Updated: Updated links and fixed broken link for Tregantle firing times.
Overview
Over two thirds of the 240,000 hectares of land owned by the MOD is held solely for the purpose of training the Armed Forces. This land is known as the Defence Training Estate (DTE).
The DTE comprises 16 major Armed Forces training areas, and 104 other minor training areas, ranges and camps.
There are 6 regional training areas covering the whole of the UK:
DTE East (including Northern Ireland)
DTE North (including Otterburn)
DTE Scotland
DTE South East (including Home Counties)
DTE South West (including Salisbury Plain)
DTE Wales & West
There are also training areas of varying size and complexity used by the MOD overseas, including:
Belize - 5 training areas
Brunei - 2 jungle training areas
Kenya - 13 training areas
Canada - 1 training area (three times the size of Salisbury Plain Training Area)
Military use
The DTE is managed to ensure that it delivers military training facilities which prepare the amed forces for operations worldwide.
There is an average daily throughput of 9,000 service personnel on the DTE.
Private and commercial use
Not all parts of the DTE are required for training purposes every day of the week.
As long as proposed activities do not interfere with any of the armed forces’ vital training activities, this spare capacity can be hired out for private or commercial use. The income generated helps to reduce the financial burden on the taxpayer.
The DTE has been used for many purposes, from filming to falconry, motor sports to model aircraft flying and corporate training events to concerts.
DIO Operations Training
Building 97A
Land Warfare Centre
Warminster
Wiltshire
BA12 0DJ
Tel: 01985 222050
DTE public information leaflets
DTE North East
DTE North West
DTE Salisbury Plain
DTE East
DTE Home Counties
DTE Otterburn
DTE Pembrokeshire
DTE Scotland
DTE South East
DTE South West
DTE Wales
DTE Epynt Way
DTE West Midlands
DTE Firing Notices
Latest DTE Firing Notices.
DTE East
Barton Road
This site is a small rifle range in the undulating countryside of Cambridgeshire.
Access opportunities
A small network of public rights of way, including the locally promoted Whitwell Way, (which is open at all times) connect the local villages across fields.
The training area is used for live firing. Red flags are flown during the day and red lamps are lit at night during firing periods at which time access is prohibited to the range danger area.
Contact information
Telephone: 01206 736149
Beckingham training area
An area of grassland lying in the floodplain of the River Witham where the waterlogged fields in winter and sympathetic management has resulted in a rich variety of wild plants. In addition to enjoying the plants you will also find a wide range of insects and some interesting birds. The site is adjacent to Stapleford Wood.
Access opportunities
There is a network of public rights of way mainly in the western area of the site.
The training area is used for live firing. There is no access at any time to the live firing danger area.
Contact information
Live firing notices are issued to local parishes and the police.
Telephone: 01636 626367
Fingringhoe Ranges
This is a remote area, south of Colchester, with much of the site below sea level, consisting of reclaimed wetland and marsh. The site extends out into the Colne Estuary, renowned as one of Essex’s prettiest estuaries, with attractive waterside communities and contrasting landscapes of woodland, fields and marshes.
The marshland area of Fingringhoe Ranges is part of the Colne Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is also designated a Ramsar site and a Special Protection Area (SPA). There is a nature reserve to the north east of the site.
Access opportunities
A public right of way follows the northern and western boundaries of the site.
The training area is used for live firing. There is no access to the range danger area.
Contact information
Telephone: 01206 736149
Middlewick ranges and Friday Woods training area
Colchester is a large garrison town. Middlewick Ranges and Friday Woods Training Area are to the south of the town and include both live firing ranges and areas used for dry training, not involving live firing.
The areas are a mixture of woodland, arable cropping and grassland, incorporating Donyland Woods. Some of the land is designated as part of the Roman River Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Access opportunities
Public rights of way, including footpaths and bridleways, run through parts of the ranges and training area.
The range area is used for live firing. Red flags are flown during day and red lamps are lit at night during live firing periods during which time access is prohibited to the live firing range danger area.
The Friday Woods dry training area is a very popular area for local dog walkers.
Friday Woods, Essex, woodland walk guide
PDF, 117KB, 2 pages
Contact information
Telephone: 01206 736149
Watton Brook
Stanford training area consists of almost 11,000 hectares of heath, woodland and farmland used for a wide range of army training activities, including live firing.
Access opportunities
Watton Brook, Norfolk, woodland walk guide
PDF, 120KB, 2 pages
Access is not allowed when the red flags situated at each end of the walk are flying. It is therefore advisable to check the access times with the range control prior to a visit to the area.
Contact information
Telephone: 01842 855235 (8am to 4pm Monday - Friday, excluding public holidays)
DTE North
Cattering Training Area
Catterick Training Area is located on the eastern edge of the Yorkshire Dales, south of the market town of Richmond.
