Campfire rules in the UK — where you can and can't light one
Open fires are one of the great joys of camping — but the rules vary by location, season, and site. Here's the definitive guide to campfire legality and safety in the UK, so you know exactly where you stand.
The campfire is the oldest and most primal part of camping — it provides light, warmth, cooking, community, and an excuse to stare into the middle distance for hours. It's also the part most frequently restricted, misunderstood, or abused. Here's the honest guide to when and where you can light one in the UK.
When fires are allowed
There is no blanket rule in the UK that permits or bans campfires. Whether you can light a fire depends on three things in combination: who owns the land, what rules that land is subject to, and current weather and fire-risk conditions.
On formal UK campsites, the site's own rules govern fires. Many campsite bookings explicitly state whether open fires are permitted on pitches, in designated fire areas, or in raised fire pits. A campsite that says “no open fires, fire pits provided” means exactly that — you cannot have a fire on your pitch, but you can use the communal fire pit. Read the campsite rules before you arrive and again before you light anything.
On wild camping land in Scotland, fires are permitted under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code in most conditions, but must be on mineral soil (not peat, not near roots), must be kept small, and must be fully extinguished before leaving with cold water and raked embers. In fire conditions — extended dry spells, high winds — the code strongly advises against fires even where they're normally permitted.
Site rules vs land rules
A campsite on private land operates its own rules, separate from any national or regional land regulations. A site might allow fires where the national park advises against them, or might ban them more strictly than the law requires. The site rules are the binding ones while you're on their land. Always check the specific campsite booking page or contact the site directly if the policy isn't clear.
In national parks in England and Wales — the Lake District, Peak District, Dartmoor — fire regulations exist but vary. Many open moorland areas have fire bans in dry summer conditions, announced by the national park authority. These are advisory in some cases and legally enforceable in others. Check the relevant national park website in dry conditions before lighting anything on open land.
Scotland during dry spells
Scotland is experiencing more prolonged dry spells than historically, and fire risk in the Highlands and moorland has become a more significant concern. During dry conditions — several weeks without significant rain — voluntary fire bans are frequently issued by national parks and fire services. Cairngorms National Park, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, and Highland Council all publish fire advice during risk periods.
Even where fires are technically permitted, common sense prevails: if the ground is tinder-dry, there's been no rain for two weeks, and a wind has picked up, this is not the moment for a campfire. The damage caused by accidental moorland fires in Scotland in recent years has been significant. A gas stove cooks the same food with none of the risk.
Leave No Trace fire guidance
Leave No Trace UK recommends using existing fire rings where they exist rather than creating new ones. Keep fires small. Burn only dead and downed wood — never cut from living trees. Burn all wood to ash and scatter cold ash rather than leaving a fire ring as a permanent feature. On heavily used sites, this last point matters enormously: the build-up of fire rings and charred wood rings is one of the most visible signs of irresponsible camping.
Fire pit alternatives
Elevated fire bowls and fire pits that hold fire off the ground have become increasingly popular in the UK camping market. They're permitted at many UK campsites that ban open ground fires, they leave no trace on the grass, and they're significantly easier to control. A good steel fire bowl for campsite camping costs £30–80 and lasts years. At UK campsites that provide communal fire pits, these are usually the best option — social, safe, and typically positioned in a sensible location away from tents. A gas fire table is another option for sites that ban any form of open fire.