Regional Seascape Units
Unedau Morweddau Rhanbarthol

  • English
  • wel
  • All

A 'seascape' is an area of sea, coastline and land as perceived by people, whose character results from the actions and interaction of land and sea, by natural and/or human factors.


This dataset is the product of the first detailed assessment of the character of Wales's seascapes. The purpose of this data capture was to characterise and define the geographical extent of the seascape units of Wales and to assess the sensitivity of each seascape to offshore developments.


The dataset contains a map, images, and descriptive text for each of the 50 seascapes units in Wales. Also included are maps illustrating the national and regional divisions of seascape units, land with sea views, relative visibility of the sea surface from land and tranquillity. There are also maps presenting the results of sensitivity assessments carried out to model the sensitivity of seascape units to offshore wind farm developments, wave farm developments and tidal stream developments. Included in the dataset is a pdf file outlining what exactly the MapInfo files in the dataset show.

Identification

Dynodydd
Identifier
NRW_DS111157
Teitl Amgen
Alternative Title
  • Seascapes value weightedscore line
  • Seascapes value weightedscore land units
  • Seascapes value index points
  • Seascapes unit numbers
  • Seascapes regional units
  • Seascapes merged sea units single polys
  • Seascapes merged sea units
  • Seascapes merged land units single polys
  • Seascapes merged land units
  • Seascapes index value line
  • Seascapes coast hight regions
  • Seascapes coast hight points
  • Seascapes Data
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

The assessment was carried out at a regional scale, producing 50 regional seascape units to cover the whole of Wales. Each was described in terms of key characteristics and special qualities as well as being assessed for its sensitivity to offshore wind, wave and tidal stream developments.


The maps were derived from OS and digital terrain modelling data. The data has been thoroughly quality assessed by NRW's Geographical Information Unit to ensure that it's technically sound as well as fit for purpose. The project is seminal work and as a result has produced the only dataset of its kind.


INFORMATION WARNING: For identifying seascape character areas, this dataset has been superseded by NRW_DS161310 Local Seascape Character Areas. The 2009 Regional Seascape Units report has also been partly superseded by more recent work by White Consultants (2019) 'Seascape and visual sensitivity to offshore wind farms in Wales: Strategic assessment and guidance. Stage 3 - Seascape and visual sensitivity assessment for offshore wind farms. NRW Evidence Report No. 331'. The data relating to the level of sensitivity or capacity to accommodate offshore wind, wave or tidal stream developments is out of date and should not be used as evidence. The narrative descriptions in the written report and the and spatial division of the Welsh coastline into 50 regional seascape units may be of continuing assistance in understanding the variety and character of different coastal landscapes in Wales.
Dyddiad cyfeirnod y set ddata (Cyhoeddiad)
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2009-12-31
Perchennog
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Cychwynnwr
Originator
  Various contractors -
See Natural Resources Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/
 

Extent

Extent

Hyd
Geographic Extent
Wales (WLS)
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword

unknown
 
 

Distribution

Fformat - Math a Disgrifiad
Format Type and Description
  • Geographic Information System ( Unknown )

    Specification

    [A] Electronic files - ESRI Feature Class, pdf guidance document, Word files, jpegs of some of the maps for distribution purposes. [B] Hardcopy - Paper report

 

Quality

Ansawdd Data
Data quality

Cwmpas Ansawdd
Quality Scope
Dataset
Dataset
Cydymffurfiad
Conformity
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Explanation

This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
Degree
false
Lineage

The assessment was carried out at a regional scale, producing 50 regional seascape units to cover the whole of Wales. Each was described in terms of key characteristics and special qualities as well as being assessed for its sensitivity to offshore wind, wave and tidal stream developments.


The maps were derived from OS and digital terrain modelling data. The data has been thoroughly quality assessed by NRW's Geographical Information Unit to ensure that it's technically sound as well as fit for purpose. The project is seminal work and as a result has produced the only dataset of its kind.


INFORMATION WARNING: For identifying seascape character areas, this dataset has been superseded by NRW_DS161310 Local Seascape Character Areas. The 2009 Regional Seascape Units report has also been partly superseded by more recent work by White Consultants (2019) 'Seascape and visual sensitivity to offshore wind farms in Wales: Strategic assessment and guidance. Stage 3 - Seascape and visual sensitivity assessment for offshore wind farms. NRW Evidence Report No. 331'. The data relating to the level of sensitivity or capacity to accommodate offshore wind, wave or tidal stream developments is out of date and should not be used as evidence. The narrative descriptions in the written report and the and spatial division of the Welsh coastline into 50 regional seascape units may be of continuing assistance in understanding the variety and character of different coastal landscapes in Wales.
 

Keywords

Allweddair
Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2008-06-01
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Allweddair
Keywords

NRW Thesaurus
  • tidal stream
  • biotope sensitivity database
  • seascapes
  • offshore waters
  • offshore wind turbines
  • offshore wind farms (OWF) (offshore windfarms)
  • offshore wind farms (OWF) (offshore windfarms)
  • Celtic Sea oil developments
  • geographical information systems (GIS)
  • offshore renewables
  • wave
  • coastal landscapes
  • coast (coasts) (coastal) (coastline) (maritime)
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2026-03-04
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Allweddair
Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2024-06-19
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml

Allweddair
Keywords

NRW SMNR Keywords
  • Coastal Margins (SMNR)
  • Geological (SMNR)
  • Geomorphology (SMNR)
  • Natural Resources (Incl. Features and Processes) (SMNR)
  • Sea and Coast (SMNR)
  • Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR)
  • Marine (SMNR)
  • Management Areas (SMNR)
  • Seascape (SMNR)
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2024-06-26
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-smnr-keywords
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Gwybodaeth Cynnwys
Content Information

Proffil CNC
NRW Profile

Elfennau CNC
Custom Elements

NRW Related Title

Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments
 

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Math o Gyfyngiad
Restriction type
Other restrictions
Other restrictions
 

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations
no limitations
 

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints

The following data is considered OS derived data and is therefore jointly owned by NRW and the Ordnance Survey. NRW may release, publish or disseminate this data freely; providing recipients are made aware of use restrictions (See general use restrictions). The values of seascape units and the resulting capacity data element of the dataset is potentially sensitive in a political and commercial sense and therefore has not been included in the report. Sensitive data may only be released under an Natural Resources Wales data Licence.
 

Use Constraints

Cyfyngiadau Defnyddio
Use constraints type
Other restrictions
Other restrictions
Other constraints

© CNC/NRW and © Crown copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Natural Resources Wales, AC0000849444. Third parties seeking to re-use this data require a Licence issued by NRW. It allows re-use, reproduction and dissemination in any format or medium but only for non-commercial purposes, according to the terms and conditions of the Licence. Those seeking commercial re-use require a commercial licence available from the OS. Recipients may only re-use sensitive data in strict confidence under the terms of an appropriate NRW Licence. No publication or dissemination is permitted, except if sensitive records are removed in advance, or shown only at a coarser scale.
 

Attribution Statement

Other constraints

Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right.
 

Licence

Other constraints
NRW Conditional
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

Dynodydd Ffeil
File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313131313537 XML
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Math o adnodd
Resource type
Dataset
Dataset
Dyddiad Metadata
Metadata Date
2026-05-29T14:23:20.128Z
Enw Safonol Metadata
Metadata Standard Name
NRW
Fersiwn Metadata
Metadata Standard Version

1.0

Pwynt Cyswllt
pointOfContact
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 
 

Publishing Body

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