A public-access advocacy group is calling on the governments of England and Wales to legalize wild camping across all open countryside, citing recent legal developments that support broader access rights. The push comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Darwall v Dartmoor National Park Authority case, which clarified that the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 grants the right to wild camp on Dartmoor commons.
Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the organization, emphasized that the implications of this ruling should extend beyond Dartmoor. She argued that what holds true for Dartmoor commons ought to be applied to all access land designated under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. According to Ashbrook, everyone deserves the legal right to spend a night under the stars and enjoy the natural world in a meaningful way.
However, Ashbrook pointed out a significant limitation within the current legislation: the 2000 Act explicitly excludes camping from its definition of access rights. Despite this, she noted that ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), as well as their Welsh counterparts, hold the authority to amend this restriction through regulatory changes.
The group is advocating for what it describes as ‘genuinely-wild camping.’ This would include camping that takes place away from roads, car parks, and residential areas—typically on remote commons or moorland. The proposed right would only apply to walkers carrying their own equipment, staying no longer than one or two nights, and adhering to a strict leave-no-trace ethic.
Ashbrook concluded her remarks by underscoring the campaign’s broader goal: to encourage government ministers to endorse what she called “an act of simple liberation,” allowing people a deeper connection to nature through responsible and low-impact wild camping.
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