Campfire Rules in the UK: Where You Can Light, What to Burn and What the Law Says

Campfire rules in the UK depend on where you are, who owns the land, and whether local restrictions are in force. This guide covers the legal framework for England, Wales, and Scotland, where campfires are prohibited, what the universal safety obligations are, and which wood produces the cleanest and safest outdoor burn.

Is It Legal to Have a Campfire in the UK?

There is no blanket law banning campfires in the UK, but there is equally no automatic right to light one. Legality is determined by land ownership, local byelaws, and current fire risk conditions. The campfire rules that apply in the Cairngorms are not the same as those that apply on the banks of a Cotswold stream, and this distinction matters before you set off.

England and Wales

In England and Wales, lighting a campfire on land you do not own requires explicit permission from the landowner. This applies regardless of how open or remote the land appears. The government's own fire safety guidance advises the public to avoid open fires in the countryside and to use only designated fire areas. Many commons, access land areas, and open spaces are managed by public bodies such as Natural England and the National Trust, each of which has its own campfire rules and fire policies. Byelaws under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 give National Park Authorities the power to restrict or prohibit open fires on access land.

Source: GOV.UK – Fire Safety Outdoors

National Parks: explicit bans

Several National Parks in England have issued explicit prohibitions on campfires and barbecues on open access land. The Lake District National Park states that barbecues and open fires are not permitted anywhere in the Park. The New Forest is designated a complete no-BBQ and no-fire zone by the National Park Authority. The Peak District National Park, supported by major landowners, confirmed that campfires are not permitted anywhere in the open countryside, with Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) carrying fines of up to £1,000 in certain areas. Dartmoor's byelaws explicitly prohibit lighting or tending an open fire on access land.

Scotland

Scotland's campfire rules are significantly more permissive. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 grants responsible access rights to most unenclosed land, and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code includes campfires within those rights. However, the Code prohibits fires in forests, farmland, peaty ground, cultural heritage sites, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Areas, and Special Areas of Conservation. Fires within 30 metres of a road are also excluded. Seasonal restrictions apply during dry spells, and fire risk alerts are published by local authorities and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Conditions can change quickly, so checking current status before travel is essential.

Source: Scottish Outdoor Access Code – Camping guidance (NatureScot)

Where You Can and Cannot Light a Campfire in the UK

The table below covers the most common settings UK campers encounter. Each has a different regulatory framework, and campfire rules can differ substantially even within the same location type.

Permission, location type, and current fire risk are the three variables that determine whether campfire rules allow you to light. Scotland is the most permissive; National Parks and Forestry England land are the most restrictive. If guidance is unclear for your specific destination, contact the land manager before travelling.

For step-by-step guidance on how to build and manage a campfire once you have confirmed legality, see: How to Light a Campfire: Camping Tips for Beginners.

Campfire Rules You Must Follow Regardless of Location

Some campfire rules apply universally across the UK. These are practical obligations that come with lighting any open fire in a shared landscape, regardless of whether you have obtained the necessary permission.

Keep fires small and supervised

A campfire does not need to be large to cook food or provide warmth. A fire contained within one metre is easier to manage, produces less smoke, and far simpler to extinguish fully. Never leave a campfire unattended, even briefly. Natural England's wildfire guidance notes that portable BBQs, campfires, and cigarette butts are among the biggest causes of wildfire damage to Sites of Special Scientific Interest in England. The Forestry Commission publishes seasonal fire risk information, and these ratings should be checked before lighting any outdoor fire between April and September.

Source: Natural England blog – Wildfire and the Countryside Code

Leave no trace and check conditions on the day

Scatter ash once fully cold, dismantle stone fire rings, and return the landscape to the state you found it. Using a fire mat minimises ground damage and is a condition of access on some managed sites. Fire and rescue services can issue warnings that restrict outdoor burning across wide areas at short notice, overriding any permissions already in place. Campfire rules always include an obligation to assess current conditions before lighting, not just at the planning stage.

Smoke nuisance and the law

Even where a campfire is otherwise permitted, smoke causing nuisance to others can trigger legal consequences. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, smoke prejudicial to health or constituting a statutory nuisance is an actionable offence. Smoke drifting across a public road is an offence under the Highways Act 1980.

What Wood to Use on a Campfire in the UK

The type of wood you burn affects how safely a campfire behaves, how much smoke it produces, and how easy it is to extinguish. Campfire rules do not always specify fuel type, but choosing the wrong wood creates avoidable problems for everyone sharing the outdoor space.

