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Having watched way too many “coming of age” films set somewhere on the Californian coast, I’ve always wanted to meet up with some friends around a campfire on the beach, sharing food and drinks and just having a good time together. But are you allowed to have a fire on the beach in the UK?
In short, it is possible to have a fire on the beach, but you will need to check with the landowner before you have one. As a general rule, the beach is likely to be run by your local council, so you should check their website to find out if it is ok.
Want to know more about this and how to set up the perfect beach fire? The read on…
Is It Legal To Have A Fire On The Beach?
The laws on having bonfires in the UK, specifically on the beach are pretty vague.
There is no specific law to say that you can’t have a fire on the beach, but local bylaws can apply that quite often mean that you are now allowed to have a fire on the beach.
One thing to note is that the rules do differ in different parts of the UK.
Scotland
Scotland has something called the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) which is used to provide guidance on all things relating to land access.
The SOAC says the following regarding beaches:
Access rights extend to beaches and the foreshore. Follow any local guidance aimed at reducing dune or machair erosion or avoiding disturbance of nesting birds. Public rights on the foreshore will continue to exist, including shooting wildfowl, fishing for sea fish, lighting fires, beachcombing, swimming, playing and picnicking.
Beaches | Scottish Outdoor Access Code (outdooraccess-scotland.scot)
As you can see, the right to lighting fires exists as part of land access rights in the SOAC. However it should be noted that they also provide the following guidances as well:
Wherever possible, use a stove rather than light an open fire. If you do wish to light an open fire, keep it small, under control, and supervised – fires that get out of control can cause major damage, for which you might be liable. Never light an open fire during prolonged dry periods or in areas such as forests, woods, farmland or on peaty ground or near to buildings or in cultural heritage sites where damage can be easily caused. Heed all advice at times of high risk. Remove all traces of an open fire before you leave.
Lighting fires | Scottish Outdoor Access Code (outdooraccess-scotland.scot)
The key thing to note here is that they would prefer you to use a stove where possible. The aim of this section of the code is to inform you about not damaging the local area with fires, so do your best to only have fires that are contained and leave no trace.
If in doubt, ask the landowner for permission.
England And Wales
For England and Wales the picture is very different to that of Scotland.
The land access rights that you have in Scotland do not apply south of the border and therefore the open access isn’t applicable either.
In terms of having a fire on the beach, this means we need to find out who the owner is of the land and ask permission to have a fire there.
Some small sections of the beach will be privately owned and it is unlikely that the landowner would be happy for you to have a fire on their beach. The majority of the beaches in England and Wales are owned by the Crown and are generally managed by the local council where the beach is located. Each council will have specific bylaws that you will need to follow if you want to have a fire on the beach.
How To Have A Safe Fire On The Beach
To make sure you have a good time and remain safe when having a fire on the beach, you should follow these 8 steps:
1. Check The Rules With The Landowner
Before you go to the beach where you will be having your fire, check who the owner of the beach is and whether there are any rules against having fires there.
Some beaches will be privately owned and will have a specific set of rules for having fires on their beaches. Typical private owners will be holiday parks, for example. Ask the person who owns the land what the rules are before you plan to have a fire on their land.
Most beaches will be looked after by the local council, even those owned by the crown, and it is highly likely that they will have some signage up to instruct you on what you can and can’t do on the beach.
To be absolutely sure, you should go onto the local council’s website and check. This should be as simple as searching in google for your local council + beaches to get the formation you need (see below for North Tyneside who look after my local beaches).
2. Bring Along Firelighters And Some Wood
Whilst the idea of turning up on the beach, grabbing some driftwood and having a great campfire might sound like an awesome way to spend an afternoon/evening, in reality, it is rarely that simple.
You will generally find that a lot of beaches don’t have any driftwood on them, or it is very hard to find.
To avoid disappointment, you should bring along your own firefighters and wood for having your fire. This way you won’t spend ages trying to find dry enough wood to burn.
This doesn’t mean you can’t use any wood that you do find on the beach, it just means you will be prepared if you can’t find any.
3. Choose The Perfect Spot
Choosing the best place to have your fire is a matter of considering where is the best spot out of the wind as well as making sure you are not damaging the local environment as well.
