Let’s extend wild camping across our National Parks

Published: 19 June 2025

At Campaign for National Parks, we are celebrating a massive win for nature lovers and access campaigners alike. The recent Supreme Court ruling to restore the right to wild camp on Dartmoor is more than a legal victory; it’s a resounding affirmation that our National Parks are not just for those who own the land, they belong to everyone. 

Wild camping on Dartmoor has long offered people the opportunity to find peace and belonging in one of the UK’s most treasured landscapes. That right came under threat when a wealthy landowner challenged this assumed freedom. Thankfully, last month the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 includes wild camping within its definition of ‘open-air recreation’, a conclusion that many had understood to be common sense. 

Dartmoor is now the only National Park in England where people can legally wild camp without the landowner’s permission. That’s something to be proud of, but it also lays bare the problem: wild camping, a low-impact, immersive way to experience nature, is virtually prohibited across most of our National Parks. 

The Dartmoor decision sets a precedent, and now it’s time to build on that momentum.  

We believe the right to responsibly wild camp should be extended to areas across all suitable National Parks in England and Wales.  

That’s why we’re calling for a 12-month wild camping trial on open access land within selected National Parks. If trials are successful, we want to see legislative reform to explicitly recognise wild camping as a legitimate form of open-air recreation. 

Crucially, any trialling of wild camping or expansion of rights should reflect local needs and conditions.

Wild camping should only be extended to appropriate National Parks and led by the National Park Authority. These decisions should take into account not just the landscape and infrastructure but also the ecological sensitivity of the area, current levels of visitor numbers, and the capacity for effective management. In places like the Lake District for example, wild camping has long been part of the outdoor recreation experience and has been accepted in certain areas, despite not being legally permitted. Landscapes like these are ideal candidates for a more formal approach, where wild camping can be supported through clear guidance, education, and local oversight. Other places like the New Forest would not be suitable for wild camping, and National Park Authorities should be empowered to make decisisons that protect and enhance the park. Our policy statement sets out our full position on wild camping.

Modernising the law for nature and access

Extending appropriate wild camping rights could be achieved in England by amending current legislation, namely the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 or the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. However, we think this is the perfect opportunity for the UK government to build on their existing commitments and bring forward a new bill that secures a wider package of reforms for National Parks and public access. Such legislation could go beyond small tweaks and deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose framework that establishes wild camping rights, strengthens protections for nature, improves equality of access, and gives everyone a say in how National Parks are run. 

Additional measures to support the extension of wild camping should include: 

• More and better designated camping opportunities, with improved public transport links. 

• The ability for National Park Authorities to make decisions over whether and where wild camping is appropriate, and introduce byelaws or exclusion zones to protect sensitive or overused sites. 

• A significantly increased funding package, including a ranger service to monitor and support responsible access. 

• Properly funded outdoor education programmes, giving young people the skills to camp safely and respectfully in wild places. 

Supporting BMC’s We Wild Camp Campaign 

We’re proud to support the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) as they champion the right to wild camp responsibly. Through their We Wild Camp campaign, the BMC is launching: 

• A Creative Bursary for young storytellers under 35 to share what wild camping means to them. Up to ten recipients will receive £150 bursaries and have their work featured on BMC channels. Entries can take the form of writing, photography, short videos, art, or poetry. Deadline: 31 July. 

• A new We Wild Camp Forum — a Facebook community for responsible campers to share clean-up efforts, report fly camping and inspire others with low-impact practices. 

• The UK’s biggest Wild Camping Survey. This is your chance to shape the future of wild camping rights. Where do you go? What barriers do you face? What does it mean to you? Your input could help unlock more access across England and Wales. 

Let’s make Dartmoor just the beginning. Let’s win the right to wild camp for everyone, in other National Parks.