Heritage Coasts – Wales’ unspoilt coastline
Nearly half the coast of Wales has been
identified as Heritage Coast. This includes 14 different
stretches of coastline and 11 of these are within National Parks or
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
What are Heritage Coasts?
They are stretches of outstanding, undeveloped coast in England
and Wales and were identified through agreement with local
authorities. By 1992, 45 different stretches of coast had been
chosen across the two countries.
How are they protected?
Heritage Coasts aren’t themselves protected by law, but where
they are inside protected landscapes such as National Parks and
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty they are managed as part of
that area. Outside these areas they are given special consideration
by Local Authorities, in planning decisions, for example.
Where are they?
- Six of the Welsh Heritage Coasts are in Pembrokeshire.
- Three are on Anglesey.
- There are Heritage Coasts too in the Vale of Glamorgan, on the
Gower peninsula, the Llŷn peninsula, on the Great Orme near
Llandudno and in Ceredigion.