A review of policies for ‘quiet areas’ in the National Parks of England and Wales

National Parks in England and Wales are increasingly under pressure from a wide range of leisure and recreation activities. The 1991 Edwards Report stressed the need for ‘quiet enjoyment’ of such special landscapes and there has been increasing concern about the loss of tranquil rural areas. This paper reviews the approaches the eleven National Parks take to conserving their more wild and remote areas and the designation of ‘quiet areas’. It goes on to analyse the varied terminology used to define both ‘quiet areas’ and ‘quiet’ recreational pursuits. Finally the paper investigates the proposed management responses which aim to balance the sometimes conflicting purposes of conserving environmental quality while promoting understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of National Parks. A twin axial model of the dimensionality of management response is proposed and further research questions are identified.