Wild camping on Dartmoor

Is wild camping legal on Dartmoor?

Yes, on the Dartmoor Commons. The Supreme Court ruled on 21 May 2025 that the public right of access in section 10(1) of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985, ‘on foot and on horseback for the purpose of open-air recreation’, includes camping. It is the only place in England where you can wild camp without asking the landowner first.

The right has conditions, and it does not cover the whole National Park. It applies to the commons, and the Dartmoor National Park Authority's byelaws and camping map narrow it further. Farmland, enclosed fields, woodland and anywhere close to a road are off limits unless the owner says otherwise.

What happened in the court case?

Two landowners on the southern moor asked the courts to declare that the 1985 Act gave no right to camp. The High Court agreed with them in January 2023, and for a few months wild camping on Dartmoor depended on permission the Authority negotiated with landowners. The Court of Appeal reversed that decision in July 2023. The landowners appealed again, and the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal unanimously in Darwall and another v Dartmoor National Park Authority [2025] UKSC 20.

The judges held that ‘open-air recreation’ includes camping, and that ‘on foot and on horseback’ describes how you get there, not what you may do once you arrive. That settles the legal question. What remains is the practical one: where on the commons you are allowed, and encouraged, to pitch.

Where can you wild camp on Dartmoor?

Only in the areas shaded on the Authority's backpack camping map. Check it before you plan a route, and again the week you go, because the Authority updates it. We link to the official map rather than drawing our own, because a copied boundary goes out of date the day it changes.

Most of the shaded land is open, high moor. Large parts of the commons are not shaded, including the land close to the roads that cross the moor. The byelaws also list specific areas where camping is banned. If you are standing somewhere and cannot tell whether it is inside a camping area, treat it as outside.

What are the rules?

The byelaws set the legal limits, and the Backpack Camping Code adds what the Authority expects of you. Together they come to this:

• Carry everything. A lightweight tent and kit that fit in a rucksack, as part of a longer walk. No campervans, motorhomes or sleeping in vehicles, at the roadside or in car parks.
• 100 metres from any road, as a minimum. The byelaws forbid pitching within 100 metres of a public road. The Code goes further: stay out of sight of roads and buildings.
• Never in an enclosure. Walled or fenced fields are private farmland, even when they sit inside the open moor.
• Two nights at most in one place. The byelaws allow no more than two consecutive nights on the same site. The Code asks for one or two nights as part of a longer trip.
• Six people at most. The Code limits groups to six, with small tents that blend in.
• No fires or barbecues. A properly used camping stove is allowed. Anything that could start a fire on the moor is not.
• Take a trowel. Bury poo and used toilet paper under at least 15cm of turf, and keep well away from streams.
• Take all your litter home, including food waste.

Sources: Dartmoor National Park byelaws and the Backpack Camping Code.

Which parts of Dartmoor suit a first wild camp?

Pick a shaded area you have already walked in daylight, a comfortable walk from where you start. A first night is about sleeping well and learning your kit, so distance matters less than knowing the ground.

Look for firm, well-drained grass on a gentle slope. Dartmoor's valleys and flat ground between tors are often bog or mire, which looks like lawn and holds water like a sponge. Avoid pitching right under a tor or beside a well-known landmark: those are the places everyone else heads for, and the ground there is already worn. Spreading out is kinder to the moor and quieter for you. We don't publish exact pitches, for the same reason.

How do you get to Dartmoor without a car?

Trains run from Exeter to Okehampton on the northern edge of the moor, and the main line stops at Ivybridge on the southern edge, so you can walk straight up onto the moor from either station. Bus services across the moor change with the seasons. Check Traveline for current times before you rely on one for the walk out.

If you drive, leave the car in a proper car park and check its signs for overnight rules. The byelaws forbid sleeping in the vehicle.

When is the best time to wild camp on Dartmoor?

Late spring to early autumn gives the longest days and the gentlest weather, but take extra care from 1 March to 31 July. That is the ground-nesting bird season, and it overlaps with lambing. Keep away from nesting areas the Authority marks, keep a dog on a lead, and choose short grass over heather and bracken.

Winter camping is legal under the same rules. Days are short, the ground is wetter, and fog on the high moor can close in quickly.

What kit do you need for Dartmoor?

Pack for wind and wet ground. Dartmoor is high, open and exposed to weather coming in from the Atlantic, and there is little shelter once you are away from the valleys.

• A tent that pitches low and stays taut in wind, with every guyline used.
• A sleeping mat with enough insulation for cold ground: an R-value of about 3 or more from spring to autumn.
• Waterproof boots, or trainers and dry socks for camp, because your feet will get wet.
• A map and compass, and the skill to use them in fog. Phone signal on the high moor is patchy.
• A trowel and a bag for your rubbish.

The Wild Camp Kit brings the tent, sleeping bag, mat, rucksack and stove together for a first night like this, and our wild camping kit list covers everything else to pack.

What if you want facilities, or a bigger group?

Use a campsite. The Backpack Camping Code is clear: family tents, large groups, campervans and anyone who wants a bin, a tap or a toilet belong on a site. The Authority lists small farm campsites for a quieter night with basic facilities, and our guide to nearly wild camping covers that halfway step.

How do you stay safe on Dartmoor?

Tell one person your route and when you will be back, and check the firing times before you set out. The Ministry of Defence trains on three ranges on northern Dartmoor (Okehampton, Merrivale and Willsworthy), and part of the camping map lies inside them. The range boundaries are marked by red and white posts. When firing is on, red flags fly by day and red lamps show at night. Check the Dartmoor firing programme for the days you are going, and never pick up anything metal you find on the moor.

Rivers rise fast after rain, so plan a route that doesn't depend on a single crossing. In an emergency, call 999, ask for the police, then ask for mountain rescue.

Questions people ask

Do I need permission to wild camp on Dartmoor?

No, not in the areas shaded on the official camping map. Everywhere else on Dartmoor, including enclosed farmland, you need the landowner's permission.

Can I camp in a car or campervan on Dartmoor?

No. The byelaws forbid sleeping in vehicles at the roadside or in car parks. Use a campsite that takes campervans.

Can I have a campfire?

No. Fires and barbecues are banned on the commons. A camping stove, used carefully on bare ground, is allowed.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes, under close control, and on a lead near livestock and during the bird nesting season.