Huge boost for wild camping as Brits CAN use one of UK's best-loved national parks in blow for millionaire nimbys
I HAVE wild camped on Dartmoor more times than I can count and the fact that this right was even debated in court seemed ludicrous to me.
Back in 2021, the battle for the right to wild camp on
Advertisement
7
Wild camping access on Dartmoor was threatened thanks to local landowners
Credit: Alamy
7
But now the Supreme Court has ruled it is allowed
Credit: Daniel Davy/Dartmoor Wild Camping Action Group
Following back-and-forth debates in
courts
, the Supreme
Court
has ruled that wild camping IS allowed in one of the UK's most-loved national parks.
I am not surprised with the decision and I welcome it with open arms.
As do the campaigners, that for the past four years have been fighting for something that should not have been questioned in the first place.
Landowners (and millionaires) Alexander and Diana Darwall started the battle, claiming that people should not be able to camp without permission from landowners.
Advertisement
Read more on National Parks
The Darwalls created the argument as part of their 4,000-acre estate on Stall Moor near Cornwood, spilt into Dartmoor National Park.
As a result, the tradition of
And in January 2023, the High Court ruled that the Darwalls were allowed to remove campers from their site.
Their legal team claimed that the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985, which allows access for "open-air recreation", did not include overnight camping.
Advertisement
Most read in News Travel
Outrage at the decision obviously arose and debates garnered national attention over the
future
of wild camping.
Then in July 2023, the
Court of Appeal
overturned the High Court ruling in July 2023, restoring the right to wild camp.
UK's Premier Scottish Caravan Site: Camping & Glamping Gold Standard
But the NIMBY's didn't stop there, as the Darwalls appealed to the
Supreme Court
- whose judges unanimously rejected their appeal yesterday.
Most weekends as a teenager, I would camp on the moors as part of training for Ten Tors - an annual
teenagers
, hosted by the
army
.
Advertisement
I would be walking from the early hours of the morning, sometimes until midnight - carrying at least 10kg on my back and often fighting the harshest of conditions.
By the time it came to setting up
Myself and my team would pitch our two small tents, in the dark, with nothing but torches.
To date, the three events (35, 45 and 55 miles) that I participated in over three years were the biggest challenges of my life - mentally and physically.
Advertisement
For thousands of teenagers who participate each year, I can guarantee the same.
7
I used to hike and camp on Dartmoor as a teenager
Credit: Cyann Fielding
If yesterday's decision swung the other way, I am unsure of the impact this would have on the event and the training thousands undertake each year.
All I know is it would not have been a positive impact.
Advertisement
Wild camping is nothing like camping at a
Often you are exposed to the elements - but you get to truly be in the wild, surrounded by rolling hills and tors, flourishing rivers and streams and the only pitch black
sky
with bright stars I have seen in my life.
Yesterday's ruling essentially means that people are legally allowed to camp in set areas of Dartmoor - they just need to follow a code of conduct.
This includes leaving "no trace", the park authority has said.
Advertisement
Tents and
7
Campaigners have been fighting for the right to wild camp for years
Credit: Alamy
Following the decision, social media and forums have also been flooded with comments from the public.
One person commented: "A good ruling based on the common understanding of the words 'open-air recreation'.
Advertisement
"Absolutely mad that it had to go all the way to the Supreme Court to rule on something so blindingly obvious."
Another added: "Thanks to whoever updated the Wikipedia entry of Alexander Darwall, whose nimby campaign to ban wild camping on Dartmoor has just been upheld in the courts."
Darwall's Wikipedia page was updated to include "enemy of the people", but has since been removed.
When I watched the court hearing back in October, the argument boiled down to one sentence of the archaic Dartmoor Commons Act 1985.
Advertisement
Section 10(1) of the Act states: "[T]he public shall have a right of access to the commons on foot and on horseback for the purpose of open-air recreation."
7
Campaign groups are now fighting for the right to wild camp across the UK
Credit: AFP
The court had to decide whether this section gave "the public a right to pitch tents or otherwise make camp overnight on the Dartmoor Commons".
The Supreme Court ruling said: "Within Dartmoor National Park, there are areas of moorland which are privately owned but on which other locals have the right to put their livestock.
Advertisement
"The clear wording of section 10(1) shows that it confers a right of public access which includes wild camping."
Commenting on the ruling, Dartmoor Preservation Association CEO, Tom
Usher
, said: "This is an historic victory for public access, the DPA are very proud to have played a central role in campaigning to keep backpack camping on Dartmoor as a right.
