The key characteristics of the Northamptonshire Uplands are:

95. Northamptonshire Uplands

The key characteristics of the Northamptonshire Uplands are:

• Rounded, undulating hills with many long, low ridgelines.

• Abundant and prominent ridge and furrow with frequent deserted and shrunken settlements.

• Sparse settlement of nucleated villages on hilltops or valley heads.

• Mixed farming: open arable contrasts with pasture enclosed by good hedges with frequent hedgerow trees.

• Wide views from the edges and across the ridgetops.

• Straight, wide, enclosure roads, often following ridges.

• Little woodland, but prominent coverts on higher ground.

• Ironstone and limestone older buildings with a transition across the area. Brick buildings in some villages.

• Great variety of landform with distinctive local features like Hemplow Hills.

• Large and nationally-important historic parks.

For further details on this character area and for an introduction to the region, please see the PDF documents in the box at the top right hand side of this page.