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The Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales is a non-statutory heritage register of 58 landscapes of outstanding or special historic interest published in two volumes (1998 and 2001). It was produced by a partnership between Cadw, the Countryside Council for Wales, and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS UK) working in collaboration with the Welsh Archaeological Trusts and several other organisations with the intention of aiding in the protection and conservation of the most important and significant historic landscape areas in Wales.

The Register

The register was complied as part of a joint initiative that involved Cadw, the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites working in collaboration with Welsh unitary authorities, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales and the Welsh Archaeological Trusts (WATs). The four trusts, Clwyd-Pows, Dyfed, Glamorgan-Gwent and Gwynedd, each covered an area of Wales based on the 1974 county areas. The first volume of the register, Part 2.1 Register of Landscapes of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales, was published in January 1998 and listed 36 "outstanding" landscapes (numbered 1–36 on the list). It was followed in 2001 by a second volume, Part 2.2 Register of Landscapes of Special Historic Interest in Wales, which identified a further 22 landscapes of "special" historic interest (numbers 37–58). These 22 areas of national significance are generally smaller than those of outstanding historic interest identified in the first volume. The CCW website gave five criteria used for identifying the historic landscapes on the register:

1. Landscapes which have been changed in major ways showing human endeavour on a grand scale, including cities, conurbations, industrial areas and civil engineering projects.
2. Landscapes which show change during a particular period and where change has since stopped.
3. Landscapes which show the effect of changes over several periods, including a range of different features or different versions of the same feature.
4. Landscapes where historical evidence has been buried or lost.
5. Landscapes which have 'cultural merit' – through links with important cultural trends or achievements.

The "special" landscapes often match a single criterion, whereas the "outstanding" landscapes may represent one or more of them. Both types are considered to be of equal value in terms quality of historic interest and Cadw notes that the register highlights the best examples, but "does not reduce the importance of the rest of Wales’s rich historic landscape". The distinction between the two volumes has been described as the equivalent of Grade I and II designations used in other Welsh heritage registers, however, the register is non-statutory so, unlike National parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the landscapes have no special protection, though several registered historic landscapes share geographic areas with the protected sites, for example in the Gower Peninsula.

Historic landscape characterisation

The initial research for the publication of the register was expanded with a further initiative to produce a collection of detailed landscape reports, compiled by the WATs with grant aid from Cadw. This used a process developed by Cadw, the CCW and the WATs known as historic landscape characterisation. The development of this technique included methods introduced through research studies of the Llŷn Peninsula and the Gwent Levels, and it was used to describe geographic areas of historic character based on factors including the range and distribution of surviving archaeological and historical features. The register was aimed at increasing recognition of the value of historic landscapes, and raising awareness of their importance. The register and the reports were seen as the first steps in a larger project of historic landscape characterisation used to identify the characteristics of the areas. The reports are used to inform recommendations for managing, rather than preventing, changes to the landscape, and were complied with the intention that they would be compatible with the CCW's LANDMAP system and could be used to enhance rural initiatives such as the Tir Gofal agri-environment scheme.

List of registered historic landscapes

Key:

• CPAT: Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust
• DAT: Dyfed Archaeological Trust
• GGAT: Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
• GAT: Gwynedd Archaeological Trust

Documents

• Register of landscapes of outstanding historic interest in Wales. Cadw. 1998. ISBN 185760007X.
• Register of landscapes of special historic interest in Wales. Cadw. 2001. ISBN 1857601874.

Notes

1. From 1991 until 2013 (when it became part of Natural Resources Wales) the Countryside Council for Wales was responsible for matters relating to countryside conservation.
2. The Archeological Trusts were educational charities and limited companies whose roles included maintaining Historic Environment Records (HERs) on behalf of the Welsh Ministers. In April 2024 they merged under the name Heneb.
3. Part 2 because the register is a component of the Register of Landscapes, Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales. Part 1 is the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales
4. ^ The DAT historic landscape area of St David's covers the registered landscapes of St Davids Peninsula and Ramsey Head and Skomer Island
5. ^ The GAT historic landscape area of the Vale of Ffestiniog covers the registered landscapes of Aberglaslyn and Blaenau Ffestiniog
6. ^ The GAT historic landscape area Creuddyn and Arllechwedd covers registered landscapes of Creuddyn and Conwy, the Lower Conwy Valley, and part of North Arllechwedd
7. ^ The GAT historic landscape area of Arfon covers the registered landscapes of Dinorwig, Ogwen Valley, and part of North Arllechwedd
8. Although it appears at 49 on the index, the Cadw report gives the register type as Outstanding

