`Out-of-Bounds Britain' campaign: DEMAND THE RIGHT TO ROAM IN THESE KEY AREAS

CAMPAIGNERS, including the Ramblers' Association, the Open Spaces Society and the Dartmoor Preservation Association, have identified six key sites owned by the MoD where they feel more could be done to improve access for civilians.

CINQUE PORTS TRAINING AREA, LYDD, NEAR ROMNEY MARSH, KENT

The training area is sandwiched between the small town of Lydd and Dungeness nuclear power station, west of the larger town of Hythe. The neighbouring Ness is a mass of some 600 shingle ridges, each enjoying its own microclimate, and it supports many rare plant colonies and insects. The path in front of the training camp runs along the beach but is often closed when firing takes place, forcing walkers to make a five-mile detour inland.

BRECKLAND, NEAR GREAT CRESSINGHAM, NORFOLK

The MoD's 24,000-acre Breckland estate has been in military use since 1942. A vast area with no public roads, it is often described as "the England of 100 years ago", with no man-made structures in sight. The Army only uses it for tank manoeuvres, not live firing. "They can't use all of it all of the time, there's no way they can," said David Beskine, campaigns director of the Ramblers' Association.

SALISBURY PLAIN, WILTSHIRE

A range close to several population centres and used for tank training. Twelve years ago the MoD closed off 30 miles of public footpaths around Larkhill, an area which is home to several tenant farmers. "We've always maintained that as the Army was not firing artillery shells, the public should be able to walk across this area when it is not in use," said Beskine.

DARTMOOR, HOME TO 27 ARMY FIRING RANGES

One of the finest landscapes in Britain, where military training has taken place since 1800. The case for opening up the park, much of which is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, started with Prince Charles, who in 1989 considered asking the Army to leave the park. He changed his mind and gave the MoD a 21-year lease. "We were disappointed," said Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society. "Much of northern Dartmoor is closed to the public for a lot of the year and they're not very efficient at opening it up when it's not in use." When only "dry" training with blank ammunition, as opposed to live firing, takes place, the Ramblers' Association says areas such as Willsworthy, near Tavistock, should be opened up permanently.

CASTLEMARTIN, PEMBROKESHIRE

The coastal path, blocked off for a six-mile stretch for tank firing could, campaigners argue, be opened permanently to the public without the slightest risk. "The MoD won't drive its tanks along or up to the cliff edge, will they?" said David Beskine. "Castlemartin is similar to Lulworth Cove in set-up and military use and I fail to see why the Army is more generous in one place and less in another one."

OTTERBURN, NORTHUMBERLAND

Walkers say two areas could be opened more often. One is the north and western part of the training area, where no live firing takes place. The other is the southern section, from Otterburn camp up to the Coquet valley. "We should be able to walk more freely there," said Terry Pollard, chairman of the northern area of the Ramblers' Association. "The local hunt can go all over the place, so I don't see why walkers can't."