A DARTMOOR landowner has defended his right to prevent public access to a well-known, ancient landmark, after his decision was criticised by ramblers and climbers.

Farmer Daniel Alford, who bought Vixen Tor, at Merrivale three years ago, closed the area to the public on the advice of his insurance company who told him he could be liable in the event of an injury occurring on the tor.

But walkers and climbers are upset by the closure, which brings to an end more than 30 years of unhindered access under previous owners.

John Page, a keen walker from Tavistock, branded the owners ?selfish? for denying access to the famous rock mass.

He said: ?I think they?re being very selfish by stopping people going there. I don?t see how closing the land has any benefit to them, and a lot of people are going to be very disappointed.

?You don?t hear about Dartmoor farmers being sued when people have accidents on their land ? hikers and climbers tend to accept liability for their own welfare.

?It?s an incredibly beautiful tor, and I was very upset to find it has been closed off. It?s a piece of amenity land which the public have used for years, and there?s never any litter or damage there.?

John Skinner, of the Ramblers? Association, said the closure of the tor was a major blow for himself and fellow walkers.

?We?re very annoyed about it,? he said. ?People have been able to visit the site for the last 30 or 40 years and it has always been very popular with ramblers and strollers.

?To have that right suddenly taken away after such a long time is very disappointing.?

But Mr Alford said his family were simply taking the advice of their insurance company, in closing the land.

?We?ve been told by our insurance company that if someone has an accident walking or climbing on the rocks, we could be liable,? he said.

?The land is designated as ?public access with permission?, which means we are completely within our rights to stop people coming in.?

He added that he would appeal against a decision by the Countryside Agency to include the land for ?right to roam? access. If the appeal fails, the land will have to be re-opened to the public in 2005.

John Weir, spokesperson for Dartmoor National Park Authority, said despite the traditional public access at Vixen Tor, the owner had a legal right to deny access.

?The DNPA regrets that the landowner has taken the decision to exclude the public from the area,? he said.

?Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Vixen Tor is shown on recently published Countryside Agency maps to be deemed as ?open country?.

?It may, therefore, be that in 2005 public access will be reinstated on a legal basis.?