Landscape Assessment and Strategy Maps

Interactive GIS Maps

These maps are a suite of interactive maps that have been developed to enhance The Durham Landscape website. The Geographic Information System (GIS) allows you to interact with information about the Durham landscape and display both maps and aerial photographs of County Durham and the immediate surrounding areas.

Landscape Assessment Maps

Character Areas and Types

• County Character Areas
• Broad Landscape Types
• Broad Character Areas
• North Pennines Local Landscape Types
• Dales Fringe Local Landscape Types
• West Durham Coalfield Local Landscape Types
• East Durham Limestone Plateau Local Landscape Types
• Wear Lowlands Local Landscape Types
• Tees Lowlands Local Landscape Types

Designated Landscapes

• Areas of High Landscape Value
• Conservation Areas
• Heritage Coast
• North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• Registered Parks and Gardens
• World Heritage Site

Landscape Strategy

• Conservation and Improvement Priority Areas
• Spatial Strategy
• Woodland Strategy Priority Areas

Landscape Guidelines Maps

• Local Seed Zones
• Native Woodland Zones
• Woodland Sensitivity

Non-Interactive Maps

Click on the links below to view an image of the following maps:

Landscape Assessment

Physical Influences

• Drift Geology
• Soil Distribution
• Solid Geology
• Topography
• Drainage

The Modern Landscape

• Agricultural Land Use
• Distribution of Ancient Woodland
• Enclosure Period
• Field Boundaries map
• Mining and Quarrying
• Moors and Heaths
• Plantation and Secondary Woodland
• Satellite Image of County Durham
• Settlement Pattern

Landscape Strategy

Assets and Attributes

• Access Land
• Agricultural Land Classification
• Ancient Woodland
• Archaeological Sites and Monuments
• Built Heritage
• Earth Heritage Designation
• Habitat Network
• International Nature Conservation Designations
• Land Management Agreements
• Landscape Designation
• National and Local Nature Designations
• Recreation and Tourism
• Water Resources

Further Information

• Mapping data for County Durham’s Landscape Assessment and Strategy can also be obtained in electronic format as ERSI Shapefiles from Durham County Council’s Landscape Section for a nominal administration charge of £15 + VAT.
• Visit the Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC) website – for detailed maps of statutory rural designations e.g. Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, plus Scheduled Ancient Monuments Map, Common Land boundaries and Registered Parks and Gardens.