltern Hills AONB stretch out across parts of Bedfordshire, Bucks, Herts and Oxfordshire. 
   
• Also in the South East of England is the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
   
• Kent Downs AONB which cover much of the Kent countryside, and the
   
• Surrey Hills AONB.

In East Anglia:

East Anglian areas renowned for their beauty include the:

• Norfolk Coast AONB,
   
• the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley,
   
• Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB.

In the Midlands

• The Lincolnshire Wolds are probably the best known Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Midlands.
   

In the Heart of England

• Within the Heart of England beautiful places of outstanding natural beauty include:
   
• the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
   
• the Shropshire Hills AONB and the
   
• Wye Valley.

Wales AONBs:

Areas of outstanding natural beauty in Wales include the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley, Gower Peninsula, Llyn and the Isle of Anglesey.

View holiday cottages in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Wales

Northern Irish AONBs

Northern Ireland has its own collection of AONBs.  Areas of outstanding natural beauty in Northern Ireland include the Causeway Coast (home to the magnificent Giant's Causeway), Sperrin AONB, the Antrim Coast and Glens, amongst others.

Find holiday cottage rentals in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Northern Ireland

Whether you want to book a holiday in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, there is an AONB to suit you! We hope we've inspired you with the available options. Which will you discover on your next break?