John Bainbridge

Who is John Bainbridge?

John Bainbridge is an English author and campaigner for countryside preservation and access. He read Literature and Social History at the University of East Anglia.

Born in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, Bainbridge spent his childhood at 15 Ray Hall Lane, Great Barr, and was educated at Hamstead Primary School, Grove Vale School and Dartmouth Comprehensive. It was from there that he began exploring the British countryside, often taking walking tours that lasted for months at a time. He moved to Devon as a teenager and became very knowledgeable about Dartmoor.

Bainbridge served as chief executive of the Dartmoor Preservation Association from 1996–2005, and led the victorious campaign to save the archaeologically important Shaugh Moor from waste tipping by the china clay industry. He led the campaign for right to roam in Devon, which culminated in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. He has opposed the military presence on Dartmoor, for which he was praised by Anthony Steen MP in the House of Commons in 2003.

An unapologetic trespasser Bainbridge remains a steadfast campaigner for countryside access.