The Ministry of Defence is working with the Trail Riders Fellowship on a Salisbury Plain safety campaign as it warns that unauthorised access to military land can disrupt training and put visitors at risk.
The partnership, announced on 30 October, is part of the MOD’s Respect the Range campaign. A series of social media videos will show how recreational trail riders can use permitted routes responsibly, while protecting wildlife and allowing military exercises to take place.
It does not announce new rights to ride motorcycles across the training area. The rules governing access, including signs, byelaws and range closures, still apply.
Why the MOD is concerned
Salisbury Plain Training Area, north of Salisbury in Wiltshire, is used to prepare soldiers and military vehicles for operations. Members of the public can use specified rights of way and other areas where access is permitted, but the land’s primary purpose is military training.
In a separate warning in March 2026, the MOD said training activity had increased at Salisbury Plain and Aldershot, and that people entering prohibited areas were frequently interrupting exercises. According to the department, some exercises had to be paused or cancelled.
Lt Col Jamie Powell, senior training safety officer at Salisbury Plain, said:
Every time training is interrupted it creates delay, additional costs and potentially results in vital training being missed.
Graeme Collins, chair of the Trail Riders Fellowship, said the organisation supports efforts to explain safe and responsible use of the estate.
What red flags actually mean
Red flags during the day and red lights at night warn that access to a danger area is restricted. Visitors must follow the warning signals and signs on site, even if published firing times suggest no live firing is scheduled.
The MOD’s October Salisbury Plain newsletter explains that flags in the western training area remain raised and public access is prohibited there. In the central area, flags can also remain raised during major exercises without live firing, because heavy armoured vehicles may move through the area with little warning.
The eastern area has no red flags, according to the same guidance, but members of the public must still remain clear of troops and military vehicles. The MOD says warning flags are not left flying by mistake.
How to visit Salisbury Plain safely
- Check the official Salisbury Plain firing times before setting out. November 2026 information was added on 29 October, but plans can change at short notice.
- Obey red flags, red lights, warning signs, closed-road notices and instructions from military safety staff, regardless of published times.
- Use only routes where your activity is legally permitted. A right of way for walkers or horses does not automatically permit motorcycles.
- Keep dogs under control and in sight. Do not enter restricted or fenced areas, or leave permitted routes.
- Do not touch military debris or suspected unexploded items. Note the location from a safe distance and report it using official guidance.
The MOD’s public access guidance for south-west England also identifies areas, byelaws and restrictions for Salisbury Plain. Visitors should consult it alongside on-site notices; a calendar alone is not permission to enter.
Why the landscape matters too
Salisbury Plain is not only a training ground. According to the MOD, the wider estate extends across more than 38,000 hectares and contains about 40% of the UK’s remaining chalk grassland habitat. Around 20,000 hectares are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, with further protected habitats and bird areas.
The new videos are intended to show how leaving permitted routes or otherwise using the land irresponsibly can damage vulnerable habitats and wildlife. Responsible trail riding on authorised routes is distinct from illegal off-roading in restricted areas.
What the partnership changes
The announcement establishes cooperation between the MOD and the Trail Riders Fellowship to promote safer behaviour and greater awareness through social media videos. It does not identify new routes, change existing byelaws or provide evidence that all unauthorised access incidents involve trail riders.
For residents, walkers, dog owners, cyclists, riders and motorists, the practical advice remains the same: check official information, look for warning signals and follow the rules for the specific route and activity.