Site description
The area’s military history dates from as far back as 1798. Later, General Lord Baden-Powell, based in Richmond from 1908 to 1910, was tasked by the War Office to establish a military training area in the north of England and he chose Catterick. Its status as a permanent training centre was secured in 1921 and a period of intensive building followed. The land comprising the current training area was acquired between 1921 and 1985.
In conjunction with military training, Catterick training area is predominantly used for extensive livestock grazing, while the better in-bye land is farmed more intensively for hay, silage and arable crops. The ranges also have numerous archaeological remains, including 36 Scheduled Ancient Monuments.
The training area is the home of abundant wild life including some rare species of plants and animals. There are two areas designated as SSSI.
Access opportunities
There are a number of public rights of way across Catterick training area, including a part of the coast to coast long distance route.
Catterick, North Yorkshire, woodland walk guide
PDF, 119KB, 2 pages
Most of the walk is within the Yorkshire Dales National Park and is on the edge of a live firing range. Access is permitted at all times, including when the red flags are flying as the route stays outside the danger area. Walkers must not leave the route of the public right of way and must follow the safety instructions on site.
Contact information
Telephone: 01748 875502/875507
Outside normal hours, contact the guardhouse:
Telephone: 01748 875542
Holcombe Moor Training Area
Holcombe Moor covers approximately 300 hectares of open moorland and woodland near Ramsbottom in Lancashire.
There is an extensive network of footpaths and bridleways across the training area.
The public has access across Holcombe Moor for the majority of the time, with restrictions only in place during periods of live firing. National Trust land surrounding the training area is an urban common to which there is a right of access on foot and on horseback.
Firing times
Firing times at Holcombe Moor
Contact information
Telephone: 01204 882991
Otterburn Training Area
Otterburn Training Area is the second largest live firing range in the country and has been used for military training since 1911.
Otterburn training area consists of over 60,000 acres of land and has the largest impact area in the UK. Approximately 29,000 acres (11,750 hectares) is set aside for ‘dry’ (ie. non-live firing) training. Some 30,000 soldiers use the area each year and may spend several weeks training here. Hutted camps can accommodate a maximum of 1,600 visiting troops, at any one time.
The wide variety of terrain provides a realistic environment for British and NATO soldiers to train with the latest infantry weapons, artillery and helicopters.
There are two main live firing range areas at Otterburn for artillery, demolitions, all infantry weapons and restricted armoured vehicle firing. Fighter aircraft and helicopters also practice ground attack firing, and there are parachute dropping zones.
A wide selection of live firing ranges provide facilities for weapons from 5.56mm calibre small arms to 155mm artillery and 30mm guns on armoured reconnaissance vehicles. The soft nature of the ground precludes the use of heavy armoured vehicles such as main battle tanks.
It also preserves one of England’s remotest upland areas and is rich in history, folklore, landscape and wildlife.
Otterburn training area has many varied points of interest relating to its historic social land use such as Whiskey Stills and Bastle Houses. The Roman Fortlet at Chew Green and associated marching camps along Dere Street provide visitors with great opportunities to experience the social struggles that were once so common in this part of Northumberland. World War 1 training trenches can also still be seen.
Farming
This part of Northumberland is one of the most important sheep farming areas in the country. There are 31 farms on the ranges all of which raise sheep.
The cold climate and moorland soils and vegetation limit agriculture to grazing for hardy breeds though some forage is grown on improved land. Many of the farms also raise cattle for beef.
Sheep flocks are ‘hefted’ to their ground, meaning they don’t wander from their own area so the land is unfenced. Please keep your dog on a leash when near any livestock.
The flocks are mainly Scottish blackface or Cheviot sheep. The Blackface has a black or a black and white face. The Cheviot has a white wool free face and long muzzle.
The average size of a farm is 680 hectares. These can support large flocks of hundreds of sheep.
All live firing stops between mid April to mid May for the ‘lambing break’ and the MOD keeps the farmers informed of training activities so that the shepherds can move the flocks to safety.
Further information on farming within this area can be found on the Northumberland National Park’s website.
Forestry
The woodlands on the ranges are managed for timber, but they also provide shelter for troops, and a tactical environment for them to train in and around. For military training purposes they need to be wind-firm, fire resistant and have continuous all year tree cover.
Woodlands also add to the landscape and nature conservation value of the area.
Ancient semi-natural woodlands are those that have had continuous tree cover since 1600. These make up 185 hectares within the ranges.
Three ancient semi-natural woodlands are SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) - Ramsey’s Burn Wood, Grasslees Wood and Holystone Burn Woods.
Other ancient semi-natural woods can be seen at Barrow Scar and Barrow Burn Woods, Usway Burn and Durtrees Burn Wood.
Since 1970, 120 new mixed woodlandsm, over 170 acres, have been planted to provide military cover and farm shelter. The coniferous woods across the ranges are also important for military cover so a 20 year felling and restocking programme is being carried out.