"This has been achieved through the work of many people and we salute the courage of the
Dr Kevin Bishop, chief executive of Dartmoor National Park Authority, added: "We are delighted and relieved with the Supreme Court's ruling.
Advertisement
"This is a landmark judgment not just for Dartmoor National Park but for people who have long campaigned for access rights.
"The judgment reaffirms our long-held belief for the public's right to
7
Locals are now celebrating the ruling
Credit: Alamy
Daniel Davy, founder of Dartmoor Wild Camping Action Group, said: "So yesterday was an emotional one.
Advertisement
"We are so lucky to have the right to wild camp in Devon and the myriad of
benefits
it's brings, and it's about time that everyone had access to these wild spaces and experiences that shape so many lives.
"We are going to take this fight to other national parks so that everyone in the country can experience what we are so lucky too on Dartmoor.
"This could be the pebble that creates the splash, which turns into a wave that is access reform across the country."
The group will be hosting a gathering on Monday at Haytor on Dartmoor to celebrate the ruling.
Advertisement
Dartmoor on horseback is also the perfect way to enjoy the vast Devon moorland.
Plus, the best 'almost wild' holiday campsites in the UK for families this summer.
7
The ruling seems like common sense
Credit: Cyann Fielding
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
You have the eyes of a hawk if you can find the alligator hiding in this swamp
ALLIGATORS are one of nature's toughest predators. Every year thousands of people visit Florida every year to get a glimpse of the lurking beasts. Advertisement 5 Can you find the alligator hidden in this swamp? Credit: Harry Williamson But unless they are out in the open or strolling along the side of the road, the ferocious reptiles can be quite hard to spot. Their scaly green and brown skin allows them to blend in with the murky swamps of the southwest Florida and the Everglades. So it really takes someone with sharp eyes to find a gator that wants to hide. A visit to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary just outside Naples, Florida, provided the top opportunity to put the eyes to the test while wandering along the boardwalks. Advertisement Somewhere in the swamp picture above, there is a lurking alligator but if you look close enough then you might just be able to see her. Female alligators are typically smaller than males, making this one much harder to see. The knobbly monster is also blending in with the leaves, brown water and other swamp plants. And to make things even harder, the sunlight reflecting off the low waters make her even more difficult to find. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous The American Alligator can be found in the State's marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes and is one of the most darkly coloured species of gator in the wild. That means that if you managed to spot the alligator in the picture then you are well and truly have an eye for detail. You have 20/20 vision and a high IQ if you find the tiny alligator blending in with the lily pads in under 20 seconds If you look close enough you can see her lurking near the trees. Zooming on the image will show the scaly skin of her head and back just resting above the water. Advertisement So well done if you managed to spot her! 5 Did you manage to find our alligator? Credit: Harry Williamson 5 She was very hard to spot in the murky swamp Credit: Harry Williamson 5 A visit to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary gave the opportunity to see one of the amazing reptiles Credit: Harry Williamson Advertisement Optical illusions are becoming a popular puzzle for people wanting to put their optical illusions to the test! Sticking with an animal theme, people have been told they have to be pretty observant is they can Another brainteaser challenged people to park full of people. Read more on the Irish Sun One Aberdeen artist even designed a stunning optical illusion with Advertisement And our own Scottish Sun features team put our readers to the test as they challenged them to find the famous Scottish faces in these five AI-made images of natural wonders. 5 The American Alligator Credit: Alamy
Extra.ie
a day ago
- Extra.ie
Dublin Airport hits out at council's enforcement notice
Dublin Airport's operator has been hit with a planning enforcement notice for breaching the highly contested passenger cap, describing it as 'a sorry indictment of the mess that is the Irish planning system'. Describing the airport as the most vital piece of transport infrastructure in Ireland, a DAA spokesman said: 'The system is quite simply broken and needs to be overhauled.' The airport is limited to handling a maximum of 32 million passengers a year under a condition of the planning permission granted in 2007 for Terminal 2. Dublin Airport. Pic: Getty Images However, the DAA and many airlines have challenged that limit, saying it is limiting the country's economic growth and could result in higher fares for passengers. Earlier this month, Dublin Airport said it was expecting more than ten million passengers to pass through during the peak months. A High Court-imposed pause on the cap, won by the airlines, means more than 36 million people could use the airport this year. Last year, the airport handled 33.3million passengers. Dublin Airport. Pic: Getty Images Fingal County Council confirmed yesterday it had issued a planning enforcement notice to DAA for breaching the cap. The council is reported to have received complaints from 60 individuals about the alleged planning breach. In a statement, the council said its enforcement notice included a two-year period to comply