Regulations United Kingdom Dartmoor National Park
Merrivale Range
Hiking and paragliding
Regulations on 30 October 2026
Signs at the site and later resolutions prevail; check the source.
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Regulated
Hiking · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
Dartmoor Training Area
Location
Dartmoor Training Area, Devon, comprises Okehampton, Merrivale and Willsworthy Ranges which are used for live firing and training on foot.
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Access restrictions
When the ranges are used for live firing, red flags (day) or red lights (night) are displayed and access is prohibited.
The ranges are subject to Devon byelaws. Land where MOD byelaws apply is excluded from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. Range Danger Areas (RDA’s) are not depicted as public access land on Ordnance Survey maps.
Access opportunities
There is access land and a limited network of public rights of way across the training area.
Guaranteed access periods are published here: Dartmoor guaranteed public access.
Published by Ministry of Defence, 23 Jan 2025 · South West England - public access to military areas
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Regulated
Hiking · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
THE MERRIVALE RANGE BYELAWS 1979
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USE OF DANGER AREA
- 2. The Danger Area may be used for the purposes of Service training including the firing of Service weapons of all kinds, the firing and exploding of demolition charges, training with cooperating aircraft and for all activities ancillary to such training.
PROHIBITION OF ACCESS
- 3. (1) When the Danger Area is being used for any of the military purposes specified in Byelaw No 2 no person shall:—
(a) enter into or upon or pass over or through the Danger Area, or
(b) be or remain in or upon the Danger Area, or
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(2) Whilst the Danger Area is being used for any of the said military purposes, notice of the fact shall be given by the display of the following signals, that is to say, a red flag by day and a red light by night, hoisted at the following places:—
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Published by Ministry of Defence, 14 Dec 1979 · The Merrivale Range Byelaws 1979
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Regulated
Paragliding · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
THE MERRIVALE RANGE BYELAWS 1979
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- 3. (1) When the Danger Area is being used for any of the military purposes specified in Byelaw No 2 no person shall:—
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(d) cause or permit any aircraft to fly over the Danger Area
(i) at a height less than 10,000 feet above mean sea level,
or
(ii) at a height less than 20,000 feet above mean sea level during any period notified for this purpose by the Range Authorities to the appropriate aviation authorities.
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“aircraft” includes any craft or contrivance which though not an aircraft is for the time being airborne.
Published by Ministry of Defence, 14 Dec 1979 · The Merrivale Range Byelaws 1979
In Dartmoor National Park
Regulated zone
Dartmoor National Park
These hold everywhere inside the boundary, whether or not a site is marked.
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Permit required
Camping & bivouac · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
How do I go backpack camping (wild camping) on Dartmoor?
Check the interactive map which clearly shows where you can and are encouraged to backpack camp without needing prior approval from the landowner. You must check this before you plan your trip
No overnight stays in vehicles, campervans or motorhomes.
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No large tents or large groups camping.
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What is backpack or wild camping?
If you can carry everything you need in your backpack as part of a Dartmoor walking expedition, you are welcome to backpack camp for one or two nights in some areas of open moorland, and out of sight from roads or settlements using a ‘no impact’ approach.
Planning and preparation is essential for this type of activity. This includes having the right equipment and navigational skills to survive safely ‘well away from civilisation’, and crucially, knowing where it is possible and best to camp. However you cannot camp everywhere in the National Park. It's vital that you know where it is best to go before setting off.
Published by Dartmoor National Park Authority · Camping | Dartmoor
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Regulated
Camping & bivouac · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
Backpack Camping Code
Following the Backpack Camping Code will help to protect Dartmoor’s fragile moorland environment.
Travel light
- - Use a lightweight tent and equipment that fits into a backpack you can carry
- - Staying one or two nights max as part of your longer walk or expedition
Stay out of sight
- - Small and lightweight tents which easily blend into the landscape
- - Out of sight from roads and buildings
- - There must be no more than six people in a group
Tread lightly
- - No open fires or BBQs
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- - Avoid disturbing wildlife, particularly during lambing and bird breeding season (1 March - 31 July)
Published by Dartmoor National Park Authority · Camping | Dartmoor
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Regulated
Camping & bivouac · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
BYELAWS made under Section 90 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and Section 11 of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 by DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL acting as Dartmoor National Park Authority with respect to access land within the Dartmoor National Park.
