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Warcop training area is one of the Ministry of Defence's largest army training areas in the UK. It is mostly used by the training centre at Catterick, but also by the Territorial Army and other units of the British Army.
It is situated within the North Pennines Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty. Two-thirds of the area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), known for its blanket bog, limestone pavements, high altitude plant communities and calcareous grassland. Endangered species such as the great crested newt, black grouse, red squirrel and water voles can be found on the site. Also, there are fourteen ancient monuments on the training area.
There are plans to create two new rights of way, three permissive routes, a car park and a new leaflet along with further guided walks.
Part of the land on the Defence Estate at Warcop, near Appleby, has rights of way over it, and part of it is open access land under the CROW Act.
However, there are extra restrictions because of the firing practice that might be happening on the training area. Public access is permitted on the training area where it is compatible with training, public safety, security, conservation and the interests of its tenants.
Access opportunities are as follows:
- Access to 'Area Victor' under the CROW Act 2000.
- Access to rights of way in the 'Danger Area' every Sunday after 1pm, subject to urgent training needs,
- Access to rights of way in the 'Danger Area' for twelve weekends a year, see 'long term non-firing days' below,
- Access to rights of way in the 'Danger Area' on at least fifteen 'short notice' days. Telephone 0800 783 5181 for the programme for the week ahead,
- Access to the training area through a range of guided walks - telephone (01768) 341661 for more information.
Short notice non-firing days
Please telephone 0800 783 5181 for the latest information.
Long notice non-firing days
Dates can be downloaded below.
Warcop leaflet
The MOD have produced a 2-page leaflet about the access opportunities on the site. You can download it from here. Alternatively, you can telephone a local tourist information centre (Kirkby Stephen 017683 71199) and ask them to put a copy of the leaflet in the post to you.
There are two versions of the leaflet available to download. The first is a low-resolution version of both pages of the leaflet, which is good enough for general information If you are not on a quick internet link this is particularly useful. The second version is a high-resolution version of just page two of the leaflet, which is a map. This is useful if you need to look closely at the map features.
We would recommend, however, that you don't use the leaflet for navigation - that instead you equip yourself with the local Ordnance Survey map - and know how to use it!