National Parks

This spatial dataset contains the digital boundaries of National Parks, which are statutory landscape designations in Wales. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has a legal duty to maintain and make available National Park boundaries.


National Parks are designated for the purposes of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage and for the public to enjoy the special qualities of these nationally important landscapes.


NRW is the designating authority for any new National Parks 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 Environment Act 1995. The Environment Act (1995) established National Park Authorities, as independent Special Purpose Local Authorities to administer the National Park area in order to deliver their statutory purposes.


Three National Parks have been designated in Wales: Snowdonia 1951 (variation 1974); Pembrokeshire Coast 1952 (Variation 1989); and Brecon Beacons 1955 (Variation 1966).


The data has been held digitally since the 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 Park authority staff.

Identification

Identifier
NRW_DS98777
Alternative Title
  • National Parks.LYR
  • Sites (National Parks)
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

The data was first digitised to a smaller scale (1:50,000 and 1:10,000), then it was put to OS Landline and then later to OS MasterMap. This final version has had collaboration between NRW and Park Authorities to give the best interpretation of the original designation.


The digital data was created from an interpretation of the National Park designation maps. These maps varied in scale from 1:63,360 (1 inch to 1 mile) and 1:50,000 scale and were accompanied by a written description of the boundary, however the map over-ruled the description if there was inconsistency.


Where administrative boundaries and roads defined the Park boundary it was a rule that the position of that feature at time of designation remained the geographical position of the boundary. However where rivers or Mean High Water Mark (MHWM) formed the boundary these were digitised according to the base map used at digitisation. Digital data captured to OS MasterMap.
Additional Information

Please refer to National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 for reasons for capture of original designation.
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2025-05-29
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Originator
  National Park Authorities -
UK ANPA, 126 Bute Street, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF10 5L, Wales
http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/
Originator
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 

Extent

Extent

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


 

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword

benthic boundary layer
 
 

Distribution

Distribution

Format Type and Description
  • Geographic Information System ( Unknown )

    Specification

    ESRI Feature Class

Resource Locator
Download Data and Web Service ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )
Resource Locator
Web Mapping Service ( OGC:WMS )
 

Quality

Data quality

Quality Scope
Dataset
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 data was first digitised to a smaller scale (1:50,000 and 1:10,000), then it was put to OS Landline and then later to OS MasterMap. This final version has had collaboration between NRW and Park Authorities to give the best interpretation of the original designation.


The digital data was created from an interpretation of the National Park designation maps. These maps varied in scale from 1:63,360 (1 inch to 1 mile) and 1:50,000 scale and were accompanied by a written description of the boundary, however the map over-ruled the description if there was inconsistency.


Where administrative boundaries and roads defined the Park boundary it was a rule that the position of that feature at time of designation remained the geographical position of the boundary. However where rivers or Mean High Water Mark (MHWM) formed the boundary these were digitised according to the base map used at digitisation. Digital data captured to OS MasterMap.
 

Keywords

Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
Type
Theme

Citation

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

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus
  • geographical information systems (GIS)
  • National Park Authority
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2025-01-08
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary
Type
Theme

Citation

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

Keywords

IPSV Subjects List
  • Nature reserves
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2020-11-18
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.subjects

Keywords

NRW SMNR Keywords
  • Ecosystem Services (SMNR)
  • Ecosystem (SMNR)
  • Enclosed Farmlands (SMNR)
  • Water Resources (SMNR)
  • Natural Resources (Incl. Features and Processes) (SMNR)
  • Cultural Services (SMNR)
  • Physical Geography (Physiography) (SMNR)
  • Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR)
  • Animals, Plants and Other Organisms (SMNR)
  • Management Areas (SMNR)
  • Soil and Land (SMNR)
  • Provisioning Services (SMNR)
  • Woodlands (SMNR)
  • Regulating Services (SMNR)
  • Mountains, Moorland and Heaths (SMNR)
  • Semi-natural Grasslands (SMNR)
Type
Theme

Citation

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

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

 

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Restriction type
Other restrictions
 

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations
no limitations
 

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints

There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.
 

Use Constraints

Use constraints type
Other restrictions
Other constraints

© CNC/NRW All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and copyright of the owners. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose.
 

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
Open Government Licence
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-3938373737 XML
Metadata Language
English
Resource type
Dataset
Metadata Date
2026-03-03T12:00:51.763Z
Metadata Standard Name
NRW
Metadata Standard Version

1.0

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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