Access and recreation
There are no restrictions to public access on MOD land north of the River Coquet. The remainder of the training area is operated under military byelaws, and access is restricted when the area is used for live firing. However when it is not being used for live firing there are opportunities for cycling, riding, walking and climbing or just a drive in the car along the military roads.
Otterburn maps
There are 2 zones here:
the Open Access Area (marked cream on the map) is open all round.
the Controlled Access (marked mauve on the map) is used for live firing. When it is being used for training red flags are flown/red lamps are lit to show that it is closed to visitors.
When no red flags are flying, visitors must keep to the roads or way-marked paths.
Information packs relating to public access are available from National Park Visitor Information Points or can be requested from Otterburn Training Area.
When planning a visit to the Otterburn Ranges please check the calendar of firing times published by the Northumberland National Park Authority.
Otterburn, Northumberland, walk guide
PDF, 176KB, 3 pages
Otterburn road routes
Bridleways around Otterburn
Otterburn walks
Archaeology
Otterburn Ranges has one of the greatest concentrations of archaeological and historic remains in the north of England.
The archaeological and historic remains date from the Prehistoric, Roman, Medieval and later periods and include burial cairns, Roman roads and marching camps, bastles, farmsteads, lime-kilns and military remains.
The Roman Road of Dere Street, with the marching camps that lie alongside it, crosses the Ranges. The camps at Chew Green and Birdhope are the easiest Roman remains to visit.
You can walk along Dere Street and into Scotland from the camps at Chew Green. A Roman signal station stood at Brownhart Law and if the weather is clear you can see the three hills above Melrose which gave the Roman legionary fort of Trimontium there its name.
The Bronze Age cairns on the summit of Thirl Moor are a visible landmark though cannot be visited as they are in the danger area, but the 17th century bastles to the east of the ranges can be viewed when there is no firing.
It is important for reasons of safety, as well as to respect the historic environment, that metal detectors are not used on the ranges.
Further information on the archaeology of the area can be found on the Northumberland National Park’s website.
Conservation and environment at Otterburn
Otterburn Ranges are set in some of the most unspoilt areas in the Northumberland National Park and lie between the valley of the River Rede and the Border Ridge. The landscape falls into the following areas:
The Cheviots
Coquet Valley
Cottonshope Valley
Moorland Plateau
Redesdale
Grasslees Valley
Sandstone Hills
Otterburn training area also hosts many rare and protected habitats.
The ranges contain most of the few species-rich upland hay meadows left in the National Park. These are an internationally rare habitat as 95% of these meadows have been lost across Europe over the past 50 years.
There are 260 hectares of blanket bogs which is an internationally rare habitat. They provide a habitat for the large heath butterfly which is mainly found within the UK in Scotland.
The most northerly upland heath in England is found here. It is important for ground nesting birds such as the black grouse, skylark and curlew.
There are also some of the cleanest and clearest rivers and burns in the country which are home to salmon and trout, as well as the otter and heron that feed on them.
Further information on habitat and wildlife conservation within this area can be found on the Northumberland National Park’s website.
Firing times
Otterburn firing times
Contact information
If you have any enquiries or need further information relating to public access and live firing times contact Otterburn Range Control:
Tel: 01830 520569
Warcop Training Area
Warcop Training Area (WTA) is situated within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is easily accessed from the A66, 5km east of Appleby and 2km west of Brough.
Site description
Warcop Training Area (WTA) extends to some 9,700 hectares and over two thirds of this area forms part of the Appleby Fells Site of SSSI. The SSSI is known for its blanket bog, limestone pavements, calcareous grassland and alpine and sub-alpine plants.
This area also forms part of the North Pennine Moors Special Protection Area, and Moorhouse and Upper Teesdale Special Area of Conservation which are internationally recognised designations. The site has 16 scheduled ancient monuments ranging from Neolithic burial mounds to medieval villages and a wide range of wildlife including red squirrel, great crested newt, black grouse, and the geyer’s whorl snail.
Over the past few years, considerable time, effort and resources have been directed at developing the natural habitat on WTA, with particular emphasis being given to the management of SSSI and habitat improvements for rare species. The work undertaken on Warcop has recently been recognised by English Nature who has awarded the WTA management team with the prestigious “SSSI Award” for its management of the Appleby Fells and Helbeck SSSIs.
Access opportunities
Warcop Training Area is a live MOD range which is used 6.5 days a week predominately by the infantry training centre at Catterick. It is also used by various other regular and Army Reserve units of the British Army. Access opportunities on the training area, can be summarised as:
access to public rights of way in the danger area every Sunday afternoon after 1pm
access to public rights of way in the danger area for 12 weekends a year. These are detailed in the related link on access times on the right hand side of the page
access to WTA through a range of guided walks (contact Clare Hetherington on 017683 43227 for further information)
access to public rights of way in the danger area on at least 15 short notice days. Due to their very nature these dates cannot be published very far in advance. However the Warcop freephone access answer machine (0800 7835181) does hold details of the firing programme 7 days in advance and is updated daily
access to Mickle Fell is available (subject to training, high fire risk etc) on a permit system only. Applications should be sent to the Range Officer, Warcop Training Area, Warcop, Appleby, Cumbria, CA16 6PA
access to Area Victor (including Murton Pike and Murton Fell) under the CROW Act
Contact information
Live firing notices are issued to the local libraries and youth hostels and are published in the local paper.