References

1. "Records of the Countryside Council for Wales". The National Archives. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
2. "What is Archwilio". Archwilio. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
3. "Heneb - The Trust for Welsh Archaeology". Council for British Archaeology: Wales. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
4. ^ "Historic Landscapes in Wales". Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
5. ^ "historic landscape characterisation". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
6. ^ "Historic landscapes in Wales". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
7. "About the Trust". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
8. ^ Cadw Guide 2007, p. 9.
9. ^ Cadw Guide 2007, p. 5.
10. ^ "Assessing historic landscapes". Countryside Council for Wales. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011.
11. Cadw Caring 2003, p. 6.
12. Foard, Glenn; Rippon, Stephen (1998). "Managing the historic landscape: The Register of Landscapes of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales". Landscape History. 20 (1): 99–103. doi:10.1080/01433768.1998.10594505.
13. "LANDMAP Guidance Note 1: LANDMAP and Special Landscape Areas 2017" (PDF). Natural Resources Wales. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
14. Cadw Guide 2007, p. 7.
15. ^ "Gower". Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
16. Alfrey, Judith (2007). "Contexts for Historic Landscape Characterisation in Wales". Landscapes. 8 (2): 84–91. doi:10.1179/lan.2007.8.2.84.
17. Cadw Caring 2003, p. 9.
18. "Registered Historic Landscapes". Cadw. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
19. "The Vale of Clwyd". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
20. "Holywell Common and Halkyn Mountain". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
21. "Tywi Valley, Myddfai and Black Mountain". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
22. "Upland Ceredigion". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
23. "Milford Haven". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021.
24. ^ "St David's". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
25. "Towy Valley". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
26. "Preseli". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021.
27. "Dolaucothi". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
28. "Taf and Tywi Estuary". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021.
29. "Merthyr Mawr, Kenfig and Margam Burrows". Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
30. "Merthyr Tydfil". Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
31. "Llancarfan". Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
32. "Blaenavon". Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
33. "Gwent Levels". Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
34. "Lower Wye Valley". Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
35. "Amlwch". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
36. "Ardudwy". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
37. ^ "Vale of Ffestiniog". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
38. ^ "Creuddyn and Arllechwedd". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
39. ^ "Arfon". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
40. "Llŷn". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
41. "Caernarfon and Nantlle". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
42. "Trawsfynydd". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
43. "Dolgellau". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
44. "Mawddach". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
45. "Penmon". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
46. "The Tanat Valley". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
47. "The Vale of Montgomery". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
48. "The Middle Wye Valley". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 11 November 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
49. "Berwyn". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
50. "The Lower Elwy Valley". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
51. "Mynydd Hiraethog". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
52. "Vale of Llangollen and Eglwyseg". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 13 April 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
53. "Maelor Saesneg". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
54. "Drefach-Felindre". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
55. "Pencaer". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
56. "Stackpole Warren". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
57. "Manorbier". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
58. "Lower Teifi Valley". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
59. "Newport and Carningli". Dyfed Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
60. "East Fforest Fawr and Mynydd-y-glôg". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
61. "Gelligaer". Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
62. "The Rhondda". Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
63. "Margam Mountain". Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
64. "Clydach George". Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
65. "Bala and Llyn Tegid". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
66. "Dysynni". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
67. "The Elan Valley". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
68. "The Caersws Basin". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
69. "The Clywedog Valley". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
70. "Middle Usk Valley: Brecon and Llangorse". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.

Bibliography

• Caring for Historic Landscapes (PDF). Cardiff: Cadw. 2003. ISBN 978 1 85760 247 0.
• Guide to good practice on using the Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales in the planning and development process (PDF) (2nd ed.). Cardiff: Cadw. 2007. ISBN 978 1 85760 244 9.

External links

• "Registered historic landscapes". Cadw.
• "The Registered Landscapes of Outstanding and of Special Interest in Wales". DataMapWales.

• Cadw
• Heritage registers in the United Kingdom
• Wales geography-related lists