Having been banned and then legalised in two separate hearings in 2023, the third and final court date has been set to determine Dartmoor wild camping’s legal status.
Alexander Darwall is taking Dartmoor National Park Authority to the Supreme Court on October 8th with a view to once again banning wild camping on Dartmoor. This time whatever decision is come to will be for good.
Alexander Darwall is the owner of the 1600+ hectare Blachford estate on Dartmoor, and is keen to make wild camping on Dartmoor illegal without landowner consent for good this time. If the Supreme Court rules in his favour, it means that there will be no place in England where wild camping is legal.
With only 8% of land open to public access in England, a process started by everyone’s favourite lunatic monarch Henry VIII, Alexander Darwall is carrying on this legacy. In a fitting parallel, Darwall also owns the Sutherland Estate, made famous by the still controversial manner in which the Highland Clearances were undertaken on the land he now owns.
The real upshot here is that if the courts rule in favour of the National Park, then there will be little the Darwalls can do about reversing this decision. Essentially the buck stops with the Supreme Court.
So, what can you do to help make sure we retain the right to wild camp on Dartmoor?
- Donate to help Dartmoor National Park Authority’s legal fees fund
- Join the Hound Tor rally – 6th Oct Dartmoor at Hound Tor 3pm
- Join the Supreme Court rally 8th Oct London at the Supreme Court 11am
