Dartmoor Wild Camping Rights Challenged in Supreme Court

Landowners Alexander and Diana Darwall seek to overturn a ruling allowing public camping on their estate, citing environmental concerns.

The Supreme Court is hearing an appeal by landowners against a Court of Appeal decision that allows wild camping on Dartmoor Commons.
The Dartmoor National Park Authority supports the public's right to camp, arguing it is a long-standing tradition and a form of open-air recreation.
Landowners Alexander and Diana Darwall claim that camping without restrictions harms the environment and livestock on their 3,450-acre estate.
A previous High Court ruling in favor of the Darwalls was overturned by the Court of Appeal, which interpreted a 1985 law to support public camping rights.
The case raises broader questions about balancing public access to natural spaces with environmental conservation and landowner responsibilities.