Fantastic news broke today regarding the legal challenge to overturn the restriction of wild camping on Dartmoor, ensuring that free access to the land and sky is preserved for future generations.

This is a much wider victory than simply being granted legal-backing to camp on the parts of Dartmoor that constitute the Darwall’s estate, this sets a precedent that other landowners on Dartmoor cannot follow-suit and also push to make wild camping illegal on their property.

It’s been very encouraging to see the folk-movement @thestarsareours.uk build up steam and bring a legal challenge for the benefit of all (except the Darwalls of course, I’m sure they are in the futile process of trying to dry their tears with our British waterproof banknotes).

Unfortunately wild camping is an activity that is by definition, wild. It can’t be taxed, monitored or commodified, which gives our government very little incentive to advocate for it. I do not expect that we will see much of a legal shift in England and Wales unless these folk movements put significant pressure on the government.

This is also a reminder that non-compliance is an excellent form of protest, and I encourage you to wild camp where you damn well please (in the wild of course, not directly in someone’s garden!). If asked to leave, do so politely and ensuring you are in a safe position to do so. Leave no trace and enjoy the stars 🌟

Image Credit: Terry Montague