An AONB protecting the wide empty miles of one of the country's last expanses of wilderness, the upland plateau, northern limit of the Pennine chain, stretches away in a high wild landscape of undulating heather moorland and blanket peat. On its western edge, the plateau ends sharply in a steep escarpment looking down on the green and gold patchwork of the Eden Valley. The table-top summit of Cross Fell (890m) is the highest point. The Tyne, Tees, Wear, Derwent and Allen rivers drain from the plateau forming valleys that each have their own distinct character.
Ecologically, the North Pennines are of outstanding value. The AONB is rich in wildlife and includes herb-rich hay meadows, juniper, alpine limestone flora and a diversity of moorland and wading birds. Parts are protected as National Nature Reserves (www.english-nature.org.uk/special/nnr/nnr_what.htm) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (www.english-nature.org.uk/special/sssi/). The AONB also includes areas of international importance, such as the North Pennine Moors Special Protection Area, the Upper Teesdale and Moorhouse National Nature Reserves and five candidate Special Areas of Conservation.
Hill farming (mainly sheep) is important to the rural economy and is complemented by moorland management for grouse shooting. Other economic activities include the quarrying of limestone and mineral working in the Durham sector. The North Pennines was once the lead mining centre of the world and the ruined traces of abandoned lead mines are now acknowledged as an intrinsic part of the landscape and its heritage.
There are no major towns within the AONB and its largest settlements are Allendale Town and Alston. The scattered stone villages throughout the area have experienced a significant reduction in population following the decline in the traditional lead mining industry from the late 19th century. Typically, they are remote rural villages, where young people tend to leave for jobs elsewhere and the remaining population (fewer than one person per square kilometre) experience the knock-on effect of losses of shops, post offices and other rural services.
Recent years have seen a modest increase in inward migration and tourism which, to some extent, is helping to stem the decline. The AONB's countryside, historic villages and industrial heritage are the essential components in comprehensive new strategies to promote sensitive tourism. The National Trails of the Pennine Way (www.nationaltrail.co.uk/pennineway/) and the developing Pennine Bridleway (www.nationaltrail.co.uk/penninebridleway/) pass through the area, as does the Teesdale Way (www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/teesdale.html). Other initiatives to create recreational routes in the area are underway.
For further information, visit the North Pennines AONB website (www.northpennines.org.uk/).
Content supplied by the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (www.aonb.org.uk/)