Revealed: the best National Landscapes and Scenic Areas in the UK

The UK's Areas of National Beauty (AONBs) have a new name. They're now officially the much snappier 'National Landscapes.'

According to our annual survey the smallest AONB - or National Landscape - is also England's best. 

Almost 4,000 people voted and - for the third time - the Isles of Scilly topped our table of 42 National Landscapes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

See below for our explanation of the difference between National Landscapes and National Parks. In Scotland they have another different name - National Scenic Areas.

In Scotland, the islands were also the winners - with North Arran off the west coast the most popular National Scenic Area, narrowly beating Shetland.

It wasn't necessarily the best-known places that got the top scores. The Cotswolds, Devon and Cornwall were popular - but they finished well below the rugged Antrim and Causeway Coasts in Northern Ireland.

Which? members rated their experience of these destinations for their scenery, walks, wildlife, peace and quiet and more. See how your favourite part of the country did in our table below.

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The best National Landscapes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Top-rated National Landscapes in England

Isles of Scilly

Rated the best overall in our results table, this tiny archipelago of low-lying islands off the tip of Cornwall isn’t the easiest to reach. You'll either need to take the helicopter, or cross by ferry, which takes almost three hours - both from Penzance. 

It’s well worth the trouble, though, according to our readers, who awarded it five out of five stars in four categories (scenery, walks, accommodation, and peace and quiet.)

While it’s the smallest designated AONB - at just six square miles - it offers big rewards including opportunities to spot wildlife, from puffins to grey Atlantic seals. 

It’s a serene destination where waves lap sandy beaches, and cars are rarely seen. Well-managed boats take you to the various islands and convivial harbourside pubs, ancient ruins, daffodil fields and tropical gardens. 

Northumberland Coast

The Northumberland Coast was the only area to match the Isles of Scilly - with the same area score of 89% and a full five stars for scenery, walks and attractions. One respondent described it as 'the best kept secret in the UK', while others enthused over the 'best beaches in the country'.

The castles of Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh each provide an epic backdrop to walks along those seemingly endless beaches. The sea may be too nippy for a dip, but there is the tidal island of Lindisfarne with its castle to explore, and boat trips to the Farne Islands to spot seabirds. 

The small towns of Seahouses and Alnmouth can get busy at weekends, but it’s easy to escape the crowds.

Top-rated National Landscapes in Wales

Gower

The entire Gower peninsula is an AONB and it’s easy to see why. Rhossili Bay is a world-famous sweep of beach that’s popular with surfers, dog walkers and anyone who likes a good stretch of firm sand (when the tide is out). It’s the main attraction and pulls most visitors down the narrow lanes (crowded and tricky to drive along in summer). 

Venture further from Rhossili Bay, though, and you’ll be rewarded with more sandy bays, wildlife-rich saltmarsh and mudflats.

Clwydian Range and Dee Valley

The largest AONB in Wales, south of Prestatyn and an hour's drive west of Chester, is a dream for walkers and cyclists. Whether you're rambling along the Offa's Dyke National Trail or zooming past Iron Age hillforts, castles and medieval abbeys by bike, it has a huge amount to see.

A narrow boat trip from Llangollen to Chirk – which goes over the engineering marvel that is the Pontcysyllte aqueduct– is also well worth a detour.

Off on a walk in one of the best-rated AONBs or NSAs? You'll need a decent waterproof jacket, pair of walking trousers or sturdy walking boots for your trip

Top-rated National Landscapes in Northern Ireland

Antrim Coast and Glens

Drive from Belfast to Ballycastle and it's impossible not to appreciate scenery of the Antrim Coast - it was rated five out of five stars. You'll pass vertiginous cliffs, ruined forts and beaches without a soul to disturb the peace.

From Ballycastle you can catch a ferry to visit Rathlin Island with its puffin colony. The route then loops inland through four of the nine beautiful Glens of Antrim. Within the Glens, 20 or so square miles are valleys carved out by ancient glaciers, more sandy beaches, woods, waterfalls and picturesque villages.

Causeway Coast

Unsurprisingly, the extraordinary polygonal basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway are the main attraction on this stretch of the North Antrim coast. Managed by the National Trust, the site can get busy at peak times, which accounts for its two out of five star rating for peace and quiet.

Almost rivalling Giant’s Causeway in popularity, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge - which spans a chasm 30 metres deep and 20 metres wide and is known to sway in the wind - isn’t one for the faint-hearted. Also worth visiting is one of the country's most picturesquely ruined castles - Dunluce, magnificent on its rocky outcrop. Finally, whiskey lovers will appreciate the village of Bushmills - and the world's oldest distillery. 

Best National Scenic Areas (NSAs) in Scotland

North Arran

South-west of Glasgow on the Firth of Clyde, Arran is easily accessible but, once you get there, the north of the island feels genuinely wild and untamed. It got five out of five stars for scenery, and also four stars for wildlife watching - with eagles, deer and seals among the biggest attractions. One respondent to our survey described it as being 'like Scotland in miniature'.

The dramatic pyramid peak of Goatfell, the island's highest mountain, is popular with walkers, with views across to Jura, Ben Lomond and even Ireland on clear days.

Shetland

It's no surprise that Shetland, 100 miles north of the Scottish mainland, got a full five stars for peace and quiet. 

It's the perfect place for visitors who appreciate the sounds of the sea - and the teeming wildlife - more than that of other tourists. At the Hermaness National Nature Reserve on the island of Unst, you'll find puffins, gannets and fulmars nesting on the great cliffs. 

Other sights include cliff tops covered with wild flowers in spring and summer and - in the winter - a possible glimpse of the Northern Lights.

There are also more than 5,000 important archaeological sites, some dating back more than 6,000 years.

If you are keen to visit Scotland, why not also take a look at our the results of our Scottish islands survey?

What's the difference between a National Park and a National Landscape?

Both National Parks and National Landscapes exist to protect the UK's most beautiful natural places. They were also both created by the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The main difference is that National Parks have legal powers to control planning and development, while AONBs depend on local authorities to protect their environment.

The 15 UK National Parks include the Lake District, Cairngorms, the Yorkshire dales and the New Forest.

You can see our guide to the best national parks here.