Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales explained

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 cover an area of Wales based on the 1974 county areas.^[1] 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 136 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 3758). These 22 areas of national significance are generally smaller than those of outstanding historic interest identified in the first volume.^{[2] [3] [4]} The CCW website gives five criteria used for identifying the historic landscapes on the register:^[5]

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.^[5] 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,^[6] however, the register is non-statutory so, unlike National parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the landscapes have no special protection,^[7] 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.^{[2] [3] [4] [8]} 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.^{[2] [3] [4] [9]}

List of registered historic landscapes

Key:

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

! scope="col" rowspan=2

Name	Reference number	Register type	Archaeological trust
Trust	report
1			Outstanding	CPAT	^[10]
2	Hollywell Common and Halkyn Mountain		Outstanding	CPAT	Holywell Common and Halkyn Mountain^[11]
3	Black Mountain and Mynydd Myddfai		Outstanding	DAT	Tywi Valley, Myddfai and Black Mountain^[12]
4	Upland Ceredigion		Outstanding	DAT	Upland Ceredigion^[13]
5	Milford Haven Waterway		Outstanding	DAT	Milford Haven^[14]
6	St Davids Peninsula and Ramsey Head		Outstanding	DAT	St David's and Ramsey Island
7	Tywi Valley		Outstanding	DAT	Towy Valley^[15]
8	Skomer Island		Outstanding	DAT	Skomer Island^[16]
9	Preseli		Outstanding	DAT	Preseli^[17]
10	Dolaucothi		Outstanding	DAT	Dolaucothi^[18]
11	Taf and Tywi Estuary		Outstanding	DAT	Taf and Tywi Estuary^[19]
12	Merthyr Mawr, Kenfig & Margam Burrows		Outstanding	GGAT	Merthyr Mawr, Kenfig and Margam Burrows^[20]
13	Merthyr Tydfil		Outstanding	GGAT	Merthyr Tydfil^[21]
14	Lancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan		Outstanding	GGAT	Llancarfan^[22]
15	Gower		Outstanding	GGAT	Gower^[23]
16	Blaenavon		Outstanding	GGAT	Blaenavon^[24]
17	Gwent Levels		Outstanding	GGAT	^[25]
18			Outstanding	GGAT	Lower Wye Valley^[26]
19	Amlwch and Parys Mountain		Outstanding	GAT	Amlwch^[27]
20	Ardudwy		Outstanding	GAT	Ardudwy^[28]
21	Blaenau Ffestiniog		Outstanding	GAT	Ffestiniog
22	Lower Conwy Valley		Outstanding	GAT	Creuddyn and Arllechwedd^[29]
23	Creuddyn and Conwy		Outstanding	GAT	Creuddyn and Arllechwedd
24	Dinorwig		Outstanding	GAT	Arfon^[30]
25	Aberglaslyn		Outstanding	GAT	Ffestiniog^[31]
26	Lleyn and Bardsey Island		Outstanding	GAT	Llŷn^[32]
27	Nantlle Valley		Outstanding	GAT	Caernarfon and Nantlle^[33]
28	Ogwen Valley		Outstanding	GAT	Arfon
29	Transfynydd Basin and Cwm Prysor		Outstanding	GAT	Trawsfynydd^[34]
30	North Arllechwedd		Outstanding	GAT	Arfon and Creuddyn and Arllechwedd
31	Vale of Dolgellau		Outstanding	GAT	Dolgellau^[35]
32	Mawddach		Outstanding	GAT	Mawddach^[36]
33	Penmon		Outstanding	GAT	Penmon^[37]
34	Tanat Valley		Outstanding	CPAT	^[38]
35	Vale of Montgomery		Outstanding	CPAT	^[39]
36	Middle Wye Valley		Outstanding	CPAT	^[40]
37	Berwyn		Special	CPAT	Berwyn^[41]
38	Lower Elwy Valley		Special	CPAT	^[42]
39	Denbigh Moors		Special	CPAT	Mynydd Hiraethog^[43]
40	Vale of Llangollen and Eglwyseg		Special	CPAT	Vale of Llangollen and Eglwyseg^[44]
41	Maelor		Special	CPAT	Maelor Saesneg^[45]
42	Drefach and Felindre		Special	DAT	Drefach-Felindre^[46]
43	Pen Gaer: Garn Fawr and Stumble Head		Special	DAT	Pencaer^[47]
44	Stackpole Warren		Special	DAT	Stackpole Warren^[48]
45	Manobier		Special	DAT	Manorbier^[49]
46	Lower Teifi Valley		Special	DAT	Lower Teifi Valley^[50]
47	Newport and Carningli		Special	DAT	Newport and Carningli^[51]
48	East Fforest Fawr and Mynydd-y-Glog		Special	CPAT	East Fforest Fawr and Mynydd-y-glôg^[52]
49	Gelli-Gaer Common		Outstanding	GGAT	Gelligaer^[53]
50			Special	GGAT	^[54]
51	Margam Mountain		Special	GGAT	Margam Mountain^[55]
52	Clydach George		Special	GGAT	Clydach George^[56]
53	Bala and Bala Lakesides		Special	GAT	Bala and Llyn Tegid^[57]
54	Dysynni Valley		Special	GAT	Dysynni^[58]
55	Elan Valley		Special	CPAT	^[59]
56	Caersws Basin		Special	CPAT	^[60]
57	Clywedog Valley		Special	CPAT	^[61]
58	Middle Usk Valley: Brecon and Llangorse		Special	CPAT	Middle Usk Valley: Brecon and Llangorse^[62]

