Hope that Dartmoor case will lead to more rights for campers

LocalPolitics
21 May 2025 • 5:38 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Wealthy landowners Alexander and Diana Darwall have lost their Supreme Court case attempting to restrict wild camping on Dartmoor.
  • The couple, who keep cattle on a 3,450-acre estate in the southern part of Dartmoor, had claimed some campers cause problems for livestock.
  • The court upheld an earlier Court of Appeal decision, confirming the public's right to wild camp on the national park in Devon without landowner permission.
  • The case revolved around interpreting the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 and specifically the definition of "open-air recreation".
  • Campaigners are hailing the ruling as a significant victory and hope it will lead to expanded access rights for walkers and campers throughout the UK.

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