To know where it is safe to have your fire, you should again check with the local council.
You should avoid having fires near sand dunes or other places that could potentially catch fire. The grass that is often found on sand dunes can be very dry and highly flammable, which could lead to an uncontrollable fire.
4. Dig A Firepit
Digging a fire pit is a great way to help control your fire.
Firstly, the fire will be contained in one place and any additional fuel added to it will fall into the fire rather than out of it.
Secondly, the fire will be protected from the wind a lot more than if it isn’t in a pit. This could potentially lead to the fire getting out of control or generally being unsafe.
Your fire pit should be at least 6 inches (15cm) deep and wide enough for your fire to be contained within it.
You should also consider setting up a ring of stones around your fire pit. Not only will this help to protect the fire from the wind, but will also act as a very useful visual aid to ensure that no one builds the first out beyond the size you are aiming for.
5. Set Up Your Fire
Now you have your pit and your wood, it’s time to set up your fire.
My preferred method to do this is building what I like to call a Jenga tower:
- Place a small amount of tinder in the middle of your fire put using small pieces of tinder. This could be very small dry twigs, grass or even dried seaweed.
- Place your fire lighting material on top of this tinder nest. You can use natural firelighters, newspaper or my favourite, toilet roll tubes stuffed with lint from the drier.
- Place some large sticks in a square shape around your firelighters.
- Lay 2 sticks across the square shape in the same direction as each other.
- Lay two more sticks across the two you have just put down.
- Continue this pattern until you have around 5-6 layers of wood. It should look something like a game of Jenga (hence the name).
- You can light the fire at this point and build up the bigger pieces later, but I like to arrange the bigger pieces of wood into a teepee shape at this point so that they are just above the jenga pile we have built. You can push them into the sand for added stability if you need to.
6. Light Your Fire
Now you can light your fire! I prefer to use a safety lighter for this so that I don’t have to get my hands too close to the kindling.
At this point, you are ready to enjoy your beach fire.
7. Once Finished, Put Your Fire Out!
Once you have finished with your fire, make sure you put it out.
Being by the sea and on the beach, you have lots of things you can use to put a fire out. Sand or water works very well for doing this.
You should bury any embers in the sand to make sure they are completely out.
8. Leave No Trace
Now you should try and leave the beach as you left it.
Return any rocks to where you found them, take any rubbish or leftover wood with you to dispose of and refill your hole.
Cooking On An Open Fire
Having a fire on the beach to keep warm is great, but what is amazing is cooking on that fire as well!
Roasting marshmallows is a great treat to have when sitting around the fire. Simply get some giant marshmallows and some wooden skewers and you’re good to go.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, why not go the whole hog and get a BBQ Tripod to go over your fire!
If you like the idea of cooking when you’re at the beach, but don’t want to do it over your fire, there are some great portable BBQs that we discuss more in our guide to the Best Camping BBQs.
Related FAQs
Can Beach Sand Catch on Fire?
No, beach sand cannot catch on fire. The grains of sand are too small and lack the ability to hold a flame. Even if a spark were to land on the sand, it would quickly extinguish itself.
Does Sand Put out A Fire?
Sand is often used to put out fires because it is a non-flammable substance. It can be poured on a fire to smother the flames and extinguish the fire. In some cases, sand can also be used to create a barrier between the fire and flammable objects.
How Do You Put out A Beach Fire?
In order to put out a beach fire, you need to have a bucket of water, sand, and a shovel. Fill the bucket with water and pour it onto the fire. Once the fire is out, cover the ashes with sand.
Can You Build a Firepit on The Beach?
Yes, you can build a fire pit on the beach. It’s easy to do and a great way to enjoy a summer evening. You’ll need some bricks, a shovel, and sand. Start by finding a spot on the beach that is away from people and obstacles. Then use your shovel to dig a hole in the sand that is about 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep. Next, place the bricks in a circle around the hole and pack the sand firmly around them. Finally, light your fire and enjoy!
Summary
I hope you have found this guide useful and now feel as though you know how to remain safe and on the right side of the law next time you want to have a fire on the beach.
If you liked this guide, please share it on Pinterest. Also, please check out our other guides to all things outdoors.
Thanks for reading.
