The Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) covers 99 square kilometres running north west from the vale of Taunton Deane to the Bristol Channel Coast. The Quantock Hills was England’s first AONB being designated in 1956 (confirmed in 1957) and consists of large amounts of heathland, oak woodlands, ancient parklands and agricultural land. Because of the special nature of the Quantocks much of it is covered by a designation of Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for the geologically interesting coastline to the maritime heathlands on the northern hills.