Best Camping UK Sites That Allow Campfires: A Region-by-Region Guide

The best camping UK sites for campfires are spread across the South West, Wales, the Lake District, and Scotland. Not all camping UK sites allow open fires, so checking campfire policies before booking is essential. Sites that permit fires typically provide fire pits and may sell or allow you to bring kiln dried logs with moisture content below 20%.

There are thousands of camping UK sites to choose from, but only a fraction of them allow campfires. Whether you want to toast marshmallows with the family, cook over open flames, or simply gather round the fire after a long day walking, finding the right camping UK sites matters. This guide covers the best campfire-friendly camping UK sites by region and exactly what firewood to bring so your fire performs from the first spark.

Why Campfire-Friendly Camping UK Sites Are Worth Seeking Out

A campfire changes the entire tone of a camping trip. The warmth, the light, and the ritual of building and tending a fire bring people together in a way that a camping stove or a porch light simply cannot. Yet the reality is that a growing number of camping UK sites have restricted or banned open fires altogether, citing safety risks, fire damage to grass, and increased smoke complaints. That makes camping UK sites that actively welcome campfires genuinely valuable, and worth planning around.

What UK campsite campfire rules typically look like

Policies vary widely from one camping UK site to another, so it is worth understanding the most common formats before you book. The table below outlines the four main campfire policy types you are likely to encounter.

Most campfire-friendly sites fall into the fire pits only category, which offers the best balance of fire experience and site safety. Sites that require certified wood are increasingly common as DEFRA smoke regulations tighten.

Best Camping UK Sites with Campfires: South West England

The South West remains the most popular region for camping UK sites, and it has a strong tradition of campfire culture. Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset are particularly well served by independently run farm camping UK sites and woodland camps that actively encourage fires rather than simply tolerating them.

Top picks: Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset

Kitewood Camping in Cornwall is one of the standout camping UK sites. Set in 60 acres of woodland with just 12 pitches, each pitch has its own sheltered campfire area with a fire pit included. The site has a quiet, family feel and the small scale means the campfire experience is never crowded. Tregedna Farm Campsite near Falmouth is another well-regarded camping UK site that allows fires on grass pitches, with a relaxed policy that suits families.

In Devon, Brownscombe Luxury Camping offers fire pits as a standard feature alongside more premium glamping options. Pineapple Estate in West Dorset, conveniently positioned for exploring the Jurassic Coast, welcomes campfires using sustainably sourced fuel and is popular with couples and small groups.

Bringing your own kiln dried hardwood logs guarantees a clean, long-lasting fire wherever you camp in the South West. See our kiln dried hardwood logs for Ready to Burn certified options delivered across the UK.

Best Camping UK Sites with Campfires: Wales

Wales has become one of the most popular destinations for camping UK sites, and its campfire culture is thriving. Pembrokeshire, Snowdonia, and the Brecon Beacons all have excellent options for fire-friendly camping UK sites, often with a wilder, more off-grid feel than equivalent sites in England.

Campfire-friendly sites in Pembrokeshire and Snowdonia

Top of the Woods near Pembrokeshire National Park is one of the most consistently recommended campfire camping UK sites in Wales. Set within its own woodland and close to rugged coastal walking, the site allows open fires and has fire pits available on request. It suits both campers and glampers, with yurts and bell tents alongside standard pitches.

In Snowdonia, Graig Wen near Barmouth provides fire pits on its wild camping field and has a relaxed, nature-first ethos. The site looks out over the Mawddach Estuary and is managed with sustainability in mind, which means using low-smoke, dry firewood is actively encouraged. Further into mid-Wales, sites along the Wye Valley near Hay-on-Wye offer riverside pitches where campfires are part of the appeal.

See more: Best Wood for Camping Fires: Long-Lasting and Easy to Burn

Best Camping UK Sites with Campfires: Lake District and Yorkshire

The further north you go in England, the more a campfire stops being a luxury and starts being a necessity. Evening temperatures in the Lake District can drop sharply even in mid-summer, and the best camping UK sites in this region know it: a well-built fire using good hardwood logs makes the difference between a comfortable evening and an early retreat to a sleeping bag.

