Drone Flying Rules on Dartmoor — Military Firing Ranges & National Park Restrictions (2026)

Dartmoor looks wild and lawless — granite tors rising from open moorland, ancient forests, and rivers that carve through deep valleys. But behind the rugged scenery lies one of the most heavily regulated landscapes for drone pilots in England. Between byelaws that explicitly ban drones on common land and three active military firing ranges, the room for legal flying is genuinely narrow.

This guide explains exactly what you can and cannot do in 2026.

Key Rules for Flying Drones on Dartmoor

The Byelaw Ban on Common Land

This is the single most important rule for Dartmoor and it catches many pilots off guard: the use of drones and powered model aircraft on any common land within Dartmoor National Park is an offence under the National Park Byelaws.

Dartmoor has more common land than almost any other area in England. The open moorland that defines the park — the tors, the blanket bogs, the sweeping grasslands — is overwhelmingly common land. This means the vast majority of Dartmoor's iconic landscapes are off-limits to drone pilots.

Where Can You Legally Fly?

Legal drone flying on Dartmoor is restricted to enclosed private land — farmland, private estates, and similar properties that are not common land and where the landowner has given explicit permission. In practice, this means fields and privately enclosed pasture, not open moorland.

If you are unsure whether land is common or enclosed, the Dartmoor National Park Authority publishes mapping information. The key distinction is whether the land is registered as common land under the Commons Registration Act 1965 (now the Commons Act 2006). If it is, drones are banned regardless of who owns it.

CAA Registration (2026)

Even on private enclosed land, all standard CAA rules apply. Drones weighing 100g or more need a Flyer ID (free online test). Drones at 250g or above also need an Operator ID (£10.33 per year). Maximum altitude: 120m (400ft). Visual Line of Sight at all times. The 50-metre distance rule from uninvolved persons applies everywhere.

Commercial Exemptions

Commercial drone work — filming, surveying, or inspection — may be possible on Dartmoor, but only with specific permissions from both the landowner and the National Park Authority. Requests are considered case by case. You will need to demonstrate CAA registration, public liability insurance, a detailed risk assessment, and a flight plan. Approval is not routine.

Airspace & Flight Restrictions — MOD Firing Ranges

The Three Dartmoor Ranges

The Ministry of Defence operates three live firing ranges on Dartmoor: Okehampton, Willsworthy, and Merrivale. Together, they cover a substantial area of the northern moor. These ranges are used for live ammunition training and military exercises throughout the year.

When ranges are active (red flags flying and warning lights illuminated), all public access is prohibited — and that absolutely includes drones. Even when ranges are not firing, the MOD land has specific access conditions that may affect drone use. Flying a drone over an active firing range is both extremely dangerous and a criminal offence.

Checking Firing Times

The MOD publishes firing schedules six weeks in advance on GOV.UK. You can also call the Dartmoor Firing Information Service on 0800 458 4868 for live updates. Confirmed public access days (when no firing takes place) are published annually. Always check on the day of your visit — schedules can change.

Nearby Airports

• Exeter Airport — Located east of the park. Its FRZ and approach paths may affect the eastern edges of Dartmoor, particularly the area around Bovey Tracey and Moretonhampstead
• Plymouth City Airport (closed) — While closed, temporary NOTAMs for the area can still appear. Check before flying near the southern boundary
• RNAS Yeovilton — A Royal Navy air station to the northeast. Military traffic zones extend significantly. Fast jets and helicopters transit across Devon regularly

Use the NATS Drone Assist app before every flight. Dartmoor's position between Exeter and Plymouth means military and commercial traffic is more common than you might expect from such a rural area.

Best Spots & Tips for Drone Flying on Dartmoor

Given the byelaw ban on common land, your options are limited to enclosed private land. Some approaches:

• Farm stays and holiday lets — Dartmoor has many farms offering accommodation. If you are staying on a private farm, the landowner can grant you permission to fly from enclosed fields. Ask before you arrive
• Private estates near the park boundary — Areas on the edge of Dartmoor that are enclosed farmland rather than registered common land may offer opportunities. Landowners around Widecombe, Lustleigh, and the Teign Valley are worth approaching
• River valleys — Some enclosed riverside meadows are privately owned and not common land. The Dart Valley near Buckfastleigh has pockets of enclosed land

Practical Tips

• Dartmoor weather changes rapidly. Mist can descend on the high moor within minutes, and losing VLOS means an immediate legal breach. Check the Dartmoor-specific weather forecast, not coastal Devon readings
• Dartmoor ponies are semi-wild and easily startled. Never fly near livestock — ponies, sheep, and cattle graze freely across much of the moor
• The granite tors create unpredictable wind turbulence. Even on calm days, downdrafts on the lee side of tors can catch a drone
• Mobile reception across the moor is unreliable. Download offline maps and airspace data before heading out

What Happens If You Break the Rules

Flying a drone on Dartmoor common land is an offence under the National Park Byelaws. The penalty on summary conviction is a fine up to Level 2 on the standard scale (currently £500). While not a recordable criminal offence, it is still a criminal matter prosecuted through the magistrate's court. The Dartmoor National Park Authority has confirmed it will refer persistent breaches for prosecution.

Standard CAA violations — flying without registration, breaching altitude limits, or losing VLOS — carry separate fines up to £2,500 under the Air Navigation Order 2016 (as amended). These stack on top of any byelaw penalties.

Flying over or near active MOD firing ranges invites the most serious consequences. The Ministry of Defence treats drone incursions in military danger areas as criminal matters. Expect equipment seizure, police investigation, and prosecution.

Wildlife disturbance in Dartmoor's SSSIs (which cover large areas of the blanket bog and heathland) carries fines up to £5,000 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Dartmoor's breeding birds — including ring ouzel, Dartford warbler, and nightjar — are actively monitored.

Your Pre-Flight Checklist for Dartmoor

1. Common land check: Confirmed your launch site is enclosed private land — not common land (if in doubt, it is almost certainly common land on Dartmoor)
2. Landowner permission: Written or verbal consent from the owner of the enclosed private land
3. Registration: Flyer ID (100g+) and Operator ID (250g+) both valid
4. Firing range check: Called 0800 458 4868 or checked GOV.UK for today's firing schedule at Okehampton, Willsworthy, and Merrivale
5. Airspace check: NATS Drone Assist reviewed for Exeter Airport FRZ, RNAS Yeovilton, and any NOTAMs
6. Wildlife check: No SSSI nesting sites within flight range
7. Weather: Dartmoor-specific forecast checked — mist risk assessed
8. Livestock awareness: Visual scan for ponies, sheep, and cattle before and during flight
9. Insurance: Public liability cover in place