Telephone: 0800 783 5181
DTE Scotland
The MOD own several key training areas in Scotland. Following the Land Reform (Scotland) Act much land is now available for people to access and enjoy responsibly. When on the MOD estate, for your own safety you must adhere to all military byelaws and safety notices and follow the guidance given in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Barry Buddon Training Area
Barry Buddon Training Area covers 930 hectares of coastal plain on the Tay Estuary between Carnoustie and Monifieth.
Site description
The site has a number of firing ranges for small arms training and areas used for dry training (non-live firing).
A vast array of wildlife can be seen on Barry Buddon. Most of the training area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and an EU Special Area of Conservation (SAC), as well as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for its bird populations.
The area provides a haven for wintering waders such as bar-tailed godwit, sanderling and eider duck whilst the plentiful sea buckthorn berries provide food for fieldfares and redwings. In summer months, abundant skylarks, meadow pipits, linnets and stonechats use the dunes as shelter or nest sites.
Access opportunities
The ranges and danger areas are closed to the public during periods of live firing.
When firing is not taking place the public can access the training area’s metalled roads on foot, horseback and bicycle. You can also walk along the beaches when the flags are down and red lights extinguished. Further access to the area is not possible because of an unexploded ordnance risk.
Contact information
Telephone: 01382 533025
Cape Wrath Training Area
Cape Wrath Training Area is in the north west corner of the UK, approximately 120 miles from Inverness.
Site description
Cape Wrath training area provides opportunities for a wide variety of field fire and dry training exercises across 25,000 acres of severe and isolated upland moorland.
It is the only range in Europe where land, sea and air training activities can be conducted simultaneously and where the Royal Air Force can train using live 1000lb bombs.
The range forms part of an area that is often referred to as “the last great wilderness”, due to its remoteness.
Cape Wrath training area is home to a wide range of wildlife, and various parts of the training area have been designated as a SSSI, an EU SAC, as well as a SPA.
Access opportunities
There are 2 main ways of taking access to Cape Wrath training area.
The main access to the range area is via the passenger ferry across the Kyle of Durness from Keoldale. This ferry runs sporadically from May to September. The frequency of the service is dependant on the state of the tide and weather conditions. Two hours either side of low tide the service may stop altogether. The ferry may operate outside these months by prior arrangement.
On the Cape side of the Kyle a minibus service operates between the ferry landing point and the Cape Wrath lighthouse along the public road. This service is privately operated and excursions from the ferry to the lighthouse and back take approximately 2 ½ hours. The public road across the Cape runs for approximately 12 miles thus the majority of people accessing the lighthouse via the ferry make use of this service at least one way. Ten miles of the road are within the Cape Wrath training area. The public road is closed during live firing periods. The ferry and minibus service are also curtailed during these periods.
The other main way to access Cape Wrath is to walk from Blairmore, in the south, via the Sandwood estate owned by John Muir Trust, to Cape Wrath Lighthouse. Much of this route is unmarked, over rough and open moorland, and is not recommended for inexperienced walkers. Walkers are also advised to check firing times before setting off on this route, as should firing be taking place then red flags and lamps will be displayed at the Range boundary and access will not be permitted. This route forms the final section of the Cape Wrath Trail, a long distance route from Fort William of just under 200 miles.
Further information
Details of the ferry and minibus services can be found at the Cape Wrath website.
Further information on the Cape Wrath Trail can be found at the Cape Wrath Trail website.
Contact information
For information on firing times at Cape Wrath training area please contact Range Control at Faraid Head.
Telephone: 01971 511242
Out of hours: 0800 833300
Castlelaw Training Area
The Castlelaw/Dreghorn Training Area lies immediately south of Edinburgh and is part of the Pentland Hills Regional Park.
Site description
Castlelaw rises steeply from the valley to the northern tops of the pentland hills at about 500 metres. The highpoints of the Training Area give stunning views across the city, the Firth of Forth and on a clear day the highlands beyond. The area is home to some rare habitats and wildlife including small numbers of black grouse.
Although military training is the primary land use, the estate is also used for agriculture, principally sheep grazing.
Access opportunities
The training area lies within the Pentland Hills Regional Park and as such there are numerous tracks and undefined footpaths for walkers. The area is popular with locals and visitors to Edinburgh.
Live firing is restricted to the live firing range at Castlelaw. Red flags (daytime) and red lamps (night-time) are used when firing is taking place. The public are not allowed into the danger area. The firing range is clearly demarcated by a fence.
