meta_description: "The current legal status of wild camping on Dartmoor. Where campervans can park overnight, the 2023 byelaw changes, and practical advice for Dartmoor's open moorland." author: "Van Life UK Team" read_time: "12 min" "
Dartmoor is the only place in England where wild camping was explicitly legal — not just tolerated, but a legal right. That changed in 2023 when a High Court ruling overturned the right to wild camp on Dartmoor, followed by the Dartmoor National Park Authority passing new bylaws that clarified (and restricted) where camping is allowed.
This guide covers the current legal situation, where you can and cannot park a campervan overnight on Dartmoor, and how to camp responsibly within the rules.
The Legal Background
The 2023 High Court Ruling
Until January 2023, Section 10(1) of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 was understood to grant a right to wild camp on Dartmoor's common land. In January 2023, a landowner challenged this interpretation at the High Court. The court ruled that wild camping was not covered by the 1985 Act — that "open air recreation" did not include camping.
This meant wild camping on Dartmoor's common land was technically trespass unless you had the landowner's permission.
The 2024 Byelaws
Following public consultation, Dartmoor National Park Authority introduced new byelaws in early 2024 that restored camping rights in specific areas. The new rules:
- Allow camping on 70% of Dartmoor's common land (down from 100% before the ruling)
- Restrict camping to designated zones
- Limit camping to 2 nights at any single location
- Require campers to be at least 100m from roads, buildings, and water sources
- Prohibit camping in sensitive ecological areas (some mires, archaeological sites, and rare habitat zones)
The Current Position
As of 2026, wild camping on Dartmoor is legal in designated areas under the 2024 byelaws. The restriction applies mainly to the northern part of the moor where landowners opted out of the camping scheme. The southern and central moor remain accessible.
Dartmoor National Park Authority publishes a current access map on their website showing exactly which areas are open for camping. Check this before planning your trip.
Campervan Parking on Dartmoor
The wild camping byelaws apply primarily to tents. For campervans, the rules are slightly different because you are parking on a road or designated parking area rather than camping on open land.
Designated Car Parks
Dartmoor has a network of car parks managed by the national park authority and Forestry England. Many allow overnight stays. The official list:
- 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 starting point for walks.
- Bellever Forest: Forestry England car park. Overnight parking permitted. No facilities. Phone signal is limited.
- Soussons: Forestry England car park near Warren House Inn. Quiet, 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.
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 — a Transit or Sprinter parked on a corner blocks visibility)
- Parking on the grass verge of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) — some verges are protected
- 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. You must stay on roads and in designated car parks.
- Do not park in passing places. These are specifically for cars to pass each other 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 overnight 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. Most car parks empty. 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 (621m each). Start from the A30 car park at Meldon.
- Wistman's Wood — ancient dwarf oak woodland, one of Devon's most atmospheric spots. The car park at Two Bridges is 20 minutes' walk.
- Hound Tor — dramatic rock outcrop, medieval village ruins nearby, views across to the coast on clear days.
- Dart Gorge — deep river valley walk from Postbridge to Bala Brook. Start at the Postbridge car park.
Villages
- Princetown — the main settlement at the centre of the moor. Pubs, shops, visitor centre, Dartmoor Prison (tour available).
- Postbridge — famous for the 13th-century clapper bridge. Pub, shop, and the essential Dartmoor National Park visitor centre.
- Widecombe-in-the-Moor — picture-postcard Dartmoor village with a large green, pub, and the Church of St Pancras.
- Chagford — larger market town on the northern edge. Good restaurant and pub options, 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 (EE and Three are best). Download offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me) before arriving.
Water
Natural water sources on Dartmoor are not safe to drink without treatment. Cattle and sheep graze the moor and their waste contaminates the streams. Carry enough water for your stay or bring a filter (LifeStraw, Sawyer Mini).
Fuel
The nearest filling stations: Princetown (village shop, premium fuel prices), Yelverton (12 miles south, normal prices), Okehampton (15 miles north, normal prices). Fill up before crossing the moor.
Weather
Dartmoor weather changes in minutes. A clear sunny morning turns into a horizontal drizzle by lunchtime. The Met Office Dartmoor-specific forecast is reliable. Check it before walking.
Fog on the high moor is dense and disorienting. Carry a compass and know how to use it. Phone GPS works if you have battery and signal, but the combination of fog + weak signal + cold drains both.
Livestock
Dartmoor is open grazing for cattle, sheep, and ponies. The ponies are particularly bold around car parks. Do not feed them. Do not leave food or waste accessible. They will scratch your van and could damage the bodywork.
The Etiquette
Dartmoor's wild camping rules were challenged and restored in 2023–2024 because of public pressure. The privilege is fragile. One more high-profile incident of litter, fire, or antisocial behaviour will trigger another legal challenge.
- Leave every campsite or parking spot cleaner than you found it
- Take all waste with you — there are no bin collection services on the moor
- Use campsite or public service points for chemical toilet waste (see our separate guide)
- Be quiet after 10pm. Sound travels far across open moorland
- Respect farm gates, fences, and livestock
- If a landowner asks you to move, move. You do not have universal access rights
Related Reading
- Dartmoor Wild Camping: Rights to Roam and Where to Park
- Wild Camping UK: Complete Guide 2026
- Where to Park a Campervan in the UK: Legal & Safe Spots
- New Forest Wild Camping Rules for Campervans
