Why pick a fire-friendly campsite?
Get ready for the glow
Nothing quite beats huddling around a campfire, no matter the time of year. It’s a thing that’s founded on simple pleasures – there’s telling ghostly tales while keeping an eye out for werewolves, cooking stews and sausages over the embers, more or less successfully singing along to the guitar… the list goes on. Whether these activities are your established camp classics or you’re yet to try them out, Pitchup.com is the place to find a fire-friendly campsite near you.
Fire-friendly accommodation
A blazing fire is a handsome sight against pretty much any backdrop, but it’s still worth giving thought to the kind of scenery you’re looking for. After inspiration? We’ve got campsites where you can sleep surrounded by lakes and/or mountains, pitches in the middle of woodlands that rustle with wildlife and fire-friendly sites close to the coast…
And that’s without exploring the hundreds of campfire-friendly glamping options out there – a best of both worlds choice that blends pre-pitched comfort with the primitive pleasure of stoking the flames.
You might also want to take your pack to a dog-friendly site where fires are allowed– if so, keep your pet on a lead in case the sight of all those neatly-stacked sticks proves too tempting…
Food favourites
Few planning on cooking over a campfire aim for the heady heights of haute cuisine. That said, just like kitchen cooking, you can boil, roast, fry, and grill food on a campfire, or simply wrap a potato in foil and stick it in the flames to bake.
For most other techniques, you’ll need at least some equipment, but this option still has the potential to be less bulky than bringing a barbecue along. One nifty tool that may come in handy is a collapsible cooking tripod, where you can hang your Dutch oven or light-weight frying pan.
Top tips for a smooth trip
Light your fire like a pro
Fire-building – much like ice skating, surfing or building a tent – is one of those things that looks simple but takes practice to get right. Basically, it’s all in the layering – start off with your tinder, surround it with a generous amount of kindling, put some small sticks on top and gradually work your way up to the bigger logs.
If you’ve never tried building a campfire before, consider having a read of our fire-building guide. Print it off if you’re looking for a wild-style break without your phone (or if you need something to scrunch up to get the flames flickering). Sites may also lay on bushcraft courses to help get you started.
Staying safe
As any good Scout or Guide can tell you, fires need to be built, burned and extinguished responsibly.
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Building: while a cone-shaped heap of logs is a good way to get a fire burning, oversized pyres are out.
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Burning: if your site doesn’t already have designated campfire areas, pick a place with sandy or earthy ground, away from overhanging trees and a safe distance from tents – those floaty sparks and embers may look pretty, but they’re also a potential risk to your surroundings.
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Extinguishing: even when the flames have died down, your campfire may remain extremely hot for several hours. If in any doubt, pour cold water over the embers before turning in for the night, stirring some ash into the earth until the fire’s completely out.
Looking for logs
Newcomers to camping are often surprised that some campsites ask that guests only buy firewood directly from the site. These rules aren’t to help the owner make a quick buck – they’re in place because whenever you move wood, you’re at risk of moving insects and tree diseases too.
Campsite owners who ask that you don’t bring wood from home – or worse, forage for it in protected wildlife habitats on site – are simply trying to protect the delicate balance of their local area’s ecosystem. A small price to pay to make sure that campfires can continue at as many sites as possible.
What’s next?
Find what you’re looking for…
Ready to find your campfire-friendly stay? Make friends with our filters to browse themes and facilities, or use the map when searching to find a campfire-friendly campsite near you.
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Weather looking uncertain? Get back-up at a fire-friendly site with electricity.
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All those earthy and woody smells that swirl around a campfire are great, but they do tend to hang around after the event. Pick a site with a shower to easily do away with any unwanted odours.
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Looking to get your friends together? Browse student-friendly and Duke of Edinburgh Award-friendly sites that allow campfires.
…then pack up and go
Many sites will sell some of the following items on-site, but any self-respecting campfire connoisseur will have the following in their back pocket:
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Matches, a lighter or a flint fire-striker
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A tinder box
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Disposable firelighters (to be hidden after the fire is lit to avoid allegations of cheating)
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Firewood (unless you’re asked to buy it on site)
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A sharp knife to cut up smaller twigs
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Heatproof gloves
