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Landscape Character Area

Landscape Character of the AONB

This AONB is characterised by a diversity of landscapes and these variations and differences are represented by eight broad Landscape Character Types . Each of these landscape types can be futher sub-divided into component geographically specific Landscape Character Areas.

The Landscape Character Assessment is complemented by a AONB wide Historic Landscape Characterisation. Details of this can be found in the Conserving History section of the website.

An independent Landscape Character Assessment was undertaken in 2003 and a compressed version can be downloaded below:

Landscape Character Assessment (PDF, 2.8Mb)







Download Landscape Character Assessment Full Report (PDFs)

This table contains the full Landscape Character Assesment Report available as a series of downloadable PDFs.

Full LCA Report
Chapter Name: Details:
Chapter One - Landscape Character Assessment

Acknowledgements / Introduction (PDF 460Kb)
Chapter Two - Physical Influences

Physical Influences (PDF 1.2Mb)
Chapter Three - Ecological Character

Ecological Character (PDF 700Kb)
Chapter Four - Human Influences

Human Influences (PDF 90Kb)
Chapter Five - Social and Economic Influences

Social and Economic Influences (PDF 316Kb)
Chapter Six - Overview of Agricultural Character

Overview of Agricultural Character (PDF 127kb)
Chapter Seven - Recreational Influences

Recreational Influences (PDF 275kb)
Chapter Eight - The Landscape Character of Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs

The Landscape Character of Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs AONB(PDF 258kb)

Type 1: Chalk Escarpments (PDF 390Kb). This includes 1A Melbury to Blandford Chalk Escarpments, 1B West Wiltshire Downs Chalk Escarpment, and 1C Fovant and Chalke Escarpment

Type 2: Open Chalk Downland (PDF 390Kb). This includes 2A West Wiltshire Downs Open Chalk Downland and 2B Southern Downland Belt.

Type 3: Wooded Chalk Downland (PDF 340Kb)This includes 3A Cranborne Chase

Type 4: Downland Hills (PDF 310Kb). This includes 4A Martin - Whitsbury Downland Hills

Type 5: Chalk River Valleys (PDF 430Kb). This includes 5A Wylye Chalk River Valley, 5B Ebble Chalk River Valley and 5C Stour and Avon Tributary Valleys

Type 6: Greensand Terrace (PDF 430Kb)
This includes 6a Fovant Greensand Terrace and 6B Kilmington Greensand Terrace

Type 7: Greensand Hills (PDF 410Kb)
This includes 7A Donhead - Fovant Hills and 7B Penselwood - Longleat Hills

Type 8: Rolling Clay Vales (PDF 325Kb)
This includes 8A The Vale of Wardour
Chapter Nine - Managing the nationally important landscape

Managing the Nationally Important Landscape (PDF 255kb)
Appendix One

Appendix One: The Agricultural Character of Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB(PDF 290kb)
Appendix Two

Appendix Two: Perceptions of the Landscape (PDF 13kb)
Appendix Three

Appendix Three: Comparison between 1995 classification and 2003 classification (PDF 8kb)
Appendix Four

Appendix Four: Method Statements (PDF 120kb)
Appendix Five

Appendix Five: Field Survey Form (PDF 59kb)

Outstanding Landscapes: