Dartmoor wild camping case reaches the Supreme Court

After losing in the Court of Appeals earlier this year, Dartmoor landowner Alexander Darwall has successfully taken the battle for the right to wild camp to the Supreme Court.

Darwall owns a 4,000 acre estate on Stall Moor, near Ivybridge.

Darwall's legal representatives, Landmark Chambers said the appeal "will determine once and for all this important issue, external, namely whether members of the public enjoy a right to camp on the Dartmoor Commons".

This fresh appeal follows a drawn-out battle between Darwall and the Dartmoor National Park Authority as well as Right to Roam campaigners over whether the legal right to wild camp on common land exists in the park's bylaws.

In January 2022, Darwall successfully convinced the court that the legal right to camp on the moor never actually existed, despite it being commonly believed that the right had been enshrined in Dartmoor’s bylaws since 1985.

The change triggered a public outcry and a protest on Darwall's land of over 4,000 people. It also opened up a wider debate on public access to nature in England.

The DNPA then successfully took the case to the Court of Appeals, arguing that wild camping did indeed constitute open-air recreation, which is allowed in the park under the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985.

Lewis Winks, from the campaign group The Stars are Ours, said: "This is tying up the resources of the national park authority that could be better spent on education and getting more people outdoors and into this amazing environment.

“I just hope that the court sees sense and ensures that wild camping remains a part of enjoying Dartmoor.

“Whatever the outcome it has galvanised huge amounts of support and we want to see the next government be bold and protect access to the countryside.”

Environmental campaigner Guy Shrubsole said: "The fact that a wealthy landowner is repeatedly seeking to extinguish the public’s right to responsibly wild camp on Dartmoor is a perfect demonstration of why we need new access legislation."

Alexander Darwall was unavailable to comment, a spokesperson previously said: "This case highlights the many and increasing challenges we face in trying to protect the fragile environment on Dartmoor.

"Our mission was to conserve this special place. It is regrettable that our role as custodians is greatly diminished."