Salisbury Plain Training Area

53 posts

The Army started land purchase on Salisbury Plain in 1897 and the total area of the current estate is just over 38,000 hectares. The Training Area measures 25 miles by 10 miles (40 km by 16 km) and occupies about one ninth of the county of Wiltshire.

Defence Training Estate Salisbury Plain (DTE SP) provides walkers with the opportunity to see an archaeological landscape, which is of unparalleled importance in Northern Europe. There are some 2,300 archaeological sites including features dating back to 4000 BC, along with more recent Roman settlements. Salisbury Plain has one of the most dense concentrations of ancient long and round barrows anywhere in Britain.

Salisbury Plain is the largest area of chalk grassland in north-west Europe and contains 40% of the remaining area of this habitat in the UK. In recognition of its importance about 20,000 hectares of grassland have been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area Conservation (SAC).

Species supported within the grassland include butterflies now uncommon in Britain such as marsh fritillary, adonis blue and brown hairstreak. All have healthy populations in the area. ATE SP is also designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds, such as the stone curlew where 10% of the UK population are found. Roe deer are numerous and are often seen by day.
Access Opportunities

A variety of access is available on DTE SP including the Imber Range Perimeter Path (IRPP), a waymarked route (see link under “Related pages”). The eastern third of DTE SP, the area shown as managed access on the OS Explorer map, is where the majority of access is available. The numerous rights of way remain open during military training, even when tanks are manoeuvring.

Salisbury Plain

The Bulford Ranges are adjacent to the managed access area and are closed to the public during Live Firing. They are used extensively, normally five days per week, Tuesday and Thursday evenings and at least one weekend per month. Red flags are flown or lamps lit at night around the danger areas, at which time public access is prohibited. When the flags are down or lamps unlit at night you may enter this Danger Area.
Further Information from…

For further information, call 01980 674763. An answer phone recording gives up to date information on areas open for public access.
OS Map References

OS Landranger Sheets 183 and 184 (1:50,000) OS Explorer Sheets 130 and 143 (1:25,000)

Salisbury Plain Training Area Newsletter December 2013

Salisbury Plain Training Area Newsletter – December 2013 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/salisbury-plain-imber-range-perimeter-pathThis Newsletter can be found at the above link TRAININGDecember will see a significant reduction in training on the Plain. 1 – 6 Dec. The Defence Logistic School will run their final exercise TIMBER TRUSS during which large convoys of heavy vehicles […]

Salisbury Plain Training Area Newsletter November 2013

Salisbury Plain Training Area Newsletter November 2013 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/salisbury-plain-imber-range-perimeter-pathThis Newsletter can be found at the above link STOP PRESS Tidworth and Bulford Garrison Bonfire at Old Carter Barracks on 7 November (Gates open at 1700, Guy Fawkes Competition at 1715 and Bonfire lit at 1830) – for more details call 01980 […]

Salisbury Plain Training Area Newsletter October 2013

Salisbury Plain Training Area Newsletter October 2013 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/salisbury-plain-imber-range-perimeter-pathThis Newsletter can be found at the above link or follow Salisbury Plain or on Twitter @MOD_DIO   STOP PRESS 1. Exercise PASHTUN DAWN (27th August to 5th September) prepared the next brigade to deploy into Afghanistan and was one of the largest […]

Salisbury Plain Training Area Newsletter – September 2013

Salisbury Plain Training Area Newsletter September 2013 Updated https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/salisbury-plain-imber-range-perimeter-pathThis Newsletter can be found at the above link. STOP PRESSDetails for the St Giles day service at Imber Church have just changed and the Newsletter reissued. Users of Salisbury Plain can now get up-to-date information about the training area thanks to […]

Salisbury Plain Training Area Newsletter- March 2013

Salisbury Plain Training Area Newsletter – March 2013 https://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/DefenceEstateandEnvironmentPublications/AccessAndRecreation/SalisburyPlainimberRangePerimeterPath.htmThis Newsletter can be found at the above link. The MOD Access site has been moved to a new central site at Gov.UK. Some difficulties have been experienced but it is hoped that these will be resolved in the near future. Or […]

Salisbury Plain Training Area Newsletter- February 2013

Salisbury Plain Training Area Newsletter- February 2013 https://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/DefenceEstateandEnvironmentPublications/AccessAndRecreation/SalisburyPlainimberRangePerimeterPath.htmThis Newsletter can be found at the above link. The MOD Access site has been moved to a new central site at Gov.UK. Some difficulties have been experienced but it is hoped that these will be resolved in the near future. or you […]

SPTA Newsletter January 2013

Salisbury Plain Training AreaNewsletterJanuary 2013https://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/DefenceEstateandEnvironmentPublications/AccessAndRecreation/SalisburyPlainimberRangePerimeterPath.htm STOP PRESS Military Road Works – Eastern Infrastructure Plan (EIP)Work on the closing sections of this project are planned to take place as follows:New Road – Golf Golf Crossing to Perham Down ranges – Nov 2012 to Jul 2013New Tank Crossing (Papa Golf) over Somme […]