Horse riding is now allowed on specified routes across the training area. These routes have been agreed with the British Horse Society (Scotland) and the Pentland Hills Regional Park. The routes allow riders to explore this area while minimising any conflict between horses and troop activity.
Please remember that dry training (blank firing, smoke and pyrotechnics) will still occur in the training area so riders must expect sudden movement and noises. It is advised that riders wear fluorescent clothing to make themselves more visible to soldiers.
Castlelaw, Edinburgh, walk guide
PDF, 138KB, 2 pages
Further information
Further details of the riding routes can be found on the Pentland Hills Regional Park website.
Telephone: 0131 445 3383
Contact information
For further information on firing times contact the Castlelaw training area:
Telephone: 0131 310 4943
Kirkcudbright Training Centre
Kirkcudbright training centre, on the northern coastline of the Solway Firth in Dumfries and Galloway occupies an exposed headland 5 km south of the town of Kirkcudbright.
Site description
Kirkcudbright training centre provides opportunities for a wide variety of field fire and dry training exercises across 4,700 acres (1,900 hectares) of farmland.
The range has many rare plants including populations of Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea and Cowslips. The only known county records of 6 plants including Yellow Horned Poppy, Yellow Vetch and Pyramidal Orchids are from the range. Most of the rare plants flourish on the untrodden coastline and cliff face.
Access opportunities
There is a danger from unexploded ordnance lying close to the surface of the ground in some parts of the range, and as a result, access is only permitted on four defined and waymarked routes which are located on hard surfaced paths and roads through safe parts of the training area. These routes can only be used when the training area is not active and red flags are not flying/lamps are not lit. Horse Riders are warned when using these routes that the area is used extensively, by both fast jets and helicopters, for low flying exercises. High visibility clothing should be worn by riders.
The main linear access path runs from West to East across the range area. It starts at Torrs Point, where the Dumfries & Galloway waymarked public footpath from Kirkcudbright stops at the range boundary gate. The path is then marked by Dumfries & Galloway waymarker posts throughout its 6.6 mile length to Abbey Burn Foot. Horse riders are advised to transit from Abbey Burn Foot, at the east end of the footpath, where there is an equestrian entry gate and parking for horse boxes.
There are also three shorter, circular routes on the training area.
Townhead Loop:
This circular walk starts near Balmae on the western side of the training area and is approximately 4.5 miles long.
Howwell Loop:
This circular walk also starts near Balmae and is approximately three and a quarter miles long
Netherlaw Loop:
This short circular walk takes in Netherlaw Glen at the eastern side of the training area and is approximately 1 mile long
Kirkcudbright, Scotland, walk guide
PDF, 464KB
Contact information
Range Officer telephone: 0141 224 8501
Guard House telephone: 0141 224 8502
DTE South East (including Home Counties)
East Kent dry training area inland from Hythe and Dover
Hythe ranges on the edge of the town of Hythe in Kent
Lydd ranges west of Hythe and south of Ashford in Kent
Mereworth Woods in Kent
Thorney Island on the south coast, between Chichester and Portsmouth
Home Counties Training Areas:
Aldershot and Minley training areas in Hampshire
Ash and Pirbright Range Danger Areas, east and north-east of Aldershot and Farnborough
Hankley and Elstead Commons which is situated on the boundary of Surrey and Hampshire
Longmoor range and training areas in Hampshire.
East Kent Training Area
East Kent, inland from Hythe and Dover.
Site description
East Kent dry training area extends in small blocks in an arc between Hythe and Dover, extending a few miles inland. The area around Dover is steeped in military history and the majority of the rolling rural landscape is within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Access opportunities
There are over 36 kilometres of footpaths and bridleways crossing the Training Area over farmland and through woodland. Routes of interest include the North Downs Way, Saxon Shore Way, Pilgrim’s Way and Elham Valley Way.
A walk in Reinden Wood, near Hawkinge, developed in conjunction with White Cliffs Countryside Project, is illustrated.
Reinden Wood, Kent
PDF, 94.1KB, 2 pages
Hythe Ranges
6 miles west of Folkestone, on the edge of the town of Hythe, off the A259 Hythe-Dymchurch-Hastings road.
An area of low lying, slightly undulating land adjoining the foreshore. Hythe Ranges is one of the oldest ranges in the country and has been used for live firing for nearly 200 years. The whole area is steeped in military history. There are two Martello Towers on Hythe Ranges, and a “Grand Redoubt” fortification at Dymchurch. These were built in the early 1800s to resist potential invasion by Napoleon.
Access opportunities
Access is available along the foreshore and the sea wall during periods of non-firing.
Hythe Ranges are used for live firing with a danger area extending out to sea. Red flags are flown during live firing periods. During this time access is prohibited along the foreshore and see wall. A notice indicating live firing times is displayed at the entrance to the ranges and on other boards on the security fence at either end of the range complex.
