Character of the landscape

Landscape character is a distinct and recognisable pattern of elements that occur consistently in a particular type of landscape. Patterns of geology, landform, soils and vegetation, land use, field patterns and human settlement combine together to create character.

At the broad scale, landscape character makes the Yorkshire Dales distinct from other parts of Britain; at the local scale there are distinct character differences between dales and even within them.

Discover the landscape character that makes the Yorkshire Dales National Park unique and special by following the links below to the different dales or upland areas.

Dales

Swaledale and Arkengarthdale

• Upper Swaledale

• Arkengarthdale

• Mid Swaledale

Cumbrian Dales

• Dentdale and Deepdale

• Garsdale

• Rawthey Valley

• Lune Valley

Wensleydale

• Upper Wensleydale

• Mid Wensleydale

• Lower Wensleydale

• Cotterdale

• Widdale

• Sleddale

• Raydale

• Bishopdale

• Waldendale

• Coverdale

Craven Dales

• Kingsdale

• Upper Chapel-le-Dale

• Lower Chapel-le-Dale

• Ingleton Glens

• Upper Ribblesdale

• Mid Ribblesdale

• Lower Ribblesdale

• Crummackdale

Malhamdale and south west fringe

• Malhamdale

• Newton and Otterburn Moor

• The southern valleys enclosed by Winterburn Moor, Rylstone Fell and Flasby Fell

• South Western Dales Fringe

• The Southern Dales Fringe

Wharfedale and Littondale

• Langstrothdale

• Upper Wharfedale and Littondale

• Wharefedale-Craven Fault area

• Mid Wharfedale

Upland character areas

Southern Howgill Fells

• Southern Howgill Fells

Yorkshire Moors and Fells

• Northern Gritstone Moors and Fells

• Three Peaks & Central Moors and Fells

• Eastern Gritstone Moors and Fells

• Limestone Moors

• Southern Gritstone Moors and Fells

The landscape character assessment, in combination with a range of other documents, is used to help inform decisions relating to planning policy, individual planning applications, targeting of environmental grants and so on.