The AONB is one of Britain's 'Finest Landscapes' and contains a surprising diversity of scenery, landscapes and habitats and encompasses the Hartland Heritage Coast, North Devon Heritage Coast and the internationally famous UNESCO Biosphere Reserve centred on Braunton Burrows.

The North Devon AONB is one of a family of "Protected Landscapes" in the South West, which has been designated and is the responsibility of the Countryside Agency. These include Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks and 12 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which together cover 37% of land in the South West Region.

North Devon AONB was designated in 1959 and covers approximately 171 km sq of coastal landscape, from Marsland Mouth on the Cornish border, to Combe Martin and the boundary with Exmoor National Park .