This spatial dataset contains the digital boundaries of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) statutory landscape designation in Wales. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has a legal duty to maintain and make available AONB boundaries.

Following recommendations from a review commissioned by Welsh Government, in 2024 AONBs were rebranded as National Landscapes. Both names of AONB and National Landscapes are currently in use. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty remains the legal name for this statutory designation.

AONBs are designated for the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty and differ from National Parks in that they do not have a recreation remit. AONBs are managed by their constituent Local Authorities.

NRW is the designating authority to create any new AONB in Wales or boundary variations to existing ones, however these must be confirmed by Welsh Ministers. NRWs statutory powers derive from the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act (NPAC) 1949 and Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Any new AONBs designated by NRW would now be under powers derived from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Five AONBs have been designated in Wales: Gower (1956) was the first AONB designated in England and Wales, Llŷn (1957), Anglesey (1967) and Wye Valley (1971), which straddles the border with England. The Clwydian Range AONB was designated in 1985 and extended by the then Countryside Council for Wales (a predecessor organisation to NRW) in 2011.

The data has been held digitally since mid-1990s. The boundary has been transferred to OS MasterMap by NRW and has been subject to joint checking by NRW staff and the relevant Local Authority staff.

Mae’r set ddata ofodol hon yn cynnwys ffiniau digidol dynodiad tirwedd statudol Ardaloedd o Harddwch Naturiol Eithriadol (AHNEau) yng Nghymru. Mae gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru (CNC) ddyletswydd gyfreithiol i gynnal ffiniau AHNEau a sicrhau eu bod ar gael.

Yn dilyn argymhellion o adolygiad a gomisiynwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, yn 2024 cafodd AHNE eu hailfrandio fel Tirweddau Cenedlaethol. Mae'r ddau enw, AHNE a Thirweddau Cenedlaethol, yn cael eu defnyddio ar hyn o bryd. Ardaloedd o Harddwch Naturiol Eithriadol yw'r enw cyfreithiol ar y dynodiad statudol hwn o hyd.

Mae AHNEau yn cael eu dynodi at ddiben gwarchod a gwella harddwch naturiol ac maent yn wahanol i Barciau Cenedlaethol gan nad oes ganddynt gylch gwaith hamdden. Rheolir AHNEau gan eu Hawdurdodau Lleol cyfansoddol.

CNC yw’r awdurdod dynodi i greu unrhyw AHNE newydd yng Nghymru neu amrywiadau i ffiniau’r rhai presennol, fodd bynnag rhaid i Weinidogion Cymru gadarnhau’r rhain. Mae pwerau statudol CNC yn deillio o Ddeddf Parciau Cenedlaethol a Mynediad i Gefn Gwlad (NPAC) 1949 a Deddf Cefn Gwlad a Hawliau Tramwy 2000. Byddai unrhyw AHNE newydd a ddynodir gan CNC bellach o dan bwerau sy’n deillio o Ddeddf Cefn Gwlad a Hawliau Tramwy 2000.

Mae pum AHNE wedi’u dynodi yng Nghymru: Gŵyr (1956) oedd yr AHNE gyntaf i gael ei dynodi yng Nghymru a Lloegr, Llŷn (1957), Ynys Môn (1967) a Dyffryn Gwy (1971), sy’n pontio’r ffin â Lloegr. Dynodwyd AHNE Bryniau Clwyd yn 1985 a chafodd ei hymestyn gan Gyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru fel ydoedd ar y pryd (un o’r sefydliadau a ragflaenodd CNC) yn 2011.

Mae’r data wedi’i gadw’n ddigidol ers canol y 1990au. Mae’r ffin wedi’i throsglwyddo i OS MasterMap gan CNC ac wedi bod yn destun gwirio ar y cyd gan staff CNC a staff yr Awdurdod Lleol perthnasol.

Datganiad priodoli

Yn cynnwys gwybodaeth Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru © Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru a Hawl Cronfa Ddata. Cedwir pob hawl. Yn cynnwys data Arolwg Ordnans. Rhif Trwydded Arolwg Ordnans AC0000849444 . Hawlfraint y Goron a Hawl Cronfa Ddata.