Supreme Court rules that Wild Camping on Dartmoor is legal
The legal right to wild camp on Dartmoor has been upheld by the Supreme Court, marking a significant victory for public access to nature.
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) welcomes this landmark decision, which reaffirms Dartmoor’s unique status as the only place in England and Wales where wild camping is enshrined in law.
Alexander Darwall, a landowner who sought to challenge the right to camp without permission on his 4,000-acre estate in southern Dartmoor, can no longer appeal this decision. The Supreme Court, the highest Court in the United Kingdom's judicial system, found that the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 included wild camping within its definition of ‘open-air recreation’, with Lord Stephens emphasising that this definition was "open-ended and unqualified" and "naturally includes camping". Importantly, the judgement also acknowledged that the public had not been adequately represented in previous court proceedings.
Dr Catherine Flitcroft, Head of Access and Environment at the BMC, said “this is such welcome news and a relief that the judges unanimously rejected the appeal by just one landowner who tried to extinguish the rights and freedoms of the public. The true spirit and meaning of the 1985 Act was understood and upheld – its great we have won such as a test case for countryside access.
“However, our work is not done. The BMC’s vision is clear: people should be free to camp in a self-sufficient, low-impact, and environmentally respectful way. Instead of heavy-handed restrictions, we believe in empowering individuals through guidance, education, and best practice.”
While we celebrate this legal win, it also exposes deeper vulnerability in England and Wales’ access laws. The fact that one individual was able to use personal wealth to challenge public rights and suspend wild camping, however temporary, underscores how fragile our access to nature is.
In England and Wales, our access to green and blue spaces remains severely limited compared to countries like Scotland, where the Land Reform Act 2003 provides robust access rights. Dartmoor’s case reveals we need urgent stronger, clearer legislation that both defends existing rights and expands access for everyone.
The BMC is now calling on political leaders, particularly the Labour Party, to follow through on their manifesto commitments, and introduce new access legislation. Such legislation should:
Guarantee a legal right to wild camp responsibly in more areas of England and Wales
Expand the network of accessible natural spaces, especially where people live
Promote responsible recreation through education, skills training and outreach
We need reform to address the inequity in access to the outdoors by expanding and enhancing access rights so that everyone, everywhere can enjoy the benefits.
Header image: The Stars are for Everyone/Right2Roam Campaign
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