Campaigners call for new Right to Roam law after Dartmoor wild camping victory

More than 600 people gathered on Dartmoor today (May 26) to call for a new Right to Roam Act, following a landmark Supreme Court ruling that restored the right to wild camp on the moor without landowner permission.

The rally took place at Haytor, one of Dartmoor’s most recognisable tors, and was organised by access groups The Stars Are For Everyone and the Right to Roam campaign.

Families with children, seasoned hikers and wild campers were joined by folk musicians, a Morris dancing troupe, and the costumed figure of Old Crockern – a mythical guardian spirit of Dartmoor.

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously last week in favour of public access, overturning a previous High Court decision that had backed landowners Alexander and Diana Darwall. The couple had argued that wild camping was not permitted under current rights and had challenged the Dartmoor National Park Authority in court.

Campaigners say the verdict is a significant win, but they argue it also highlights how limited the right to access nature remains in the rest of England and Wales.

Currently, just 8 per cent of land in England has a legal right to roam.

In contrast, Scotland has far greater public access since the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, which allows responsible access to most land and inland water, including for wild camping.

Lewis Winks of The Stars Are For Everyone told the crowd: “The Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the right to wild camp on Dartmoor is a powerful and heartening moment. But it’s also a wake-up call.

“While our existing rights have been defended, this case has exposed just how limited our access to nature truly is. The fact that one landowner came so close to extinguishing a centuries-old tradition, enjoyed by millions, shows just how fragile our current access rights truly are. And why should Dartmoor be the only place in England and Wales where it’s legal to wild camp?

“After this week’s victory we’re calling on the Government to enshrine greater access rights for everyone in law, to ensure they can never be eroded again.”

Guy Shrubsole, a co-founder of the Right to Roam campaign, echoed the call for reform: “It’s time for change. We need a new Right to Roam Act to defend and extend our right to responsibly roam, swim, and wild camp across England – not just on Dartmoor, but through forests, along rivers, over hills, and in wild spaces nationwide. We draw inspiration from the freedoms enjoyed for decades in Scotland and Scandinavia. And we’re committed to making that vision a reality here.”

The campaign has also gained political backing. Labour MP Phil Brickell, who represents Bolton West and was among those outside the Supreme Court following the ruling, voiced his support: “With Dartmoor the only place in England where there is a legal right to wild camp, we know there’s much more work to do.

“Let us speak with one voice – loud and clear: no to access islands; no to wild camping bans in the other national parks; no to an inequality of access which maps access on the basis of land types.

“And yes to a new law which will settle this issue once and for all – and provide a responsible right of access to land and to water. So that each and every one of us can enjoy the rights and responsibilities our Scottish neighbours have had for more than 20 years now.”

The rally marked a moment of celebration for campaigners, but also a renewed call for legislative change to extend access to nature more broadly across England and Wales.