Contact information
For further information on live firing times, contact 01303 225879 (office hours) or 01303 225861 (out of hours).
Lydd Ranges
Situated 13 miles west of Hythe and 15 miles south of Ashford.
Lydd Ranges are situated on the reclaimed land of the historic Romney Marsh and part of the cuspate foreland at Dungeness, estimated to be 3,000 to 5,000 years old. The habitats are of international importance and are part of the Dungeness Special Area of Conservation. The ranges have been used for military training for over 150 years.
Access opportunities
Lydd Ranges are used for live firing with a danger area extending out to sea. Red flags are flown in periods of live firing during which access is prohibited along the foreshore and Galloway’s Road. When there is no live firing access is possible along a permissive path that runs along the coast.
Contact information
For further information on live firing times contact 01303 225518 (office hours) or 01303 225467 (out of hours).
Mereworth Woods
Mereworth Woods is a small area of very rural Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland. It is part of the Metropolitan Green Belt, lies within a Special Landscape Area and is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest.
Mereworth dry training area is just over 300 acres, mainly mixed broadleaf woodland and some conifer plantations. There is a small area of acid heath, (rare in Kent) and an abundance of wildlife including reptiles and small mammals. The area is used heavily at weekends and regularly during the week by small units with no heavy armour or live firing permitted. Blank firing and limited pyrotechnics are used and there is a helicopter landing site that is used occasionally.
Access opportunities
There is a footpath and bridleway running through the training area. The bridleway connects up with a popular local route across the busy B2016.
Thorney Island
On the south coast, between Chichester and Portsmouth.
Thorney Island was first used by the Royal Air Force in 1935 and was a fighter station and base for Coastal Command during World War 2. In 1984, it was taken over by the Army and it is now the home base for an artillery regiment.
However, to call Thorney Island an island is now rather an anachronism for it has been joined to the mainland for some 125 years after the reclamation of 72 hectares of tidal mudflats in 1870. The island area comprises a mixture of open grassland (displaying a colourful variety of meadow plants in season) and reed beds. This variety of habitat, in conjunction with the surrounding wetlands, makes Thorney Island one of the best MOD sites for ornithology, with species including brent geese, oystercatchers, lapwings, curlews, skylarks and shelduck. Pilsey Island, to the south of Thorney Island, is an RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) reserve.
Access opportunities
A circular walk, following the foreshore around Thorney Island, that lies within part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is an important area for ornithology, is featured in the attached link on the right hand side of page under “Related pages/documents”.
Contact information
For information on access to Thorney Island Perimeter Path telephone 01243 388275/ 388269.
Aldershot and Minley Training Areas
Aldershot and Minley Training Areas are located to the west of Aldershot and north west of Farnborough in Hampshire.
The two training areas cover an area of approximately 2,000 hectares of lowland heathland habitat which supports a wide range of associated fauna and flora. They are made up of a diverse mosaic of heathland, conifer woodland, areas of mature and semi-mature broadleaved woodland, mire, scrub, acid grassland and grass meadows, particularly in the Minley area.
The majority of the areas are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and form part of the European designated Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area.
Access opportunities
Public access is permitted along all public rights of way within both training areas at all times. Open access on foot is allowed in areas within the managed access symbol on the Ordnance Survey Explorer maps. This access is subject to the terms and conditions of the Aldershot and district military byelaws which are displayed at the principal access points onto the training areas. Do not interrupt any military training activities and please observe the conditions of the byelaws all times.
There are parking areas and lay-bys on the periphery of the training areas for use by the public and the military. Please do not obstruct vehicular access onto the training areas.
Military use
The training areas are used for dry training exercises only. Dry training does not involve the use of live ammunition but it may include the use of pyrotechnics, blank ammunition and other battle simulators such as smoke grenades and thunder flashes. Be prepared for sudden noises!
Contact information
For further information on access please contact the Defence Training Estate Training Area Officer on 01483 798357.
Ash and Pirbright
Ash and Pirbright range danger areas are found to the east and north-east of Aldershot and Farnborough.
The range danger areas cover 2,000 hectares, made up of a mixture of lowland heathland, conifer and broad-leaved woodland, mire, scrub and acid grassland supporting a wide range of fauna and flora.
The majority of the area is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and forms part of the European designated Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area.
Military use
Both range danger areas are used for live firing exercises and training.
Access opportunities
The range danger areas are depicted on the Ordnance Survey Explorer maps by a closed red triangle defining them as danger areas. Ash and Pirbright range danger areas however differ in one fundamental way.
Pirbright range danger area is closed at all times with no permitted access, due to unexploded ordnance risk.
Ash range danger area is closed only when the red flags or red lamps are displayed.
At all other times Ash range danger area is open to the public for access on foot. Access is subject to the terms and conditions of the Aldershot and district military byelaws which are displayed at all major access points onto the danger area.
