Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Cape_Cornwall_(Judithili).jpg: Judithili. The original uploader was Judithili at · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Location	Cornwall, England, United Kingdom
Established	1959 (designation dates vary)
Area	~3250 km2
Governing body	National Trust; Cornwall Council; Natural England; Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership

Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty The Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a designated landscape in Cornwall recognized for its coastal scenery, moorland, and cultural heritage. It spans peninsulas, estuaries, and headlands associated with Land's End, Lizard Peninsula, Bodmin Moor, and the estuaries of the Fal River, Helford River, and Camel Estuary. The designation overlaps with sites managed by National Trust, Natural England, and local authorities including Cornwall Council.

Overview

The AONB incorporates stretches from Penzance and St Ives to Padstow, Newquay, Falmouth, and Torpoint, embracing landmarks such as St Michael's Mount, Tintagel Castle, Boscastle, and St Agnes Head. It complements national protections including Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site-style listings and interacts with organisations like English Heritage and Historic England. Key transport links touching the AONB include A30 road, A39 road, Great Western Railway, and coastal ferry services connecting St Mawes and Falmouth Harbour. The designation supports activities promoted by bodies such as Visit Cornwall and planning frameworks under National Planning Policy Framework.

Geography and Landscapes

The coastline features cliffed promontories at Cape Cornwall, coves like Kynance Cove, beaches at Perranporth and Praa Sands, and dune systems near Hayle and Gwithian. Inland, granite tors and moorland of Bodmin Moor include features like Rough Tor, Brown Willy, and prehistoric sites including Stowe's Hill. River valleys of the Camel River, Fowey River, and Tamar River carve estuaries bordered by salt marshes, reedbeds, and ancient hedgerows linked to archaeological sites such as Lanyon Quoit and Men-an-Tol. Mining landscapes tied to Cornish mining and sites like Botallack Mine and South Crofty create a cultural terrain associated with the Cornish mining landscape World Heritage inscription. Offshore, the maritime zone touches shipping lanes to Falmouth Harbour and marine features near Eddystone Lighthouse and the Seven Stones Reef.

History and Designation

Human activity dates to Mesolithic and Neolithic periods with monuments like Lanyon Quoit and Mên-an-Tol; Bronze Age landscapes include barrows and field systems found across Bodmin Moor and West Penwith. Roman influence is present at sites such as Tintagel and coastal trading associated with Ictis-era traditions. Medieval history includes monastic links to St Michael's Mount and maritime trade through ports like Fowey and Newlyn. Industrial heritage reflects the Industrial Revolution via tin and copper extraction at Geevor Tin Mine, Concealed Cornish Engines and harbour expansion at Hayle. Modern conservation impetus led to AONB designation processes involving Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Countryside Commission, and later Natural England, with partnership agreements incorporating NGOs like Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and local trusts.

Ecology and Wildlife

Habitats support species-rich coastal grassland, heathland, and maritime cliffs hosting seabird colonies at Eddystone-adjacent rocks, cormorants, guillemots, razorbills, and populations monitored by Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Estuaries and wetlands sustain waders and waterfowl along the Fal Estuary and Camel Estuary including avifauna recorded by Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Lowland hedgerows and moorland support Cornish chough reintroduction efforts, raptors such as peregrine falcon and merlin, and mammals including dormouse and otter in river corridors. Botanically, maritime cliff communities include sea thrift, rock samphire, and rare vascular plants surveyed by Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland volunteers; lichens and bryophytes are recorded by British Lichen Society. Marine zones include kelp beds and inshore reef communities with cetaceans and basking sharks monitored by groups such as Cornwall Marine Network.

Recreation and Tourism

The South West Coast Path traverses headlands from Land's End through St Agnes to Padstow, connecting visitor hubs like St Ives and St Mawes and promoting outdoor pursuits supported by operators including Pedn Vounder Boat Trips and surf schools in Newquay. Cultural tourism highlights festivals at Boardmasters Festival, art institutions like Tate St Ives, and heritage attractions such as Eden Project and Minack Theatre. Nautical recreation uses marinas at Falmouth and regattas like those organised by Royal Cornwall Yacht Club; cycling routes include sections of National Cycle Network and the mineral tramways of West Cornwall Mineral Tramways. Visitor management links with hospitality providers in Padstow and Port Isaac and events at Glastonbury-style regional gatherings that influence seasonal patterns.

Conservation and Management

Management is delivered through partnerships including National Trust, Natural England, Cornwall Council, and local conservation charities such as Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Devon and Cornwall Wildlife Trust collaborations. Policies draw on statutory frameworks like the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and planning guidance within the National Planning Policy Framework. Conservation projects address coastal erosion at Perranporth and cliff stabilisation near Mullion Cove, biodiversity action plans coordinated with Joint Nature Conservation Committee, and heritage preservation for mining sites via World Heritage Committee-linked mechanisms. Community engagement involves parish councils in Mousehole and St Ives, educational programs with University of Exeter and Falmouth University, and volunteer schemes with organisations such as Volunteer Cornwall and Groundwork UK.

Category:Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England