1 Interpretation
In the construction of these byelaws “the Authority” means Devon County Council acting in its capacity as Dartmoor National Park Authority and “access land” shall be all that land:
(i) defined as “the commons” in Section 2 of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 and
(i) land within the Dartmoor National Park to which the public has access by virtue of the Authority having an interest in that land and which is more particularly identified in Schedule 1 to these byelaws.
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6 Camping
- 1. No person shall knowingly use any vehicle, including a caravan or any structure other than a tent for the purpose of camping on the access land or land set out for the use or parking of vehicles except on any area which may be set apart and indicated by notice as a place where such camping is permitted.
- 2. No person shall knowingly erect a tent on the access land for the purpose of camping:
(a) in any area listed in Schedule 2 to these byelaws;
(b)within 100 metres of any public road or in any enclosure.
- 3. No person shall camp in a tent on the same site on the access land for more than two consecutive nights, except on any area which may be set apart and indicated by notice as a place where such camping is permitted.
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Schedule 2
Additional areas where camping is prohibited (identified by reference to the common land unit number recorded in the Register of Commons Land maintained by Devon County Council).
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Published by Dartmoor National Park Authority · Byelaws | Dartmoor
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Regulated
Paragliding · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
BYELAWS made under Section 90 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and Section 11 of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 by DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL acting as Dartmoor National Park Authority with respect to access land within the Dartmoor National Park.
1 Interpretation
In the construction of these byelaws “the Authority” means Devon County Council acting in its capacity as Dartmoor National Park Authority and “access land” shall be all that land:
(i) defined as “the commons” in Section 2 of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 and
(i) land within the Dartmoor National Park to which the public has access by virtue of the Authority having an interest in that land and which is more particularly identified in Schedule 1 to these byelaws.
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17 Aircraft
No person shall take off from or land upon the access land in an aircraft, helicopter, hang-glider or hot-air balloon (except in an emergency) unless he is authorised to do so by the Authority.
Published by Dartmoor National Park Authority · Byelaws | Dartmoor
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Regulated
Camping & bivouac · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
- 1. This case is about the extent of the public’s right of access to Dartmoor under section 10(1) of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 (“the 1985 Act”). The question the court has to decide is whether section 10(1) confers on the public a right to pitch tents or otherwise make camp overnight on the Dartmoor Commons (“the Commons”).
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- 17. The starting point is the wording of section 10(1) itself. There are several indications that wild camping by individuals who have entered the commons on foot or on horseback is made a matter of entitlement by that provision. […]
(i) Section 10(1) states that “the public shall have a right of access to the commons on foot and on horseback for the purpose of open-air recreation”. In our view, as a matter of ordinary language, camping is a form of “open-air recreation”. Therefore, the provision confers on members of the public a right of access to the Commons, provided that it is exercised by going onto the Commons on foot or on horseback, for the purpose of camping there. […]
(ii) The right in section 10(1) is expressed to be subject to the provisions of the 1985 Act and compliance with all rules, regulations or byelaws relating to the Commons which are in force. […] The public right of access under section 10(1) is qualified by the requirement of compliance with those forms of public regulations, so non-compliance with them triggers the possibility of landowners being able to sue in trespass. […]
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- 60. For the reasons set out above, we would dismiss the appeal.
Published by The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, 21 May 2025 · Darwall and another v Dartmoor National Park Authority [2025] UKSC 20
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Regulated
Hiking · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
B. Provisions concerning public access to commons
- 10.— (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and compliance with all rules, regulations or byelaws relating to the commons and for the time being in force, the public shall have a right of access to the commons on foot and on horseback for the purpose of open-air recreation; and a person who enters on the commons for that purpose without breaking or damaging any wall, fence, hedge, gate or other thing, or who is on the commons for that purpose having so entered, shall not be treated as a trespasser on the commons or incur any other liability by reason only of so entering or being on the commons.
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(4) Nothing in this section shall prejudice or affect the exercise of powers under any enactment whereby access to the commons may be regulated or prohibited; and, subject to subsection (8) below, the Park Authority may by notices posted in such places on the commons as they think fit regulate or prohibit for such period as may be reasonably necessary access by all, or any part of, the public to any part of the commons (including any footpath or bridleway thereon)—
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Published by UK Parliament, 30 Oct 1985 · Dartmoor Commons Act 1985