Military Live-Fire Ranges
Jan 23, 2026
Military Live-Fire & Restricted Areas – Coastal Britain
Clockwise from Lowestoft (initial heading south)
Caveats
⚠️ Operational caveats
- Firing schedules, contacts, and procedures change frequently
- Admiralty / Imray charts, NTMs, NAVTEX, and Range Control on the day override this dataset
- No flags, lights, or noise does NOT mean safe
- Never commit past a point of no return without a satisfied decision rule
- When uncertain: hold, land, or reroute
Download: Military Live-Fire & Restricted Areas – Coastal Britain (v1.2)
LINK TO INTERACTIVE MAP (SHOWING LAT/LONG LOCATIONS)
EAST COAST (Lowestoft → Thames)
| # | Range name | Approx lat / long | Live-firing indicators (VHF / visual) | Telephone (range control) | Last safe landing before commitment | Decision rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shoeburyness Range | 51.53 N, 0.80 E | VHF “Shoeburyness Range” Ch 08; red flags / red lights | 01702 383111 | Southend-on-Sea / Leigh foreshore | Do not enter Thames sector without positive VHF confirmation |
| 2 | Foulness Island Range | 51.62 N, 0.93 E | VHF “Foulness Range” Ch 08; signage and lights | 01702 383111 | Shoebury / Wakering Stairs | No transit during activation — plan full avoidance or long wait |
SOUTH COAST (Thames → Dorset → Devon → Cornwall)
| # | Range name | Approx lat / long | Live-firing indicators (VHF / visual) | Telephone | Last safe landing before commitment | Decision rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Lulworth Ranges | 50.65 N, 2.15 W | VHF “Lulworth Range” Ch 08; red flags & lights | 01929 462721 | Kimmeridge Bay | Transit only when flags down and range confirmed cold |
| 4 | Portland Gunnery Areas | 50.52 N, 2.45 W | Portland Harbour Radio Ch 74; local notices | 01305 860200 | Portland Harbour (inside breakwater) | Tides dictate decision; confirm firing status secondarily |
WALES (South → North)
| # | Range name | Approx lat / long | Live-firing indicators (VHF / visual) | Telephone | Last safe landing before commitment | Decision rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Castlemartin Range | 51.62 N, 5.03 W | VHF “Castlemartin Range” Ch 08; red flags | 01646 662367 | Freshwater West / Angle Bay | Do not commit past last landing unless range confirmed inactive |
| 6 | Pendine Sands Range | 51.75 N, 4.50 W | Shore signage; local range control | 01994 453784 | Pendine village end / Laugharne | Beach closures govern decisions more than offshore risk |
| 7 | Aberporth Range | 52.13 N, 4.55 W | VHF “Aberporth Range” Ch 08; lights & flags | 01239 813301 | Tresaith / Aberporth village beach | No transit during activity — land and wait |
NORTH-WEST ENGLAND & SOUTH-WEST SCOTLAND
| # | Range name | Approx lat / long | Live-firing indicators (VHF / visual) | Telephone | Last safe landing before commitment | Decision rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Luce Bay Gunnery Range | 54.73 N, 4.83 W | VHF “Luce Bay Range” Ch 08; flags | 01776 870203 | Sandhead / Drummore | Cross only with explicit clearance |
| 9 | Dundrennan Range | 54.82 N, 3.83 W | VHF “Dundrennan Range” Ch 08 | 01556 670219 | Kippford / Rockcliffe | Land and wait if active — no safe offshore holding area |
NORTH-WEST SCOTLAND
| # | Range name | Approx lat / long | Live-firing indicators (VHF / visual) | Telephone | Last safe landing before commitment | Decision rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Cape Wrath Range | 58.63 N, 5.00 W | VHF “Cape Wrath Range” Ch 08; red flags | 01971 511242 | Kinlochbervie / Sandwood Bay | Absolute stop if active — do not round without clearance |
NORTH & EAST SCOTLAND (Heading South)
| # | Range name | Approx lat / long | Live-firing indicators (VHF / visual) | Telephone | Last safe landing before commitment | Decision rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Tain & Dornoch Firth Range | 57.82 N, 3.90 W | VHF “Tain Range” Ch 08 | 01862 832032 | Portmahomack / Dornoch beach | Remain inside firth until explicit clearance |
| 12 | Barry Buddon Range | 56.48 N, 2.75 W | Local Range Control; signage | 01382 552244 | Monifieth / Carnoustie | Shore access restrictions more critical than sea transit |
ENGLAND EAST COAST (North → South)
| # | Range name | Approx lat / long | Live-firing indicators (VHF / visual) | Telephone | Last safe landing before commitment | Decision rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Donna Nook Air Weapons Range | 53.48 N, 0.15 E | VHF “Donna Nook Range” Ch 08; red flags | 01472 398000 | Saltfleet / Mablethorpe | Transit only when range confirmed cold |
| 14 | Holbeach Air Weapons Range | 53.00 N, 0.03 E | VHF “Holbeach Range” Ch 08; red flags | 01406 540444 | Hunstanton / Wells-next-the-Sea | Do not commit into the Wash unless inactivity confirmed |