Campfire Law in the UK — When and Where Fires Are Legal

Is It Legal to Light a Campfire?

There's no single "campfire law" in the UK. Instead, whether you can light a fire depends on where you are, who owns the land, and what rules apply to that specific area.

The general position: you can light a fire if the landowner has given you permission. Without permission, you're likely breaking rules — even if there's no one around to see it.

CRoW Act Access Land

On access land designated under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, fires are restricted. Section 2 of the Act sets out the right of access, and Schedule 2 lists restrictions — including a prohibition on lighting or tending fires that could damage or endanger the land.

In practice, this means: no campfires on access land unless the landowner has specifically permitted them.

Private Land With Permission

If you have the landowner's permission to light a fire, you're on solid ground legally. Many farms, estates, and private woodlands are happy for responsible visitors to have small campfires — just ask.

When you have permission, you should still:

• Keep the fire small and contained
• Use existing fire rings if available
• Never leave a fire unattended
• Fully extinguish before leaving
• Avoid lighting fires in dry or windy conditions

Forestry Commission and Forestry England

Forestry England (and equivalents in Scotland and Wales) generally does not permit open fires on its land. This includes forest floors, clearings, and car park areas. The risk of forest fire is the primary concern.

Some Forestry England campsites have designated fire pits or barbecue areas — but these are specific permissions, not a general rule.

National Parks

Each national park has its own position on campfires:

• Most English and Welsh national parks: Campfires are discouraged or prohibited on open land. Check the specific park's guidance.
• Dartmoor: No fires in the designated camping areas under the current bylaws.
• Scottish national parks: The Scottish Outdoor Access Code permits fires if done responsibly — see our Scottish wild camping guide. But peat ground, dry conditions, and proximity to woodland are all reasons not to light up.

Beach Fires

Beach fires are popular in summer, but they're not automatically legal:

• Many councils have bylaws prohibiting fires on beaches
• Some beaches allow fires in designated areas
• Leaving hot coals buried in sand is genuinely dangerous — people burn their feet every year
• Always check local council rules before lighting a beach fire

Fire Pits and Raised Fires

Using a fire pit or raised fire platform minimises ground damage and is often more acceptable to landowners. If you're wild camping and hoping to cook over fire, a portable fire pit that raises the fire off the ground is a much more responsible option.

However, a fire pit doesn't change the legal position — you still need to be somewhere fires are permitted.

When a Fire Becomes Criminal

If a fire you light gets out of control and damages property, vegetation, or other people's land, you could face:

• Criminal damage charges under the Criminal Damage Act 1971
• Arson charges if the fire was lit recklessly or the damage was serious
• Civil liability for the cost of firefighting, land restoration, and third-party damages

Even a well-intentioned campfire that spreads due to wind or dry conditions can result in serious legal consequences for the person who lit it.

Practical Tips

1. Ask first. If there's a landowner or manager, ask permission. Most appreciate being asked.
2. Use a stove instead. For cooking, a camping stove is more practical, legal, and environmentally friendly than a campfire in most situations.
3. If you do light a fire: Keep it small. Use dead wood. Clear the area around it. Never leave it unattended. Fully extinguish with water (not soil — soil insulates rather than extinguishes).
4. Never light fires on peat. Peat fires can burn underground for days or weeks and are extraordinarily difficult to extinguish.
5. Check fire risk warnings. During dry spells, fire risk can be extreme. Responsible campers don't light fires when conditions are dangerous, regardless of whether they technically can.

Leave No Trace Fire Practice

If you do have permission to light a fire, responsible fire management matters for both legal protection and environmental reasons. The Leave No Trace principles for fires are straightforward:

• Use an existing fire ring where one exists. Creating a new scar on the ground adds cumulative damage.
• Keep your fire small — no bigger than you need. A small fire cooks food just as well and is far easier to control and extinguish.
• Burn wood down to ash. Partially burned logs leave an ugly mess. Let them burn fully or remove them.
• Scatter cold ashes widely once the fire is completely out. The site should look as close to undisturbed as possible.
• Never build a fire ring from rocks on open land. It creates a permanent scar that invites others to build bigger fires in the same spot.

Understanding these practices doesn't just protect the environment — it demonstrates responsibility to landowners who may be deciding whether to continue allowing fires on their land.

Recommended Gear for Legal, Leave-No-Trace Cooking

Given the legal restrictions on campfires across most of the UK, a lightweight stove is the practical solution for outdoor cooking. These options let you cook anywhere without needing fire permission.

Related Guides

• Wild camping in England and Wales
• Wild camping in Scotland
• Dartmoor wild camping