Access & Recreation

Access Restrictions

The MOD is committed to ensuring that opportunities for public access are not unduly restricted but sometimes temporary or permanent restrictions will be required.

Restrictions under Military Byelaws

Where military byelaws are in operation, public access may be restricted or in some cases excluded for operational or safety reasons. Details of restrictions are available by telephoning the site contact number given on the Access Opportunities pages on this website or as displayed locally. Contact numbers are also provided in the 'What Do You Know About ….. Access to the Defence Estate' leaflet.

The timing and extent of live firing will be given on firing notices displayed in local newspapers and other local sites. Locally, red flags (day-time) or lamps (night-time) will warn the public that live firing is in progress. Please read and abide by local site notices and directions.

The extent of live firing danger areas are illustrated on Ordnance Survey maps with a series of red arrows .

Restrictions under the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW)

Some MOD land has been mapped under the CROW Act and restrictions to public access on this land may be necessary where it is not already managed by military byelaws.

Such access restrictions will be kept to a minimum and when they are in operation details will be provided on the Countryside Agency Country Access website or the Countryside Council for Wales website.

Any restrictions over 6 months on Access Land depicted on CA and CCW websites, and OS maps will be listed here as directed in the regulations.

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