Sites with fire pits in the Lake District

Low Wray National Trust Campsite on the shores of Lake Windermere is one of the most scenic camping UK sites in England. It allows campfires in metal fire bowls and has a brilliant view west over the water. Full Circle Camping near Keswick is a smaller, more rustic camping UK site that actively welcomes fires and has a communal fire circle for evening gatherings.

Eskdale Campsite in the Cumbrian fells is open most of the year and has 100 pitches with hookup options alongside more basic tent spots. It sits within easy walking distance of several peaks and allows campfires subject to site conditions.

Yorkshire and Peak District options

In Yorkshire, Studfold Adventure Camping near Pateley Bridge is a popular family camping UK site with fire pits on most pitches. The River Wharfe runs through the nearby valley and the site has a genuine countryside feel rather than the holiday park atmosphere found elsewhere. In the Peak District, Fieldhead Campsite in Edale is a well-run walkers' camping UK site that allows fires in designated areas and sits at the start of the Pennine Way.

For the Lake District and Yorkshire in particular, where evenings are cool and fires burn longer, hardwood logs make a real difference in heat output. Read our guide on which wood burns the hottest in the UK to choose the right species for your trip.

Best Camping UK Sites with Campfires: Scotland

Scotland occupies a unique position among camping UK sites when it comes to campfires. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act gives walkers and campers the right to camp on most unenclosed land, and campfires are generally permitted as long as they are managed responsibly. This creates a completely different set of options compared to camping UK sites in England and Wales, where permission is always required.

Glenbrittle and Isle of Skye options

Glenbrittle Campsite on the Isle of Skye is one of the most dramatic camping UK sites in the country. Set in a valley beneath the Black Cuillins with a white sand beach a short walk away, the site allows campfires and the setting makes a fire feel genuinely necessary. The remoteness is part of the appeal: there are no distractions and the evening campfire becomes the focal point.

Kintail Camping and Caravanning Club site near Loch Duich offers a more managed camping UK site experience with fire pits and excellent mountain views. It is popular with those walking the Five Sisters ridge or simply exploring the western Highlands.

Understanding Scotland's different campfire rules

Even with the right to roam, Scotland's Outdoor Access Code asks campers to keep fires small, to use a fire pan where possible to avoid scorching the ground, and to source wood responsibly rather than breaking live branches. Using kiln dried logs brought from home is the most consistent way to comply with these principles while still enjoying a full fire.

What Firewood to Bring to Your UK Campsite

Choosing the right firewood is one of the most practical decisions you make when planning a trip to camping UK sites. The wrong choice means a smoky, difficult fire that disturbs neighbours and may even break site rules. The right choice means an easy-to-light, long-burning fire that delivers real warmth and atmosphere.

Kiln dried vs foraged wood: the legal and practical difference

Many campers assume they can collect wood from the surrounding area when they arrive at a campsite. In practice, this creates several problems. Most UK campsites prohibit collecting wood from the site or nearby land. Foraged wood is invariably wet, with moisture content between 25% and 50%, which produces thick smoke and burns inefficiently. Under DEFRA regulations, burning wet wood is restricted in smoke control areas. The comparison below sets out the key differences.

Kiln dried logs win on every practical measure for camping. The moisture content is consistent, the burn is predictable, and there are no legal complications. Hardwood species such as oak, ash, and birch offer the best combination of heat output and burn duration for an evening campfire.

How much firewood do you need for a weekend camping trip?

A practical rule for planning is to allow roughly 3 to 5 logs per hour of active fire for a medium-sized campfire. For a standard camping weekend with two evenings of campfire time lasting 2 to 3 hours each, that equates to 12 to 30 logs in total. A 20kg box of kiln dried hardwood logs typically contains 25 to 35 medium-sized logs depending on the species, which covers a full weekend trip with a small margin.

For shorter, hotter fires for campfire cooking, you will use fewer logs overall but want denser hardwood species such as oak for consistent cooking heat. For a longer, more atmospheric evening fire where warmth and light matter more than cooking temperature, birch and ash light quickly and maintain a good flame.

For a breakdown of which species suits each type of fire, see our best firewood to burn chart for the UK covering heat output, burn time, and appliance suitability.

Ready to Burn certified logs: why it matters at campsites

Ready to Burn is the UK certification standard confirming wood has been independently tested and verified at below 20% moisture content at the point of sale. Woodsure is the equivalent quality assurance scheme. Both mean you can hand a log to any campsite manager with confidence that it meets UK smoke regulations and will not cause issues with neighbouring pitches or local air quality rules.

