West England - public access to military areas
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-23)

Information about public access to military-owned land in West England.

Accessing the training estate safely (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safe-access)

West Midlands firing times (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/firing-notice#west-midlands)

West Midlands byelaws (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/byelaws-west-midlands)

Respect the range

Kingsbury ranges

Location

Kingsbury rifle ranges are in North Warwickshire, south of Tamworth, near the villages of Piccadilly, Kingsbury and Wood End.

Site description

The landscape is undulating, with areas of grassed-over spoil heaps which are a relic of historic coal mining.

Kingsbury Wood is a broad-leaved woodland, which has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Access restrictions

When the ranges are used for live firing, red flags (day) or red lights (night) are displayed.

Access opportunities

Access is limited to public rights of way that lie outside the Range Danger Area (RDA), and are always accessible.

Contact
- Operations room: xx-xxxx-xxxx (24 hours)
- Help desk: xx-xxxx-xxxx (24 hours)
- Kingsbury Range: xx-xxxx-xxxx or xx-xxxx-xxxx
- Main office: xx-xxxx-xxxx
Related information

Kingsbury firing times (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/kingsbury-ranges-firing-times)

Leek and Upper Hulme

Location

The Leek and Upper Hulme training area is in North Staffordshire, north of Leek.

Site description

The area is around 500 metres above sea level. The landscape is a mixture of pasture and open moorland, overlapped by the Peak District National Park.

The majority of the land is both a designated SSSI and a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds. It also contains two ancient monuments.

Access restrictions

When the ranges are used for live firing, red flags (day) or red lights (night) are displayed. Access to the closed impact area is prohibited at all times.

Access to Upper Hulme Training Area is subject to the Upper Hulme Range Byelaws 1985.

Access opportunities

Public access is available via the network of public rights of way or areas of open access land.

Contact

For information on firing times, please contact:
- Operations room: xx-xxxx-xxxx (24 hours)
- Help desk: xx-xxxx-xxxx (24 hours)
- Training Safety Officer: xx-xxxx-xxxx
- Training area operative: xx-xxxx-xxxx
- Swynnerton Guardroom: xx-xxxx-xxxx
Related information

Leek and Upper Hulme firing times (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/leek-and-upper-hulme-firing-times)

Staffordshire byelaws (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staffordshire-byelaws)

Nesscliffe Training Area

Location

Nesscliffe Training Area is located southwest of the A5, equidistant to Shrewsbury and Oswestry.

Site description

The area is predominantly flat, and supports regular, reserve forces and cadet training.

The landscape is made up of flood plains of the rivers Severn and Vyrnwy (Afon Efyrnwy), covering agricultural land on the western end of the North Shropshire Plain. It is bordered by a sandstone outcrop behind Nesscliffe village to the east, Llanymynmech Hills to the west, and the Briedden Hills and Stiper Stones to the south.

Access restrictions

There is no public access to the southern part of the training area.

Access opportunities

There are several public rights of way across the northern part of the training area between the villages of Pentre, Nesscliffe and the hamlets of Kinton and Kinnerley.

Contact
- Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx (Monday to Friday)
- Camp Guardroom: xx-xxxx-xxxx (24 hours)
Whittington ranges

Location

The Whittington range complex is located in Staffordshire: east of Lichfield, near Defence Medical Services Whittington.

Site description

The area consists of rifle ranges and broad-leaved woodland, which extends eastward to the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and the River Tame.

Access restrictions

When the ranges are used for live firing, red flags (day) or red lights (night) are displayed access is prohibited.

Access is subject to the Whittington Ranges Byelaws 1973.

Access opportunities

Access is limited to the public rights of way.

Contact
- Operations room: xx-xxxx-xxxx (24 hours)
- Help desk: xx-xxxx-xxxx (24 hours)
- Whittington Range: xx-xxxx-xxxx, xx-xxxx-xxxx or xx-xxxx-xxxx
- Main office (Swynnerton): xx-xxxx-xxxx
Related information

Whittington ranges firing times (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/whittington-ranges-firing-times)

Staffordshire Byelaws (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staffordshire-byelaws)

Sealand Rifle Ranges

Location

Sealand Rifle Ranges are on the Dee Estuary near Chester.

Site description

The area comprises small arms firing ranges, with an operational range area and a RDA in the Dee Estuary.

Access restrictions

When the ranges are used for live firing, red flags (day) or red lights (night) are displayed.

Access opportunities

A cycleway is available for walkers and cyclists which follows the east boundary of the site, forming a link in the King Charles III Coast Path.

Contact
- Operations room: xx-xxxx-xxxx (24 hours) or xx-xxxx-xxxx
- Sealand Range: xx-xxxx-xxxx or xx-xxxx-xxxx
- Main office: xx-xxxx-xxxx
Related information

Sealand firing times (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sealand-ranges-firing-times)