Why damp or green wood causes problems

Green wood contains 40 to 60 percent moisture by weight. When burned, a large proportion of the fire's energy is used to evaporate that moisture rather than produce heat. The result is excessive smoke, unpredictable flames, and an ember bed that is harder to extinguish reliably. For campfires, where airflow is less controlled than in a closed stove, moisture content matters even more. Poorly dried wood is also more likely to produce heavy smoke that triggers nuisance complaints or draws unwanted attention from land managers.

The best firewood species for camping

Kiln dried hardwood is the most reliable choice for any campfire in the UK. It arrives at a guaranteed moisture content below 20 percent, lights predictably, and burns with a controllable, low-smoke flame. The table below covers the most practical UK hardwood species for outdoor use.

Oak and ash are the most practical choices for sustained campfires. Birch lights quickly and helps establish a fire before heavier logs are added. Beech suits social fires where an attractive, steady flame matters as much as heat output.

For further detail on campfire species performance: Best Wood for Camping Fires: Long-Lasting and Easy to Burn.

Browse our range of kiln dried softwood logs for a lightweight, fast-igniting option well suited to camping and portable fire pits.

Can you collect wood from the forest?

Taking wood from forestry land or any land you do not own is generally not permitted without landowner consent, even if the wood appears fallen. On Northern Ireland Forest Service land, visitors must obtain explicit permission before lighting any fire or using any cooking device outside set areas. Deadwood plays an important ecological role in managed woodland and is protected in many sites. Bringing your own dry logs is both the legal and the environmentally responsible choice.

Source: NI Direct – Stay Safe and Be Responsible in Public Forests

See more: The Best Firewood to Burn at Home in the UK

How to Extinguish a Campfire Safely

More fire damage in the UK countryside results from poor extinguishing than from irresponsible lighting. A campfire that appears dead can retain heat capable of reigniting for hours under the right conditions.

The three-stage extinguishing method

Stop adding fuel at least thirty to forty-five minutes before you need to leave. Pour water slowly and evenly over the full area of embers, not just the visibly glowing sections. Stir the ash, turn over any larger charred pieces, and pour water again. Repeat until the ash is cool enough to hold your palm above it comfortably without feeling heat. Spreading a thick layer of dry soil over the embers and mixing it in works where water is unavailable, but water is substantially more effective.

Mistakes that leave fires active

Burying embers is one of the most dangerous extinguishing errors: buried material can retain heat for twelve hours or more and reignite when disturbed. Scattering embers to speed cooling simply distributes the risk across a wider area. A fire with no visible flame can still ignite dry grass or leaf litter under the right wind conditions. Campfire rules are clear: the fire is not out until the ash is cold, wet, and thoroughly mixed.

See more: Can You Store Kiln Dried Logs Outside?

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions below address the most common points of confusion around campfire rules in the UK.

Can you have a campfire on a beach in the UK?

This varies by location. Many beaches are owned or managed by local authorities with specific byelaws on open fires. Some allow fires below the high-tide line; others have outright bans near dune systems or protected coastal habitat. In Scotland, the inter-tidal foreshore carries common law rights for public recreational use that include lighting a fire, subject to the usual conditions of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Confirming campfire rules with the local council or land manager before visiting remains the safest approach.

What are the fines for breaching campfire rules?

Byelaw breaches under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 carry a fine at Level 2 on the Standard Scale. PSPOs in areas such as the Peak District can carry fines of up to £1,000. Statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 can result in fines of up to £5,000 for domestic fires. Causing a wildfire through negligence can result in unlimited fines and, in serious cases, custodial sentences.

Do campfire rules change in summer?

Yes. In dry weather, temporary restrictions can come into force quickly and override existing permissions. Forestry England publishes fire alerts that can restrict campfire areas at short notice. In Scotland, fire risk warnings from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service can suspend access rights relating to campfires. Checking fire risk on the day of travel, not just at the planning stage, is a core part of responsible campfire practice in the UK.

What is the safest wood to burn on a campfire?

Kiln dried hardwood with moisture content below 20 percent. It lights reliably, produces minimal smoke, burns predictably, and leaves manageable ash. Always avoid treated, painted, or composite wood, which releases toxic compounds when burned. Green or damp wood is harder to control and produces heavy smoke that affects other people sharing the outdoor space.

The campfire rules that apply across the UK come down to three practical questions: do you have permission, are there local restrictions in place, and are conditions currently safe to light? Answer those correctly, choose dry kiln dried hardwood, and extinguish thoroughly, and a campfire remains one of the most rewarding outdoor experiences available in Britain. Check the rules for your specific location before you leave, and contact the land manager directly if anything is unclear.