Dartmoor Training Area is situated in West Devon, south of Okehampton, and covers about 12,760 ha (31,500 acres) of freehold, leased or licensed land within the Dartmoor National Park.
The military has a long history of training on Dartmoor. Troops trained and manoeuvred across Dartmoor throughout the 1800s. Artillery training started in 1873 and Okehampton Camp was built in 1893. Dartmoor made a considerable contribution to training the Allies for D Day, with all of the open land being used for military training.
After the Second World War, the area used by the military was reduced from about 55,000 hectares to about 13,000 hectares estate, similar to that used now.
Troops training on Dartmoor
Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010
Today, Dartmoor is used for the training of light forces; those that deploy in low ground pressure vehicle, by helicopter, by parachute or on their feet, and for personnel from medium and heavy forces practicing operations away from their vehicles.
Contact details:
Headquarters Dartmoor Training Area
Okehampton Training Camp
Okehampton
EX20 1QP
Duty Officer: 01837 657210