Thanks to a good access system, it's easy to enjoy Britain's countryside and green space on foot. Some areas of countryside have special protection, and some are specially managed to make them easier to explore and appreciate.
Large protected areas such national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) usually have good path networks, easily available information and, often, substantial areas where you are free to roam. However none of these areas have special access rights, and the same arrangements for access on foot apply as elsewhere in Britain.
There are also many smaller areas specially managed for recreation including traditional urban parks, country parks and other green, open spaces. Some of these are listed under your country or region.
National parks
The highest designation, with their own Park Authorities to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the parks and promote enjoyment and understanding of them by the public.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs)Heritage CoastsNational Scenic Areas
Areas protected and managed by local authorities coordinated by the Countryside Agency in England, Countryside Council for Wales in Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage in Scotland. AONBs and Heritage Coasts can be found in England and Wales while National Scenic Areas apply in Scotland.
Community forests
Areas often around large centres of population that are now being managed by partnerships to encourage “mixed forestry” and recreation.
Regional parks
Areas with a large amount of green space near towns and cities, sometimes reclaimed from earlier industrial use. See under your region or country.
Local parks and countryside areas
There are many smaller areas of green space managed for access and recreation as well as conservation, including traditional urban parks, country parks, nature reserves, picnic areas and woodlands. Most local parks are managed by local councils, who can give further information. Several other organisations, for example the National Trust, Forestry Commission and Woodland Trust, manage extensive areas of land where public access is encouraged. The various Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB manage many nature reserves, while extensive areas of land around reservoirs in upland areas are managed by water companies who often promote public access.
Country Parks are large parks with a rural character, often within easy reach of urban areas, normally managed by local councils.
The Green Flag Award scheme for local parks recognises and rewards the best green spaces in England and Wales. The scheme is managed by the Civic Trust: contact them or see the Award website for more details. A similar scheme is being developed in Scotland.
For more information about parks and countryside in selected regions, see our regional parks pages:
Conservation designations
There are various other designations primarily to do with conservation where the areas concerned may or may not be open to the public, including
- World Heritage Sites: Cultural and natural heritage considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
- Biosphere reserves: internationally important sites managed to reconcile biodiversity with sustainable use.
- Ramsar sites: international important wetland sites (Ramsar is an city in Iran where the convention protecting these sites was adopted).
- Special Protection Areas (SPAs): Habitats of European importance for birds.
- Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) Habitats of European importance for other wildlife.
- National Nature Reserves (NNRs). Sites of national importance for wildlife habitats and geological features
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) Sites of high natural heritage importance nationally that make a vital contribution to ecological processes.
- Environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs): Agricultural land requiring special management to conserve its national environmental importance.
- Local Nature Reserves (LNRs). Sites with wildlife and geological features that are of special interest locally.
Designations can overlap on the ground: for example a National Park might contain a Local Nature Reserve, part of which is also an SSSI.
Agri-environment schemes
Some agricultural land in England and Wales is open under agri-environment schemes in which land managers receive grants to farm in an environmentally beneficial way and to encourage public access. These schemes run for a limited time period.
The main scheme in England, managed by Defra, is now the Environmental Stewardship Scheme, introduced in 2005, but some areas may still be open under the previous Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Area schemes.
A similar scheme, Tir Gofal, operates in Wales and is managed by the Countryside Council for Wales.
Locations of sites with access for walkers under these schemes can be found on the Defra and CCW websites (see contacts below).
In Scotland, where all agricultural land is covered by more general arrangements for access, the main agri-environment scheme is known as the Rural Stewardship Scheme and is administered by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department.
Major organisations managing countryside sites
Contacts
More about countryside protection
