HALF of Dartmoor is now open to the public following Government legislation which gives walkers new rights to roam. Ramblers are celebrating the opening up of new walking routes under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 ? a total of 370 square miles in the South West, including areas of Exmoor and Bodmin Moor. Speaking at the start of a walk on Dartmoor to celebrate the new right to roam laws which came into force on Sunday, Kate Ashbrook from the Open Spaces Society said: ?Today we can, for the first time, walk legally on significant new areas of land which have been mapped as open country on Dartmoor and elsewhere in Southern England. ?We shall walk below Henroost Mine where for years we have been banned by the Duchy of Cornwall and on land above the West Dart between Huccaby and Saddle Bridge, to which we had no right of access in the past.? She said although this was welcome, there was not as much new access as they had hoped: ?The new mapping system and definitions of access land meant that much land which we consider ought to have been included was omitted,? added Ms Ashbrook. ?The Open Spaces Society will work with the Ramblers? Association and other organisations to see what further new access can be obtained.? New maps have been published showing people where they can walk but the National Farmers? Union said farmers and landowners were still worried. Environment and land use officer for the NFU Mike Ellingham said there was concern that farmland would be damaged and privacy infringed. ?We are concerned that there is not enough information going to the public about where they can walk and also about the restrictions that farmers can impose for any purpose for up to 28 days each year or longer periods.? Chief executive of Dartmoor National Park Nick Atkinson said access to open country had been successfully managed on Dartmoor for many years: ?This has been achieved through ground maintenance, signing and monitoring, information provision and through the understanding and co-operation of landowners and visitors. Local experience will ensure that the new access opportunity enjoys similar benefits.? He said open access on Dartmoor added to the quality of our lives and contributed significantly to local economies through appropriate recreation and tourism activities. There will still be restrictions in place on West Dart between Two Bridges and Huccaby to prevent dogs disturbing wild otters and salmon spawning grounds and on Coombe Down because of open mineshafts.
