access support
We have a proud history of championing access rights across Dartmoor.
From our inception, we have worked to improve access to Dartmoor. One of our first campaigns at the end of the 19th Century was to ensure military firing at the new Okehampton range ceased on a Sunday, so that walkers could safely access the moor.
We were a key voice on the 1985 Dartmoor Commons Act, demanding that fair public access was considered an important part of any agreement.
Recently, we have reaffirmed our commitment to enabling young people to access and care for the moor through our funding and support for the Dartmoor Youth Rangers, Girls Do Dartmoor, Nights Under The Stars project and Moor Boots. These initiatives are all aimed at opening the Moor to new young people, who we hope will become the future custodians of Dartmoor.
As a conservation charity, we believe that nature connectedness and respect comes from education and exposure to the natural world, not removal from it.
GIRLS DO DARTMOOR
As of 2023, we have been partially funding a Community Engagement Ranger, in collaboration with the DNPA. As part of the role, Kats Koster-Shadbolt has created an outstanding program of activities and opportunities for young people and the broader community.
'Girls Do Dartmoor' is an opportunity for young women to access Dartmoor in an all female-identifying group. Kats works with these young women to build their communication skills and confidence, breaking down any perceived barriers to spending time outdoors.
A key part of this education is sharing useful resources on how to manage your period in the wild.
DARTMOOR YOUTH RANGERS
Dartmoor National Park established the Youth Ranger Program in 2015 and we have been pleased to support it since 2023. This scheme offers young people a chance to develop a deeper understanding and passion for Dartmoor, as well as developing practical and personal skills.
Ranger Kats facilitates a broad range of opportunities, including flood management, conservation activities and archeological preservation. This is aimed at teaching vital communication and teamwork skills, as well as preparing the next generation to become ambassadors for Dartmoor’s very special qualities.
NIGHTS UNDER THE STARS
Facilitated by Community Engagement Ranger, Kats Koster-Shadbolt, 'Nights Under the Stars' is an opportunity for young people aged 12 to 17 to spend their first night camping out on Dartmoor.
As part of the broader Dartmoor Youth Rangers summer holiday program, it is open to anyone within the qualifying age bracket. The aim of the program is to offer young people opportunities to discover Dartmoor, gain new skills, meet amazing people, and enjoy being in the great outdoors.
'Nights Under the Stars' runs over 2 days and 1 night and includes opportunities to take part in farm work and a night walk, as well as camping.
MOOR BOOTS
The purpose of the scheme is to directly address the financial challenge of access to suitable footwear and camping equipment for young people living in and around Dartmoor's rural communities. Through doing this, the DPA aim to increase youth engagement on Dartmoor and improve young peoples’ confidence in accessing nature.
Young people who have had the opportunity to build a relationship with Dartmoor, through taking part in activities such as Ten Tors and the Duke of Edinburgh’s award, are equipped with a more intimate knowledge of the moor as a precious and beautiful landscape. This prepares them to step up and become the future stewards of the moor, ensuring that the generations that follow them can benefit from the same inspiration and health benefits. Applications will reopen in autumn.
Read our 2026 Impact Report HERE.
3PS: WEEING AND MORE IN THE WILD
This initiative sits within our wider agenda of improving access to Dartmoor for all, and supports our stance on defending the freedom to backpack camp responsibly. Being equipped with the knowledge to handle our normal bodily needs out in nature empowers us to fully engage with wild spaces and build resilient relationships with them. The time we spend recharging and exercising on Dartmoor should be viewed in a spirit of reciprocity and, rather than always asking what we are getting out of it, we should begin regularly asking ourselves what we can give back. Leaving no trace when toileting on the moor is an excellent start.
Read our simple '3Ps' guidance on how to pee, poo and have your period in the wild HERE.
WILD WORDS
Wild Words is a project about writing inspired by Dartmoor. It began as a callout to local writers, essayists, diarists, poets and lyricists and has now become a wonderfully eclectic magazine containing pieces written on, featuring, or prompted by the moor. Our vision is that, through reading and sharing these stories, people will discover, or strengthen, their connection to Dartmoor.
We believe that a strong connection to the landscape inspires activism, accountability, stewardship and a sense of responsibility. It's also important to celebrate the diverse ways in which people access the moor, beyond walking, camping and other active pursuits.
We plan to publish a Wild Words magazine biannually and run an enriching residential for creative changemakers during the opposite years. Read the latest magazine for free HERE.
BACKPACK CAMPING
We are delighted that, on the 21st of May 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the legal right to wild camp on Dartmoor.
For over a century there has existed a historic custom of wild camping on Dartmoor - cemented as a legal right in 1985. We are extremely grateful for the campaigning efforts of Right to Roam and The Stars are for Everyone and for the resilience of the DNPA in fighting this battle. Alongside this, we extend our thanks to the Open Spaces Society who have assisted in mounting the legal defence of our right to sleep under Dartmoor's stars.
Now that our right to backpack camp is secure, we must ensure we are responsible custodians of Dartmoor and #LeaveNoTrace.
Catchup with the whole the backpack camping campaign HERE.
