Dartmoor Wild Camping Laws: Current Rules for Campervans
Dartmoor is the only place in England where wild camping is not just tolerated but protected as a legal right. After a legal battle that ran from 2021 to 2025, the position is finally settled — and it's better for campers than many people realise.
This guide covers the current legal situation on Dartmoor in 2026: what the Supreme Court actually ruled, why the right applies to tents but not campervans, where you can and cannot park a campervan overnight, and how to camp responsibly within the rules.
The Legal Background
The 1985 Act and the Right to Roam
Section 10(1) of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 grants the public a right of access to the commons "on foot and on horseback for the purpose of open-air recreation." For decades, this was understood to include wild camping on the open moorland.
The 2023 High Court Challenge
In January 2023, landowners Alexander and Diana Darwall — who own the 4,000-acre Blachford Manor estate at Stall Moor — challenged this interpretation. The High Court sided with the landowners, ruling that "open air recreation" did not include camping. For a period, wild camping on the Dartmoor commons was technically trespass unless you had permission.
The Court of Appeal Restoration
In July 2023, the Court of Appeal reversed that decision, ruling that the words of the 1985 Act were clear and that wild camping is a form of open-air recreation. The Darwalls appealed to the Supreme Court.
The 2025 Supreme Court Ruling
On 21 May 2025, the UK Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the landowners' appeal in Darwall v Dartmoor National Park Authority. The court ruled that:
- As a matter of ordinary language, camping is a form of "open-air recreation"
- The right of access is exercised by going onto the commons on foot or on horseback; once there, open-air recreation — including camping — is covered
- The right is subject to compliance with the Dartmoor byelaws
The legal right to wild camp on the Dartmoor commons, in a tent, has been confirmed. This was a landmark victory for public access campaigners and restored the status quo after two years of uncertainty.
The Current Position (2026)
As of 2026, wild camping on Dartmoor's open commons is legal under the 1985 Act, subject to the byelaws. The practical rules for tent campers:
- Camping is allowed on the commons — the right extends across the access land, with certain areas excluded
- Campers must have accessed the land on foot or on horseback
- The Dartmoor byelaws prohibit lighting fires, and camping near roads, buildings and sensitive ecological areas is restricted
- Leave no trace — the moor is working farmland with livestock
Dartmoor National Park Authority publishes the current access map showing exactly which areas are open. Check it before planning a trip.
The Critical Rule for Campervans
Here's the part that matters if you're in a vehicle: the right does not extend to campervans.
The Dartmoor byelaws explicitly state that 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. Certain areas of the commons are scheduled as no-camping zones, and the vehicle provision applies across the access land.
In plain English:
- Tents, arrived at on foot or horseback: legal on the commons under the 1985 Act
- Campervans, motorhomes and cars: prohibited from camping on the open moorland by the byelaws
The Supreme Court ruling restored the tent camping right — it did not open the moor to vehicles. A campervan parked on the commons overnight is in breach of the byelaws, regardless of the ruling.
Where You CAN Park a Campervan on Dartmoor
Campervanning on Dartmoor is still entirely possible — you just need to use the designated parking network rather than the open moor.
Designated Car Parks
Dartmoor has a network of car parks managed by the national park authority and Forestry England. Many allow overnight stays. Known overnight-friendly car parks include:
- Princetown: 3 car parks, all allow overnight parking, no height barriers, toilets at the main visitor centre
- Postbridge: car park allows overnight stays, toilets available, popular walking start point
- Bellever Forest: Forestry England car park, overnight parking permitted, no facilities, limited phone signal
- Soussons: Forestry England car park near Warren House Inn, quiet with dark skies, no facilities
- Burrator Reservoir: multiple car parks around the reservoir, overnight parking allowed in most, toilets at the main dam car park
Most Dartmoor car parks have a 2-night maximum stay. A few have 24-hour limits. Check the signage when you arrive — it's always the authoritative source.
Lay-Bys and Roadside Parking
Dartmoor has long sections of open road with verge parking. This is legal provided you are not:
- On a double yellow line (rare on the open moor but present in villages)
- Causing an obstruction — the roads are narrow, and a large van parked on a corner blocks visibility
- Parking on the grass verge of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
- Within 30 metres of a junction
- On a road with a Traffic Regulation Order prohibiting overnight parking (most main roads across the moor do not have this, but some do)
What Not to Do
- Do not drive onto open moorland. Vehicles are not permitted on common land. Stay on roads and in designated car parks
- Do not park in passing places. These exist for cars to pass on single-track roads; blocking one creates a hazard and a fine risk
- Do not windbreak or awning out. External camping equipment on Dartmoor car parks is not permitted — the byelaw allows sleeping in a vehicle, not setting up a camp
- Do not light fires or BBQs on the moorland. The peat is dry and fires spread fast. In summer the fire risk is extreme
When to Go
- March–May: spring — the best season. The moor is green, the weather is moderate and the midges have not emerged. Days are long enough for evening walks
- June–August: summer — busy but not crowded (Dartmoor is less visited than the Lake District or Cornwall). Midges in the valleys, warm days, cool nights
- September–October: autumn — excellent. Fewer visitors, good walking weather, lower campsite demand
- November–February: winter — cold, wet and dark. The exposed moor in winter is not for beginners. The A30 across the moor is prone to fog and ice
Where to Walk and Explore
Best Walks
- Haytor Rocks — short climb with panoramic views, accessible from the Haytor car park (overnight parking allowed)
- Yes Tor and High Willhays — the two highest points in southern England (621 m each), starting from the A30 car park at Meldon
- Wistman's Wood — ancient dwarf oak woodland and one of Devon's most atmospheric spots; the car park at Two Bridges is 20 minutes' walk
- Hound Tor — dramatic rock outcrop with medieval village ruins nearby and views to the coast on clear days
- Dart Gorge — deep river valley walk from Postbridge to Bala Brook
Villages
- Princetown — the main settlement at the centre of the moor, with pubs, shops, a visitor centre and Dartmoor Prison (tours available)
- Postbridge — famous for the 13th-century clapper bridge, with a pub, shop and the essential Dartmoor National Park visitor centre
- Widecombe-in-the-Moor — picture-postcard village with a large green, pub and the Church of St Pancras
- Chagford — larger market town on the northern edge with good restaurants, a deli and a Co-op
Practical Considerations
Mobile Signal
Dartmoor valleys have very limited phone signal; the high moor has reasonable 4G from the main providers. Download offline maps before arriving.
Water
Natural water sources on Dartmoor are not safe to drink without treatment — cattle and sheep graze the moor. Carry enough water or bring a filter.
Fuel
The nearest filling stations are Princetown (village shop, premium prices), Yelverton (12 miles south, normal prices) and Okehampton (15 miles north, normal prices). Fill up before crossing the moor.
Weather
Dartmoor weather changes in minutes. Check the Met Office Dartmoor-specific forecast before walking, and carry a compass on the high moor where fog is dense and disorienting.
Livestock
The moor is open grazing for cattle, sheep and the famous Dartmoor ponies, which are bold around car parks. Do not feed them, and do not leave food or waste accessible — they will scratch your van.
The Etiquette
Dartmoor's wild camping right survived a four-year legal battle because of sustained public support. The privilege is fragile — one high-profile incident of litter, fire or anti-social behaviour is exactly what triggers the next challenge.
- Leave every campsite or parking spot cleaner than you found it
- Take all waste with you — there are no bin services on the moor
- Use campsite or service points for chemical toilet waste
- Be quiet after 10 pm — sound travels far across open moorland
- Respect farm gates, fences and livestock
- If a landowner or warden asks you to move, move
