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There are different types of rural areas, which can be classified according to how accessible they are to the urban areas. The diagram below shows this. These range from the rural urban fringe, to the extreme (remote) rural areas.

The types of rural areas can also be classified according to key characteristics:

• Deep green - these are remote, isolated places with poor road networks but plenty of green open spaces. Populations are very sparsely spread out.
• Rapid change - these places are less densely populated and include some smaller towns. Many who live here work in urban areas by commuting.
• Leisure and amenity - some of Wales’ most beautiful scenery and national parks are contained in rural places. They are often remote.
• Coastal retirement - seaside villages and small towns are attractive to retired people who make up the largest proportion of the population in these communities.