For further information on access to the range danger area at Ash please contact the senior range officer on 01252 325233.
Hankley and Elstead Commons
Hankley & Elstead Commons are located on the Longmoor training area which is situated on the boundary of Surrey and Hampshire between the towns of Bordon, Liphook, Farnham and Guildford.
The commons represent some of the finest remaining heathland in southern England and are nationally important for their bird, reptile and invertebrate populations. Elstead, Ockley and Royal Commons are part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation. The commons are covered with heather, bracken and woodlands of birch and Scots Pine.
In 1996, the whole of the training area was given a ‘Forest of Excellence’ award by the Forest Commission, which reflects the exceptional management of the landscape, wildlife conservation, timber production and public access in the area. The training area is used for logistics and minor infantry manoeuvre exercises.
Access opportunities
Public access is permitted along public rights of way across both commons at all times. This includes two walks across the open heathland of Elstead and Royal commons. In addition open access on foot is available in those areas delineated by the managed access symbol on Ordnance Survey Explorer maps. When walking in the training area you are requested not to interrupt military training and to observe the byelaws.
There are parking areas at The Moat on Elstead Common, at the entrance to Royal Common and at Hankley Common.
General safety
please do not approach or pick up any metal objects
please note that no camping or fires are allowed
keep to the designated path. Where there are boardwalks these must be used and walkers must not walk on the surrounding ground
please keep dogs under proper control
the pond on Royal Common is strictly out of bounds
some sections of the promoted routes may be boggy and very wet and might be impassable during certain seasons of the year. Slight deviations from the route may be necessary
Contact information
For further information on access to the commons telephone 01420 483375.
Longmoor Range and Training Areas
Longmoor Range and training areas are located to the west of Liphook in Hampshire. The town of Bordon lies immediately to the north and the village of Greatham to the west.
These range and training areas cover approximately 1,800 hectares on primarily lowland heathland habitat, made up of a mosaic of heathland, conifer and broad-leaved woodland, mire, scrub and acid grassland supporting a wide range of associated fauna and flora. The majority of the area is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and forms part of the European designated Wealden Heaths Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation. The A3 London to Portsmouth Road runs through the middle of this area.
Military use
The training areas outside the range danger area are used for dry training exercises only. Dry training does not involve the use of live ammunition, but it may include the use of pyrotechnics, blank ammunition and other battle simulators. Be prepared for sudden noises!
Longmoor range danger area is used for live firing all year round when red flags or lights are displayed. At all other times (when red flags or lights are not displayed), the range danger area is open to the public as is the dry training areas.
DTE South West (including Salisbury Plain)
Antony training area and Tregantle ranges
Antony training area is situated in south east Cornwall, to the west of Plymouth.
Site description
Owned freehold by the MOD, the area stretches from the sandy beaches of Whitsand Bay in the south across 350 hectares of rolling pasture to the mud estuary of the River Lynher. The conservation interests of the coastal fringes are recognised by designation as SSSIs.
Antony Training Area is used by members of all 3 services (Army, Navy and RAF) and their cadet organisations and their use is administered by Headquarters DTE South West.
Within the training area there are 2 forts, Tregantle and Scraesdon, both Scheduled Ancient Monuments which were built in the 1850s as part of a ‘ring of fire’ to protect the naval port of Plymouth. Created out of dressed granite and limestone, Tregantle Fort stands high on the Cornish coastline.
It provides accommodation for visiting units who may be using the adjoining firing ranges, other parts of the training area, or may be exercising elsewhere in Cornwall or Devon. Scraesdon Fort is used for many types of military training and its labyrinth of rooms and passages are ideal for training soldiers to operate within a built environment.
Access opportunities
When the ranges to the south of Tregantle Fort are not being used for live firing, the MOD owned beach is open for public use. Access is by the permissive path, which runs to the beach from the car park alongside the highway. For public safety reasons, the path is closed when the ranges are in use and the red flags are flying (or red lamps lit at night).
The South West Coastal Path, a National Trail from Minehead in Somerset to South Haven Point in Poole, runs through the training area alongside the B3247 so that access is not interrupted by the use of the firing ranges.
Lying alongside the Lynher River, Wacker Quay is leased to the local council who have developed a public picnic site. Wacker Quay was once used to dock barges delivering stores to Scraesdon and Tregantle Forts. After being unloaded from the barge, the stores would have been transported by railway to the forts.
Firing notices
Tregantle firing times
Live firing notices are issued to the local parish councils, harbour masters, post offices, coastguards, and published in two newspapers, The Cornish Times and The Western Morning News.
For further information on live firing times, contact 01752 822516.
Dartmoor Training Ground
Dartmoor training Aarea is situated in West Devon, south of Okehampton, and covers about 12,760 ha (31,500 acres) of freehold, leased or licensed land within the Dartmoor National Park.
