North England - public access to military areas
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-26)

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

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

North England firing times (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/firing-notice#north-east-england)

North West England bylaws (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/byelaws-north-west)

North Yorkshire byelaws (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/north-yorkshire-byelaws)

Yorkshire byelaws (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/byelaws-yorkshire-and-humberside)

Respect the range

Catterick Training Area

Location

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 back to 1798, and the land comprising the current training area was acquired between 1921 and 1985.

As well as military training, Catterick is predominantly used for livestock grazing, while the better in-bye land is farmed more intensively for hay, silage and arable crops. The ranges also have archaeological remains, including 36 scheduled ancient monuments, and are home to some rare species of plants and animals. Two areas are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Access restrictions

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

Access opportunities

There are several public rights of way across Catterick Training Area, including part of the coast-to-coast long distance route. The public must stick to these rights of way at all times.

Contact
- Regional Operations Room: xx-xxxx-xxxx (24 hours)
Related information

Catterick Training Area firing and activity forecast (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/catterick-training-area-firing-and-activity-forecast)

Holcombe Moor

Location

Holcombe Moor covers approximately 300 hectares of open moorland and woodland near Ramsbottom in Lancashire.

Access restrictions

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

Access opportunities

There are a number of public rights of way across the training area. The public must stick to these public rights of way at all times.

Contact
- Regional Operations Room: xx-xxxx-xxxx (24 hours)
Related information

Holcombe Moor firing times (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/holcombe-moor-firing-times)

Holcombe Moor byelaws (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greater-manchester-byelaws)

Otterburn Training Area

Location

Otterburn Training Area is situated in the Northumberland National Park, approximately 35 miles from the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Site description

The area consists of over 22,000 hectares of land and is the largest single live firing range in the UK. Around 30,000 soldiers use the area each year for training, which covers 23% of the Northumberland National Park, and consists of rolling uplands forming part of the Cheviot foothills.

Access restrictions

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

Access opportunities

There are no restrictions to public access on MOD land north of the River Coquet - this land is designated Open Access Land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The remainder of the training area is operated under military byelaws.

Contact
- Otterburn Range Control: xx-xxxx-xxxx
- Regional Operations Room: xx-xxxx-xxxx (24 hours)
Related information

Otterburn firing times (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/otterburn-firing-times)

Northumberland byelaws (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/northumberland-byelaws)

Strensall Training Area

Location

Strensall Training Area is located in the village of Towthorpe, just outside the city of York.

Site description

The military ranges and training area at Strensall cover approximately 650 hectares, and are located on land locally known as Strensall and Towthorpe Common. The land and all the rights were purchased by the War Office in 1884 and renamed Strensall Training Area (STA). STA supports both Live Firing Marksmanship Training (LFMT) and military dry training. The landscape is made up mostly of heathland that covers the greater part of the site with heather. There are a number of wood copses and open grassland with thickets of gorse bushes.

Access opportunities

The Strensall Common Act 1884 allows public access to the open part of the site for recreation and exercise when it is not being used for military purposes. The public must vacate the Range Danger Area by 0730 during firing days and remain clear whilst Red Flags (or red lamps at night) are displayed.

There are 4 x permissive waymarked routes on STA providing access to enjoy the natural beauty of the site. The walks vary in length and difficulty to suit visitors abilities. The walks are designed to begin and end in the permissive car parks. The walks have colour coded waymarks to aid navigation. Some of the walks can be used at any time whilst others that enter the Range Danger Area can only be accessed during non-firing periods.

Contact

Regional Operations Room: xx-xxxx-xxxx (24 hours)

Related information

Strensall firing times (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strensall-range-firing-times)

Strensall Training Area Byelaws (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a79b25fed915d07d35b76dd/strenshall_common.pdf)

Warcop Training Area

Location

Warcop Training Area (WTA) is situated within the North Pennines National Landscape. It can be accessed from the A66, 5km east of Appleby and 2km west of Brough.

Site description

The area extends to around 9,700 hectares, with more than two thirds forming part of the Appleby Fells SSSI, which is known for its blanket bog, limestone pavements, calcareous grassland and both alpine and sub-alpine plants.

Access opportunities

WTA live firing range complex, training area and associated Range Danger Area (RDA) can be active for up to 6.5 days per week, used by both regular and reserve units.

Access to public rights of way in the WTA and RDA is permitted:
- every Sunday afternoon after 1pm
- on 12 scheduled public access weekends (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/warcop-access-times) per year
- on 15 short-notice public access days, announced via the WTA Access Information Service (below)
Contact
- WTA Access Information Service: xx-xxxx-xxxx
- DIO Regional Operations Room: xx-xxxx-xxxx (24 hours)
Mickle Fell (WTA)

Access to Mickle Fell is permitted on the scheduled public access weekends and short-notice public access days above.

You must have a permit to access Mickle Fell, which can be applied for:
- in writing, addressed to:
The Training Safety OfficerWarcop Training AreaWarcop, ApplebyCumbriaCA16 6PA
- via email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
Related information
- WTA Mickle Fell access permit procedures and safety brief (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66339f8e4d8bb7378fb6c172/WTA_Mickle_Fell_Access_Permit_Request_Procedures.pdf) (PDF, 451 KB, 9 pages)
- WTA Mickle Fell access permit request proforma (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6633a9f64d8bb7378fb6c17f/WTA_Mickle_Fell_access_permit_request_proforma.odt) (ODT, 17 KB)
Victor Fieldcraft (WTA)

Victor Fieldcraft Training Area is outside the Warcop RDA and is used for military training, including the use of blank ammunition and pyrotechnics. The area contains Murton Pike and Murton Fell, and is Open Access Land under the CROW Act 2000.