Wild camping on Dartmoor is once again allowed, following a successful appeal by the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) and Open Spaces.
In January this year, the High Court removed the right to wild camp on Dartmoor after complaints from landowners, Alexander and Diana Darwall, who argued that campers caused problems to livestock and the environment. The couple keeps cattle on Stall Moor, which forms part of their 3,450-acre estate.
Sparking one of the largest-ever protests over public access to England's countryside, the couple originally won the court case to ban people from camping without consent. The long debate hinged on whether wild camping counted as open-air recreation.
However, the park authority urged judges to overturn the decision. The DNPA argued that camping was an ancient tradition in the UK and should be preserved.
"Our National Parks are largely owned by private individuals, and we respect their rights. However, our National Parks were designated by Parliament for their national importance," said chief executive, Kevin Bishop. "They have twin purposes: to protect and conserve and to provide opportunities for all parts of society to responsibly enjoy them."
The overturned decision will now allow backpackers to camp without consent, giving everyone the chance to enjoy the beautiful countryside.
Lord Justice Underhill, who granted the appeal, told The Independent: "Many people take pleasure in the experience of sleeping in a tent in open country, typically, though not invariably, as part of a wider experience of walking across country, and perhaps engaging in other open-air recreations such as birdwatching, during the day.
"It is a perfectly natural use of language to describe that as a recreation, and also as occurring in the open air notwithstanding that while the camper is actually in the tent the outside air will be to some extent excluded."
The park authority's chair, Pamela Woods, added: "We are delighted with the Court of Appeal's conclusions in this landmark case. We firmly believed the legislation which formed the focus of this case – the Dartmoor Commons Act – allowed for backpack camping on certain areas of common land as a form of open-air recreation without the need to get landowners' permission first."
The camping ban caused national outrage and led to protests around the country, organised by the group Right to Roam. Walkers carried hand-painted signs reading: "Please sir, I want some Moor" and "Defend Dartmoor".
11 best family tents to buy for 2025
Easy Camp Moonlight Spire Tipi
This tent plays the part and looks the part with fun, festival-style bunting. It has room for 4 people and can be pitched up in just 9 minutes.
It also comes with numerous other features to make your camping experience more pleasurable, including a covered roof vent to create good airflow throughout the tent and an A-frame pole system, which means no frustrating centre pole.
Decathlon's highly rated inflatable two-bedroom model would suit a family of four with younger kids (it might be a bit of a squash with teenagers). The sleeping areas with blackout technology frame the living room, which is large enough for a person to stand up (1.95m at the highest point) and provides a decent space to shelter in bad weather. Happy campers say it's "well worth the money" and "kids love it". Reviewers praise it for being quick to put up and take down but warn that it's heavy to carry.
There's room for the whole family and your bags in this six-man tent – which is made up of three large separate sleeping areas, plus a spacious standing height socialising area.
It also comes with numerous breathable features, including a familiar dome style with large ventilation, flysheet doors and a small PVC window placed within the roof – to make summer camping all the more enjoyable.
KLONDIKE
This tent sleeps six people and features vertical door for easy access – especially in bad weather. It also comes with numerous thoughtful features to make your camping experience more comfortable, including mesh to keep insects out, the door located under eaves for rain protection, and multiple hanging lantern points.
This is a bigger version of the Quechua tent, this time with four bedroom compartments. One happy camper says: "Went up very well with simple easy-to-follow instructions, stayed in place during 40mph winds overnight."
Put this together in no time thanks to the tent's colour-coded poles. The tent has plenty of clever design features too, like a roomy front porch for backpacks and muddy boots, as well as a 5000mm hydrostatic head for waterproof protection in moderate to heavy rainfall.
Coleman Meadowood 4 Person Large Tent With Blackout Bedrooms
This large family tent for four has an extended open front porch area offering more living space with protection from the elements during the Great British summer. The front porch can be closed off for extra weather protection, too. The tent offers good head height throughout, as well as several large windows for plenty of light.
The two bedrooms are extra-large and comfortably fit larger airbeds, while the black-out technology blocks daylight and reduces the temperature during the day. You'll also find zipped window shades on the windows, ensuring flexible levels of privacy.
Boutique Camping is known for its bell tents and this innovative inflatable domed-shaped one is part of its range. It pumps up in a few minutes and offers a glamorous night under the stars. We like the large windows (something you don't usually get on a traditional bell tent) and as it's all one space, you can configure beds how you like – to make it extra special, you could add the likes of rugs and a table for a glamping feel. This one also comes in three and four-man sizes.
No prior camping experience is required to put this tent into action. With clear instructions, colour-coded poles and pre-attached guide ropes, two people were able to pitch it in hardly any time at all. The inner pod was really easy to fit, too.
Inside, there wasn't enough height to comfortably stand, but it otherwise felt spacious. Expect ample room for two people in each pod, plus some storage space in the middle. Comfort-wise, it felt light and airy, and our testers liked that the door doubled as a shade. At this price, it's great value.
Vango Tay 300 3 Man Tent
Ideal for first-time campers or festival goers, this three-man tent is a great all-rounder for those who don't want to spend a lot.
It comes with a gothic arch pole, which provides shelter from the weather at the entrance, as well as offering gives great space and stability.
Coleman Octagon Festival Dome Tent
One of Amazon's best-selling dome tents, this allows for everyone to fully stand and it can be configured to suit your needs, including as a luxuriously large glamping tent for two. It also comes with a removable partition curtain so you can separate it into two areas if you wish.
It's easy to pitch thanks to the colour-coded poles. and this one comes into its own in good weather. You can remove the outer shell and expose the six windows. The tent's well ventilated but at night some users reported it being chilly due to the gap between the mostly mesh inner and the outer layers – this is best one to use in the summer months.
Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