The military has a long history of training on Dartmoor. Troops trained and manoeuvred across Dartmoor throughout the 1800s. Artillery training started in 1873 and Okehampton Camp was built in 1893. Dartmoor made a considerable contribution to training the Allies for D Day, with all of the open land being used for military training.
After World War 2 the area used by the military was reduced from about 55,000 hectares to about 13,000 hectares estate, similar to that used now.
Today, Dartmoor is used for the training of light forces; those that deploy in low ground pressure vehicle, by helicopter, by parachute or on their feet, and for personnel from medium and heavy forces practising operations away from their vehicles.
A brief history of Dartmoor
Access and recreation
The MOD has a presumption in favour of public access wherever this is compatible with operational and military training use, public safety, security, conservation and the interests of tenants.
The right for the public to access Dartmoor on foot or on horseback was recognised by the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 and more recently by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
This access is only restricted, for the public’s safety, when live firing is programmed and notified. At all other times the military share Dartmoor with other users. To increase certainty of access, Guaranteed Public Access Periods have been agreed with the Dartmoor Steering Group. The Firing Notice gives 6 weeks advance warning of the live firing programme; any cancellations are included promptly.
For your own safety please observe the safety information which is given on the firing notice section and is available in the military and Dartmoor information for walkers and riders booklet.
Military byelaws prohibit access to range danger areas when live firing is programmed. They also prohibit digging and interference with military items.
Land over which MOD byelaws apply is excluded from the countryside and Rights of Way Act. Consequently the range danger areas are not depicted as public access land on Ordnance Survey maps.
The impact of military activities on the public enjoyment of Dartmoor has been studied and additional measures introduced to increase the quantity, quality and certainty of access.
Conservation and environment
Designation of Dartmoor as a National Park recognises its natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage.
The MOD supports the National Park’s purpose of conserving and enhancing Dartmoor’s environment and is committed to safeguarding and improving the valued landscape and heritage of its estate.
Dartmoor training area works closely with Dartmoor National Park Authority and Natural England to achieve Dartmoor’s Biodiversity Action Plan on its freehold land and to assist landowners of licensed land.
It also works with English Heritage to safeguard Scheduled Monuments and other cultural heritage.
The Dartmoor Training Area Conservation Group, consisting of local enthusiasts, provides expert advice, knowledge and assistance with conservation.
Dartmoor Steering Group
The Dartmoor Steering Group was established in 1978 on the instructions of the Secretaries of State for Defence and Environment following the recommendation of Baroness Sharp’s non statutory public inquiry into the military use of Dartmoor in 1975.
It brings together the MOD plus the key statutory and landowning bodies that have an interest in the management of Dartmoor Training Area to keep under review the best possible reconciliation of the requirements of military training, conservation and public access.
Its members include representatives of Commander 43 Wessex Brigade and Commandant Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Dartmoor Commoners Council, Duchy of Cornwall, English Heritage, Government Office of the South West and Natural England.
The Dartmoor Steering Group is supported by the Dartmoor Working Party. Its purpose is to research issues as directed by the chairmen to resolve matters passed to them and to carry out day to day management of the group’s responsibilities.
The alternating chairmen of the Dartmoor Working Party (and also joint secretaries of the Dartmoor Steering Group) are Commander Defence Training Estate South West and the Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Chief Executive. Members include the Commandant Dartmoor Training Area, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s Senior Land Agent South West, the Duchy of Cornwall, the Dartmoor Commoners Council (2), Natural England (2) and English Heritage.
The Dartmoor Steering Group meets annually and since 2007 has published minutes of its meetings. The Group reports periodically to the Secretaries of State for Defence and Environment.
Dartmoor Steering Group annual reports
Dartmoor Training Area Conservation Group
Volunteers of the Dartmoor Military Training Area Conservation Group provide advice and assistance to Dartmoor Training Area staff on reducing the effects of military activities. The Group also advise on opportunities to protect and enhance the natural environment and cultural heritage as required by the landowner.
Formed in 1992 as the Willsworthy Conservation Group, it extended its role in 2004 to include all of the designated military training areas on Dartmoor.
There are some 15 members from a wide variety of backgrounds, experience and knowledge including archaeologists, ecologists and geologists.
The Group, which meets 3 times a year, has the following remit:
advises on the management of MOD’s responsibilities
maintains the site dossier
carries out annual bird counts on Willsworthy
advises on areas to avoid during the breeding season
erects and maintains bird and bat boxes
advises on the preservation of buildings and structures
develops woodland planting schemes
improves nesting sites for waders
Anyone wishing to become a member of the Group is invited to contact Commandant Dartmoor Training Area.
Environmental assessment
The MOD’s principal licence to train on Dartmoor training area expired in 2012.
To ensure that the Armed Forces can maintain their high state of operational readiness, without interruption, there was an extensive process of study, review and public consultation prior to re-negotiation in order to provide clear evidence to the Ministers for Environment and Defence that:
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