Documents

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

References

Bibliography

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

External links

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: About the Trust . . 29 March 2023.
2. Web site: Historic Landscapes in Wales . Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
3. Web site: historic landscape characterisation . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
4. Web site: Historic landscapes in Wales . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
5. Web site: Assessing historic landscapes . . https://web.archive.org/web/20110609073649/http://www.ccw.gov.uk/landscape--wildlife/protecting-our-landscape/historic-landscapes/assessing-historic-landscapes.aspx . 9 June 2011.
6. Managing the historic landscape: The Register of Landscapes of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales . Landscape History . 20 . 1 . 1998 . Glenn . Foard . Stephen . Rippon . 10.1080/01433768.1998.10594505 . 99–103.
7. Web site: LANDMAP Guidance Note 1: LANDMAP and Special Landscape Areas 2017 . Natural Resources Wales . 2–3 . 29 March 2023.
8. Contexts for Historic Landscape Characterisation in Wales . Landscapes . 8 . 2 . 2007 . Judith . Alfrey . 10.1179/lan.2007.8.2.84 . 84–91.
9. Web site: Registered Historic Landscapes . Cadw . 28 March 2023.
10. Web site: The Vale of Clwyd . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
11. Web site: Holywell Common and Halkyn Mountain . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
12. Web site: Tywi Valley, Myddfai and Black Mountain . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206084955/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/Myddfai/Myddfaisummary.htm . 6 December 2021.
13. Web site: Upland Ceredigion . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206083452/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/uplandceredigion/HLCuplandceredigion.htm . 6 December 2021.
14. Web site: Milford Haven . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20210728012127/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/milford/milfordhavenmap.htm . 28 July 2021.
15. Web site: Towy Valley . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206092808/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/HLCTowy/Towyvalleymap.htm . 6 December 2021.
16. Web site: St David's . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206083641/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/StDavids/StDavidsmap.htm . 6 December 2021.
17. Web site: Preseli . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019130500/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/Preseli/preselimap.htm . 19 October 2021.
18. Web site: Dolaucothi . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206073301/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/Dolaucothi/Dolaucothimap.htm . 6 December 2021.
19. Web site: Taf and Tywi Estuary . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20210627214957/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/CarmarthenBayMap.htm . 27 June 2021.
20. Web site: Merthyr Mawr, Kenfig and Margam Burrows . Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
21. Web site: Merthyr Tydfil . Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
22. Web site: Llancarfan . Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
23. Web site: Gower . Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
24. Web site: Blaenavon . Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust . 27 March 2023.
25. Web site: Gwent Levels . Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
26. Web site: Lower Wye Valley . Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
27. Web site: Amlwch . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 27 March 2023.
28. Web site: Ardudwy . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 27 March 2023.
29. Web site: Creuddyn and Arllechwedd . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
30. Web site: Arfon . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
31. Web site: Vale of Ffestiniog . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 27 March 2023.
32. Web site: Llŷn . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
33. Web site: Caernarfon and Nantlle . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
34. Web site: Trawsfynydd . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
35. Web site: Dolgellau . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
36. Web site: Mawddach . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
37. Web site: Penmon . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
38. Web site: The Tanat Valley . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
39. Web site: The Vale of Montgomery . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
40. Web site: The Middle Wye Valley . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
41. Web site: Berwyn . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 27 March 2023.
42. Web site: The Lower Elwy Valley . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
43. Web site: Mynydd Hiraethog . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 27 March 2023.
44. Web site: Vale of Llangollen and Eglwyseg . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
45. Web site: Maelor Saesneg . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
46. Web site: Drefach-Felindre . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206091241/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/drefachfelindre/drefachfelindrearea.htm . 6 December 2021.
47. Web site: Pencaer . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206091924/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/pencaer/pencaerarea.htm . 6 December 2021.
48. Web site: Stackpole Warren . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206092445/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/stackpolewarren/stackpolewarrenarea.htm . 6 December 2021.
49. Web site: Manorbier . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206092413/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/manorbier/manorbierarea.htm . 6 December 2021.
50. Web site: Lower Teifi Valley . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206085446/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/lowerteifivalley/lowerteifivalleyarea.htm . 6 December 2021.
51. Web site: Newport and Carningli . Dyfed Archaeological Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206090911/https://dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/newportandcarningli/newportcarningliarea.htm . 6 December 2021.
52. Web site: East Fforest Fawr and Mynydd-y-glôg . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
53. Web site: Gelligaer . Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
54. Web site: The Rhondda . Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
55. Web site: Margam Mountain . Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
56. Web site: Clydach George . Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust . 27 March 2023.
57. Web site: Bala and Llyn Tegid . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 27 March 2023.
58. Web site: Dysynni . Gwynedd Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
59. Web site: The Elan Valley . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 28 March 2023.
60. Web site: The Caersws Basin . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 27 March 2023.
61. Web site: The Clywedog Valley . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 27 March 2023.
62. Web site: Middle Usk Valley: Brecon and Llangorse . Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . 27 March 2023.