with planning conditions imposed by An Bord Pleanála over passenger capacity at Dublin Airport. Pic: Mark Gusev/Shutterstock A council spokesman said: 'The two-year period provides an opportunity for DAA to progress their planning applications to increase passenger capacity at Dublin Airport or take such other steps as they consider appropriate to achieve compliance.' Mayor of Fingal Tom O'Leary, a Fine Gael councillor, said the county council had to follow the legal process. He continued: 'This makes it even more urgent for the Government to assist in any way that they can to try and sort out the capacity issue at Dublin Airport. They need to do whatever they can to ensure that the airport can grow in an orderly manner and that the residents around it are looked after.' However, the DAA said that until changes were made to the cap, Ireland's national airport was 'hamstrung' and could not get on with its mandate to grow Ireland's connectivity. 'The airport needs to be reclassified as national strategic infrastructure, with decisions made by a national planning body and not a local authority,' a spokesman said The High Court pause on the cap is likely to continue for a year while certain matters related to aircraft take-off and landing slot allocations are examined by the European Court of Justice. The Government plans to remove the cap through legislation, starting in autumn. Ryanair has called for urgent action from the Government, stating that local authorities should not oversee national transport infrastructure. A Department of Transport spokesman said it was aware of the enforcement notice. They continued: 'The minister has recently reiterated the importance of DAA continuing to engage proactively with the planning authority and the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority to facilitate progress on the two planning applications DAA has lodged.'
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
All our favourite camping buys tried and tested for festivals and family holidays – starting from just 15p
FESTIVAL and camping season is here and with that, so is the frantic rush to find items that make it that little bit easier. Whether crawling around in a cramped festival tent or away with the family in a holiday park, as much as we may love camping there are some things about it that can be a nightmare. Advertisement 15 Camping and festival season have returned Credit: AP Here are The Sun's travel team's top recs for camping this summer . Collapsible items With a limited amount of storage space in caravans and tents, making sure your kitchen equipment is as space-saving as possible is an essential. Look for collapsible items to stack and save space. This Advertisement Read more on camping Ikea does a great collapsible washing up bowl for just £5. The Pepprig bowl collapses flat and features a hole to hang from pegs. And when it comes to cooking up a storm, a stacking nest of pans is essential. Lisa Minot, Head of Travel Advertisement Most read in News Travel Camping pans From £17.99 on Amazon or for a more sophisticated set that covers all bases for a family, UK's Premier Scottish Caravan Site: Camping & Glamping Gold Standard With a whopping 25 items suitable for a family of four you get a big pot and frying pan and within is stored a sieve drainer, plates, cups and cutlery. Lisa Minot, Head of Travel Advertisement 15p Plates You don't want to waste weight - or risk breakages - by using standard crockery in a Invest in some melamine plates, cups and bowls but for me, I want to make things easy when it comes to washing up. A nice big pack of disposable, biodegradable and Lisa Minot, Head of Travel Advertisement 15 A nice big pack of disposable, biodegradable and compostable plates costs around £7 for 50 from Amazon Credit: Amazon ReadyBed For £27.50 from Argos , What I personally love is that there's no risk of rolling off the airbed as you're fully zipped in. It's got a built-in pillow and the sleeping bag element/cover can be removed and chucked in the washing machine. Advertisement Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor 15 ReadyBed has a built-in pillow and the sleeping bag element/cover can be removed and chucked in the washing machine Credit: Argos Magic mirror This bit of kit is my most cherished camping item. It's a Advertisement Costing £45, it comes with a tie at the top so that it can be looped around a tent pole. The best feature is how compact it is, folding into a flat square – just be wary as a lot of Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor 15 Magic Mirror is a foldable mirror made up of four glass squares Credit: Magic Mirror Advertisement Vango Micro Steel Chair You can probably find cheaper camping chairs out there, but Unlike some traditional camping chairs, you'll have to construct it, a bit like a tent, but that takes about 30 seconds. The steel frame of the chair relies on a tent-pole like structure which means it's easily collapsible and can be shoved in a teeny bag along with the canvas-material chair. Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor Advertisement 15 This camping chair takes less than a minute to construct Credit: Outdoor World Vango Square Water Carrier Water carriers are so cheap but so useful, especially at a festival where the toilet facilities may not be anything more than a hole in the ground. Fill it up every day from the campsites water station and use it to wash your hands, brush your teeth , drink from etc. Advertisement Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor 15 A water carrier is super useful for when the toilets and taps are far from your tent Credit: Outdoor World Loop earplugs As much as I enjoy a festival or two, I do need my beauty sleep otherwise I can be pretty unpleasant to be around. So when it comes to going to bed, I won't go without my Loop earplugs. Advertisement These handy little gadgets block out almost everything, muffling all background noise and thumping bass. They might be the most I've ever spent on earplugs, but they're well worth it. Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter Advertisement 15 These handy little gadgets block out almost everything Credit: Loop earplugs FreshWipes We all know that as the days go on at festivals, one thing that gets worse (aside from the hangover) is people's hygiene - and I don't like to be one of those people. So what I bring is FreshWipes, the OceanFresh scent does the trick and is biodegradable too. Advertisement Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter 15 FreshWipes keep you fresh and are biodegradable too Credit: Fresh Wipes Face and body cooling spray With the hot and sticky weather we have been experiencing lately, being able to cool down is not the easiest unless you drench yourself in water. Whilst chugging water can help to keep you hydrated, sometime it just feels like your skin is about to burn off. Advertisement This is where a face and body cooling spray comes in. For years I have sworn by Superdrug's own brand And this bottle will last you the whole summer. I use it over makeup on my face for a cooldown spritz and down my arms too - it really helps to take the edge off of the heat. Advertisement I also recently discovered their Vitamin E Mist, which comes in a small 50ml bottle for £2.50. If struggling on space, definitely grab one of these and it is even in Superdrug 's '3 for 2' offer, so you can pick up some other travel minis too. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 One cooling spray bottle will last you the whole summer Credit: Superdrug Advertisement Solar Buddies Sunscreen Applicator Now this one may be weird to people - essentially a bottle for sun cream, despite sun cream already coming in a bottle. But if you are like me, the price of sun cream irks you each year the season gets warmer and sunnier. And if you are anything like me, the bog standard sunscreen is no good. With oily skin, a hate for tackiness and a dislike for the smell, I make sure the sunscreen I get suits me. Advertisement And to cut costs, I will often purchase the biggest bottle available. However, with this, it is hard to carry around the sun cream. This is where the The small and compact applicator can be filled with any sunscreen of your choosing and costs just £6.38 from Boots . Advertisement Despite the product specifically being designed for use by children, it is suitable for anyone who wants to carry a smaller bottle of sunscreen around with them without the risk of the bottle lid pinging off in your bag. It is also 100ml so suitable for hand luggage! Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 Solar Buddies Sunscreen Applicator is 100ml so suitable for hand luggage Credit: Boots Advertisement Luna Daily The Everywhere Spray-to-Wipe Fragrance Free 30ml Whilst this little product is rather steep in price for £8, I don't go away without it. As an 'everywhere spray', The spray-to-wipe product can be used anywhere - including 'down there' - helping you to feel a bit cleaner whilst in a not-so-clean environment. It is completely fragrance free and includes thermal water, prebiotic lactic acid and inulin and Vitamins C, E and F to protect your skin - essentially no nasties. Advertisement One bottle is the equivalent of 100 wipes and it can be kept in the fridge for added cooling effects. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 This spray-to-wipe product can be used anywhere - including 'down there' Credit: Boots SPF 30 Lip Balm on a carabineer As an avid hiker and camper during my teenage years, you would not find me without a lip balk attached to a belt loop on my hip. Advertisement Just a basic SPF 30 lip balm with moisturising coconut in helped against the harsh elements of sun and wind whilst adventuring. The carabineer attached just adds convenience as you can attach it yourself as I did, the zip or side of a bag or even keys or a water bottle. They can be picked up at most outdoors shops like Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter Advertisement 15 The carabineer attached to this lip balm adds convenience Credit: Trespass Ikea lamp There are so many different camping lamps out there - from wind-up ones to battery operated. And they also can widely range in price. Ikea has just released a lamp which I cannot wait to get my hands on. Advertisement The It has a rope loop on it to hand in your tent, but also due to its flat bottom it can sit on a table easily - meaning you can move it between your If wanting something smaller, the classic lightbulb shaped lamps on caribineers are also great and can be picked up for under a fiver. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter Advertisement 15 This small table lamp which is battery-operated and donut-shaped looks stylish whilst also being practical Credit: IKEA Soft running bottles Whilst not the cheapest at £9.99 each from They can be rolled up to the size of a fist and are easy to shove in the remaining room in a pack camping back. For festivals, they are even better - as often to get into the main arena, your water bottle needs to be empty - and these can just fit in your pocket to be filled once in the area. Advertisement Even when full, they can still slide into a pocket, which means you won't be carrying around a clunky bottle. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 Soft bottles can be can be rolled up to the size of a fist Credit: Decathlon These are the Advertisement Plus, 15 All these items can help make camping experiences easier and more enjoyable Credit: Alamy
