Welcome to Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Covering 380 square miles of Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset, the Area is the sixth largest of the 41 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 7,000 years ago we would have seen an expansive, open landscape of grasslands and woodlands interspersed with streams and wetlands. It favoured by the very earliest settlers of the British Isles with the southern half being made famous as a hunting area by the Saxon monarchs. Today, nearly 90% of the Area is farmed and the archaeological heritage left by our forebears is evident throughout the landscape. The Area is a rich repository of biological and natural heritage and this includes the people who live within this extraordinary region.

Whether you are a resident of the Area, a visitor or have yet to come here in person, we would like to extend the warmest possible welcome to Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs. We trust you find this website useful.