DARTMOOR WILD CAMPING GUIDE
If like me you love the outdoors and wild camping, then Dartmoor is a fantastic place to wild camp in the UK. Dartmoor is one of my favourite places in the UK for a variety of reasons. Not only is it beautiful, but its vast landscape and tors make it a great place to get away from it all, sometimes without seeing a soul. Dartmoor is also a fantastic location to practice your survival and navigational skills. The real driver for me though, is that its legal to wild camp (backpack camp) here.
For me, there is nothing better than getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and connecting with nature. The feeling of sleeping under the stars and watching the sunset and sunrise cannot be beaten. There is also something extremely satisfying about cooking out in the field and stripping everything back to basics.
So if you’re looking at getting away from it all and having a wild camping adventure on Dartmoor, here is a quick guide for you:
Where to camp on Dartmoor?
Wild camping on Dartmoor is both legal and free, but there are rules which are there for good reason, not only for your protection but the environments. There are plenty of places on Dartmoor where you are prohibited to wild camp on Dartmoor. Above is a map that shows locations where you can wild camp. These locations are marked as purple patches on the map. It is important that you DO NOT camp where you see a patch of red. This red patch marks an area of conservation recovery. As wild campers and outdoor enthusiasts, it is important we always respect and look after the environment around us.
Here is a link to the Dartmoor.gov website where you can study their wild camping map: https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/about-us/about-us-maps/new-camping-map
With that in mind, there are a few other rules that you must follow with backpack (wild) camping:
You can backpack / wild camp on some parts of Dartmoor. This is by carrying your own equipment as part of your walk and staying one or two nights max. You can only do this in certain areas (see map above)
No overnight stays in vehicles, campervans or motorhomes
No large tents or large groups camping
Backpack Camping Code
Following the Backpack Camping Code will help to protect Dartmoor’s fragile moorland environment. Check the Camping Map to find out where you can pitch your small tent.
Avoid the following areas:
Enclosed moorland
Farmland
Roadside (or within 100m of a road)
Within sight of roads or houses
Reservoir catchment areas
Archaeological sites
Do not light fires
Use a camping stove placed on a stable rock
Be aware of fire risk
Heed fire risk warnings in place
Leave the area as you would like to find it
Take all litter home
Deal with other waste sensibly and with care
Respect the interests of those who own the land or make a living from it
Military training on Dartmoor
Dartmoor has been used for military training since the early 1800s. I’ve even trained there myself whilst serving in the military. The Dartmoor Training Area comprises of three training ranges on the north moor (Okehampton, Merrivale and Willsworthy and dry training areas on the south moor (Cramber Tor, Ringmoor and Sheeps Tor). Some areas train with live ammunition, so YOU MUST check firing / training times before you plan your trip.
You can check Dartmoor firing times here >> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme
Just so you are aware, military ranges are marked on OS maps as a series of red triangles. The triangle always points into the range.
You can enter these areas whilst there is no firing, but please make sure that you check. Other indicators that training is taking place is raised red flags and right lights (during the night).
Check the weather before you leave!
Dartmoor is an unforgiving place. It is vast and exposed. Before you leave for your wild camping adventure, check the weather. Check that there aren’t any weather warnings and that you have suitable equipment and clothing for the conditions that you will be camping in. On Dartmoor, is common to experience the 4 seasons in one day. You can check the weather by simply using the Met office app on your phone or the BBC weather app.
What clothing will I need to take?
There is a saying that I often use that goes: “there isn’t such thing as bad weather, but there is bad clothing”. Dartmoor can be an unforgiving place, not only in wet and wintery conditions but during the summer too. Make you dress appropriately for the weather conditions that you are likely to face, especially when wild camping on Dartmoor.
Being wet and cold won’t make for a great experience, so I would recommend investing in a good set of waterproofs. Keeping dry is vital. Also, make sure you get yourself a good set of hiking boots that fit your feet correctly.
I always pack a spare set of clothes with me, just in case.
On the flip side, if it is hot and sunny make sure you protect your head with a hat and have plenty of sun cream and water.
Safety Gear
Safety is of paramount importance when it comes to wild camping & backpack camping. If you are unsure of anything, then do not do it. As discussed, Dartmoor can be an unforgiving place so please do not take any unnecessary risks. Here is a list of items I would not leave home without.
OS Map and compass
Whistle
Phone
Head torch
Spare batteries
Phone & portable charger
First Aid kit
I would not leave home without these items. The cloud and weather come on quickly on Dartmoor. One minute you can see hundreds of miles, the next you cannot see more than 5 feet in front of you. Do not rely on your phone for navigation. The signal on Dartmoor is patchy as best, so always take a map and compass and learn how to use it, even if it's just the basics.
Make sure your phone is charged and switch it off if you aren’t using it to conserve battery. I pack a lightweight USB charger with me, just as a precaution.
As simple as it seems, a whistle could save your life. If the worse were to happen, and you there was not any signal or your battery as died, or you can’t reach it. Use your whistle to signal for help.
The International distress signal is 6 blasts repeated with an interval of one minute between each series of 6 blasts. If your whistles are heard, you should hear three whistles in reply. Keep repeating the whistle blasts so that your location can be determined.
Follow the same process for torchlight, flashing the light instead of whistling. However, If a Search & Rescue helicopter is nearby, shine the torch on the ground, not at the helicopter, as the bright light will affect the pilot's Night Vision equipment.
