OpenFell
Access rights

Access rights in England

England gives you a right to roam on mapped open access land — around 8% of the country — and a dense network of public rights of way everywhere else. Knowing which one you are standing on matters.

By Ryan · Access position reviewed August 2026

Right to roam
Conditional Right to roam only on mapped CRoW open access land
Wild camping
Conditional Permission needed — except on the Dartmoor commons
Paths
Definitive map Public rights of way recorded on definitive maps

Right to roam

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 gives a right of access on foot to mapped "open country" (mountain, moor, heath and down) and registered common land — around 8% of England. Elsewhere you must keep to public rights of way or land with permissive access. Open access land is shown with yellow shading on OS Explorer maps and on Natural England's CRoW maps.

Paths and rights of way

Footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways and byways are recorded on definitive maps held by highway authorities. An estimated 49,000+ miles of historic paths are missing from the record (Ramblers, "Don't Lose Your Way"). The deadline for registering historic paths (currently 1 January 2031 on the statute book) is subject to a December 2024 Government commitment to repeal it entirely — the position is unresolved until legislation passes.

Wild camping

Wild camping in England generally requires the landowner's permission; without it you are trespassing (a civil matter, not usually a crime). The one exception is the Dartmoor commons: in Darwall v Dartmoor National Park Authority [2025] UKSC 20 the Supreme Court unanimously confirmed that s.10(1) of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 gives the public a right to backpack camp on the commons. Follow the park authority's camping map and code.

Dartmoor commons: confirmed right to backpack camp

Following Darwall v Dartmoor National Park Authority [2025] UKSC 20 (21 May 2025), s.10(1) of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 confers a public right to pitch tents or otherwise make camp overnight on the Dartmoor commons, as camping is a form of open-air recreation. This applies to the commons (not the whole National Park) — follow the park authority's backpack-camping map and code. Read the Supreme Court case details.

The full nation-by-nation picture, including the Dartmoor litigation and how to ask a landowner for permission, is in our UK wild-camping guide.

Dogs

On CRoW access land, dogs must be on a lead of no more than 2 m between 1 March and 31 July, and at all times near livestock; local restrictions can exclude dogs entirely. On public rights of way, dogs must be under close control.

Seasonal & conditional restrictions

The headline rules above are the general position. Through the year, the following can narrow it — check before you travel.

  • CRoW access land can be closed or restricted up to 28 days a year by landowners, plus longer restrictions for land management or fire risk — check Natural England's CRoW maps before you go.
  • Ground-nesting-bird restrictions (typically March–July) on some moorland.
  • MOD danger areas (e.g. Dartmoor ranges, Otterburn, Warcop): live-firing closes access — check published firing times.

Key legislation & guidance

Last reviewed August 2026. This page is general information about the law, not legal advice — local byelaws, seasonal restrictions and closures can override the general position described here.

Long-distance paths under these rules

281 waymarked long-distance routes in our database run through England. Following a waymarked route does not change the position above — it is still the same need for permission to camp, and the same rules on leaving the path — but a route with an agreed line is the simplest way to walk a long way here without a rights question at every stile.

Longest 10 shown — browse all 281 routes in England.

Compare and check