As campsite environmental policies tighten, some sites are beginning to ask for proof that firewood is certified before allowing it on site. Carrying Ready to Burn certified kiln dried logs removes that uncertainty entirely.

Our kiln dried logs are certified Ready to Burn with moisture content below 20%, delivered across the UK.

Campfire Safety Rules at UK Campsites

Safety rules at camping UK sites are not simply bureaucratic requirements. They exist because campfire incidents are one of the most common causes of injury and insurance claims at outdoor sites. Understanding the rules before you arrive at camping UK sites, and following them reliably, is what separates a campfire that enhances a trip from one that ends it early.

Fire restrictions and smoke regulations

In England and Wales, the Clean Air Act and DEFRA regulations restrict the burning of wet wood in smoke control areas. Many camping UK sites in and around towns, national parks, and areas of outstanding natural beauty fall within these designations. Using kiln dried logs with moisture content below 20% is the most straightforward way to comply with these restrictions at any camping UK site you visit.

Scotland operates under the Land Reform Act and its own outdoor access code, which asks campers to leave no lasting fire damage and to extinguish fires completely before moving on. During dry spells or drought conditions, fire restriction notices may apply across wide areas of Scotland and Wales, so checking local conditions before lighting is always wise.

Understanding which wood burns cleanest matters as much as which burns hottest. Our seasoned logs vs kiln dried logs guide explains the difference in smoke output and why it affects campsite compliance.

Campfire etiquette checklist

The checklist below covers the key actions before, during, and after your campfire to keep the experience safe, legal, and considerate of other campers.

Following these steps protects your campsite from fire damage, keeps neighbouring campers comfortable, and ensures the site continues to allow campfires for future visitors.

FAQ: Camping UK Sites and Campfires

Can you have a campfire at any UK campsite?

No. Many camping UK sites prohibit open fires for safety or environmental reasons. Always check the campfire policy on the camping UK site's booking page or call ahead before assuming fires are allowed.

Is it legal to collect wood at UK campsites for a campfire?

In most cases, no. Collecting wood from a camping UK site or nearby land without permission is likely to breach site rules and may constitute trespass. Bringing your own kiln dried logs is both more practical and fully legal.

What is the best wood to bring camping in the UK?

Kiln dried hardwood is the best choice for camping UK sites. Oak and ash offer long burn times and high heat output. Birch lights easily and provides a bright flame. All should be certified below 20% moisture for clean, smoke-free burning.

How much firewood should I pack for a 2-night camping trip?

Allow 3 to 5 logs per hour of active fire. For two evenings of 2 to 3 hours each, a 20kg box of hardwood logs covers the trip with a reasonable margin for varying conditions.

Do UK campsites sell firewood on site?

Some camping UK sites sell firewood on site, but availability and quality vary widely. On-site wood is often unseasoned or overpriced. Bringing your own Ready to Burn certified kiln dried logs guarantees consistent quality and moisture content.

What does Ready to Burn mean for camping firewood?

Ready to Burn is a UK certification confirming the wood has been independently tested at below 20% moisture content. It ensures the wood burns cleanly, with minimal smoke, and complies with DEFRA regulations at any camping UK site.

Are campfires allowed in UK national parks?

Policies vary by national park. The Lake District and Peak District generally permit fires in designated areas on managed camping UK sites. Wild camping with fires is not permitted in most English national parks without explicit landowner permission.

Can you do wild camping with a campfire in England?

Wild camping is generally not legal in England or Wales without landowner permission, with the exception of Dartmoor. Scotland is different, with a statutory right to camp and light campfires on most unenclosed land under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act.

Ready for Your Next Campfire?

The best camping UK sites for campfires are out there across every region, from the woodlands of Cornwall to the beaches of Skye. Finding camping UK sites that allow fires is only half the preparation. Bringing the right wood makes the fire itself worth gathering around. Kiln dried hardwood logs with verified moisture content below 20% light quickly, burn long, and keep every campsite fire clean from start to finish.

Browse our kiln dried hardwood logs and kiln dried softwood logs for Ready to Burn certified firewood delivered across the UK.