A Tent, Tarp or Bivvy
A major item for Wild Camping (backpack camping) is the tent! Your tent will keep you warm and night and protect you from the elements and creatures outside. If you are feeling a little more adventurous, then you may choose to use a bivvy bag or a tarp. These are a lot lighter than a tent, and you will certainly feel more at one with the land.
My advice is, that when looking for a tent, make sure that it's suitable. A pop-up tent from Argos might be ok for a night at a festival, but it certainly won’t be okay for a windy and rainy night on top of a tor and it could be incredibly dangerous.
Make sure you do your research. The two tents I use are:
Sleeping Equipment
Now you have your tent sorted, you will now need a sleeping bag and sleeping mat for your Wild Camping (Backpack camping).
Whatever time of year, whatever season, Dartmoor can get cold. As with all of your gear, you need to make sure that you get the right sleeping bag for the temperature you will be sleeping in. Nobody wants to be cold, it's not very nice and again it's potentially dangerous.
Each bag will come with a comfort rating but don’t take this as golden. I tend to take the minimum comfort rating and add about degrees. This seems to work for me. So for example, if the bags comfort rating is 2 degrees. I will take it as comfortable at 7 degrees. For me, I would rather be warm than cold, and its easier to get cooler than warmer.
Not many people know that sleeping bags are used to keeping the warmth in, not for making you warm. If you get inside a cold bag, you will remain cold. My top tip is to have a keep jog on the stop to get your core temperature up, and then get into your bag. The heat that your body will naturally make will then stay within your bag. Perfect for a cold night wild camping.
The 2 sleeping bags I use are:
Summer / Autumn - Snugpak 3 Solstice
Winter / Snow – Mountain Hardware Lamina -26
Sleep mats
A camping mat isn’t important, right? Wrong. A lot of cold comes from the ground, so it is important that you have the right mat. Camping mats should come with an R-value. But what does an R-value mean?
Technically, R-value is a measure of thermal resistance; the higher the R-value, the more thermally resistant the material or structure is.
So as you can see, an R1 rated sleeping mat will not be warm enough for a winter camp. So choose your mat carefully, as you don’t want to be caught out and cold during your Dartmoor wild camp.
The 2 sleeping mats I use are:
Autumn / summer / spring = Antur mat 2.0
4 seasons = Therm-a-rest NeoAir® XTherm™
Cooking Equipment
We have now reached my favourite part! Cooking. Cooking is always a highlight for me on wild camping trips. I love getting to my destination, setting up camp and watching the sunset whilst eating some well-deserved “scran”.
Dartmoor is strictly a NO FIRE area, so no open fires or and certainly no disposable barbeques. The long grass and peat of Dartmoor are highly flammable. I think that is enough said.
However, you are allowed cooking stoves, so here are a few I would recommend.
Food & Water
Keeping yourself full of energy and hydrated is important on any wild camping trip. So, make sure you are carrying enough food and water. Water is heavy, so make sure that you do not carry an excessive about, but also make sure that you have enough. I carry a Sawyer mini water filter, which basically filters water you pass through it. It is important to purify any water that you collect before drinking it. Water from a stream or river may seem very tempting on a hot day, but be careful. If there is a dead animal upstream, then you could be drinking all the parasites and nastiness that comes with it and could make you extremely ill. Carrying a Sawyer Mini filter is a lightweight and quick option, but you need to make sure you are passing a water source on your journey.
Now, food. You need to make sure that you are eating enough food to keep your energy up and to keep you warm. There are loads of options out there, but I like to carry food pouches. These are pouches that you either place into boiling water to heat up, or where you put boiling water into them to warm up and rehydrate the contents.
I tend to use 2 brands. Wayfayrer and Firepot. They both have pros and cons. Wayfayrer has a huge variety of flavours to choose from, from all-day breakfast to curry. They are incredibly tasty, but they tend to be a bit weighty! This is fine if you aren’t looking at packing super light though. Firepot is a healthy dehydrated food pouch which requires you to add boiling water. Super lightweight and tasty, again these come highly recommended (especially the chilli con carne flavour).
If you need to go to the toilet?
Well, if you need to go, you need to go…… right? If you are going to be wild camping for more than 2 days, then at some point nature is probably going to come calling. If you do need to go, then there are a couple of rules.
The first rule is to try and be as discreet as possible. Secondly, make sure you’re at least 50 meters away and downhill from any water sources. If it’s a number 2, then take a folding trowel, dig a hole at least 6 inches deep and go there. Do not bury nappies or sanitary items. No excuses.
Cover the hole back up.
Finally, have fun, but leave no trace!
Ok, so you’ve checked the weather, pinpointed a location where you are allowed to camp and you’re wearing suitable clothing, packed a sleeping bag, mat, food and water. You’ve checked that there isn’t any firing at the spot you’ve chosen, and you’ve got all your safety gear. You have had a successful night’s sleep under the stars……. but……… there is one more thing you need to worry about. LEAVE NO TRACE.
Please keep to these rules and leave respect the environment:
Plan and prepare
Travel and camp on durable surfaces
Leave what you find
Respect wildlife
Be considerate to others
LEAVE NO TRACE
After you have packed up, your campsite should look exactly how it did when you arrived. There are no excuses for it not to be.
Dartmoor Wild Camping Workshops
If you are interested in learning more about wild camping (backpack camping) then I run a Dartmoor wild camping & Dartmoor Wild camping for photographer workshop.
These are available all year round and are available to purchase from the shop section of the website.
I hope you have enjoyed this short guide to Dartmoor wild camping (backpack camping).
HAPPY ADVENTURING
Tim Monaghan