Guidance

East England - public access to military areas

Information about public access to military-owned land in East England.

Accessing the training estate safely

East region firing times

East Anglia byelaws

East Midlands byelaws

Essex byelaws

Respect the range

Barton Road Rifle Range

Location

Barton Road is located southwest of Cambridge between Barton and Comberton.

Site description

皇冠体育app site is a 1200-yard rifle range in the countryside of Cambridgeshire.

Access restrictions

When red flags (day) or red lights (night) are displayed, access to the Range Danger Area (RDA) is prohibited.

皇冠体育app public footpath across the range is also closed during live firing.

Access opportunities

A small network of public rights of way, including Whitwell Way, connect the local villages across fields.

East region firing times

Beckingham training area

Location

Beckingham training area is east of Newark-on-Trent, adjacent to Stapleford Wood near the village of Beckingham.

Site description

This area is mainly grassland in the floodplain of the River Witham, where a variety of wild plants grow due to the waterlogged fields in winter and consistent management. It is also home to a wide range of insects and birds.

Access restrictions

皇冠体育appre is no access at any time to the RDA where live firing takes place.

Access opportunities

皇冠体育appre is a network of public rights of way, mainly in the western area of the site. Please keep to these rights of way.

East region firing times

Fingringhoe Ranges

Location

Fingringhoe Ranges are South of Colchester, in the Colne Estuary.

Site description

皇冠体育app area is remote, with much of the site below sea level. 皇冠体育app landscape consists of reclaimed wetland and marsh, waterside communities and woodland.

皇冠体育app marshland is part of the Colne Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and is also designated a 鈥楻amsar鈥� site, as well as a Special Protection Area (SPA). 皇冠体育appre is a nature reserve northeast of the site.

Access restrictions

Public access is limited to public rights of way due to live firing and training.

Access opportunities

A public footpath follows the northern and western boundaries of the site.

East region firing times

MOD byelaws: Essex

Friday Woods training area

Location

皇冠体育app training area is on the southern perimeter of Colchester, a large garrison town. 皇冠体育app area is used for dry training.

Site description

皇冠体育app estate is a mixture of woodland, arable cropping and grassland, including Donyland Woods. Some of the land is designated as part of the Roman River SSSI.

Access restrictions

When red flags (day) or red lights (night) are displayed, access is prohibited.

All green space is subject to the Colchester and District Military Lands Byelaws 1973.

Access opportunities

Public rights of way provide access through the training area.

East region firing times

MOD byelaws: Essex

Stanford Training Area

Location

Stanford Training Area consists of heath, woodland and farmland which is used for a variety of army training activities, including live firing.

Access restrictions

皇冠体育appre is generally no access to the Stanford Training Area - visitors should check access times with the Range Control before visiting.

When red flags (day) or red lights (night) are displayed access is prohibited.

Access opportunities

皇冠体育appre is limited access to a permissive path on the East Bank of Watton Brook.

Contact

  • Range Control: 01842 855367 (24 hours)

East region firing times

Updates to this page

Published 19 October 2022
Last updated 23 January 2025 show all updates
  1. Updated safety information.

  2. First published.

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