Wild camping remains a right on Dartmoor

Published: 21 May 2025

This ruling today protects the right to wild camp on Dartmoor without landowner permission. 

We welcome today’s Supreme Court ruling, which rejects the appeal of the Darwall landowners and confirms the public’s right to responsibly wild camp on parts of Dartmoor without requiring permission. 

This is a positive and important outcome. It upholds a long-standing tradition of public access and reaffirms Dartmoor’s place as one of the few areas in England where people can truly experience nature in a wild and immersive way. 

Wild camping on Dartmoor has been a cherished part of the National Park experience for generations. We are pleased that the Court has recognised the significance of this access and the role of National Parks in ensuring people can connect with nature in meaningful and low-impact ways. 

This decision is a victory for common sense and for the principle that National Parks exist to serve the public good. However, Dartmoor remains the exception, not the rule. In most of England’s National Parks opportunities for responsible wild camping are still extremely limited. 

We now call on the Labour Westminster government to build on this moment by introducing legislation in England that improves responsible access to nature across the country. This should include formal protection for wild camping in Dartmoor, as well as a framework for extending responsible wild camping opportunities to other National Parks with the resources to match. 

Improving access can be a central pillar of the government’s nature and health agenda. This ruling shows what is possible—but we must now go further.

Commenting on the ruling, Dr Rose O’Neill, Chief Executive of Campaign for National Parks said:

“Today is a day of relief and celebration. The Supreme Court has upheld what has been abundantly clear for decades —that the right to wild camp on Dartmoor belongs to everyone. This ruling restores a rare and precious freedom, and reaffirms that our National Parks are not just for those who own the land, but for all who seek connection with it. 

Wild camping on Dartmoor has offered generations the opportunity to find peace, perspective, and belonging in one of our most treasured landscapes. We are proud to stand with those who fought to defend this right, and grateful that the Court has recognised how vital access to nature is to people’s lives. 

The nation owes our thanks to the Dartmoor National Park Authority and the Open Spaces Society for fighting this battle in court, and to Dartmoor Preservation Association and the Stars are for Everyone and members of the public for raising a fighting fund and for building so much support. 

But this is just the first step. In most of England’s National Parks, opportunities to camp in the wild remain extremely limited. We urge the government to honour its promise to improve access to nature by bringing forward new legislation that includes the right to responsible wild camping, not only on Dartmoor but across all our National Parks.”