Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (England Wales & N Ireland)

An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a designated exceptional landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are precious enough to be safeguarded in the national interest. AONBs are protected and enhanced for nature, people, business and culture.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland has 46 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, covering 18% of the countryside, over a fifth of the English coast, and including 12,000 miles of footpaths and bridleways.

2 / 73

Compton Bay - Isle of Wight

Compton Bay is located on the southwest section of the island. The northern edge of the bay is defined by a distinctive white chalk cliff called Freshwater Cliff, named after Freshwater Bay which is located next to them and forms a small but piercing bay into them. The eastern edge of the bay is formed from soft red and orange cretaceous rocks that are rapidly eroding. The bay is popular with wave and kite surfers due to the reliable and consistent waves that form when the prevailing south-westerly wind is blowing onshore. There are dinosaur footprints visible in Compton Bay when the tide is low and this is one of the best areas to see the Dinosaurs of the Isle of Wight. At high tide, the sea covers the beach almost completely.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty island isle bay sea cliffs seaweed waves beach coastline coastal seascape

From New Forest, Dorset and Isle of Wight