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12-09-2004, 01:28 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2
| | | Campfires
I would like to know of any campsites where campfires are still permitted. I have been to one in Snowdonia, but wonder if there are any others. |
18-09-2004, 10:10 AM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 13
| | This is something that we used to see all the time when we kids but it seems to be gradually disappearing. With stoves appearing on the scene I guess that they're not too happy about the scorch marks that are left on ground from fires. It's a real shame because, for me, the campfire was what camping was all about.
I've been to lots of campsites in france that still allow it and it really helps to build a great community on the campsites in the evenings.
We should start a 'Bring Back the Campfire Campaign'  and give campsites that allow campfires a special beacon award  |
02-02-2006, 09:03 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cornwall..
Posts: 1,476
| | | Re: Campfires
Quote: |
Originally Posted by eleanorl I would like to know of any campsites where campfires are still permitted. I have been to one in Snowdonia, but wonder if there are any others. | Here is a link to campsites that allow fires.................Jon http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=4 |
23-02-2006, 08:09 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Essex
Posts: 166
| | | Re: Campfires
Debden Green in Epping Essex is a good one, being on the edge of epping forest its a wondurfull nature watching venue also, I teach Fire craft (amongst other things) and it pains me to see the scorched earth broken bottles and beer cans while walking our fair countryside, a little knowledge and a few moments is all that is needed to repair and cover so nature can recover. Responsible bushcraft skills cost nothing to practice and its the actions of the few un-educated that causes the rest to suffer, the fire was the main focul point for our ancestors lives, it cooked our food kept us warm and kept wild animals from our encampments now what have we got??  the flipping telivision!! lol  JP |
03-08-2006, 11:20 AM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1
| | | Re: Campfires
Can you let me have any details on Debden Green. It's my wife's dream to take the kids camping with a real fire. We live in Hornchurch, Essex |
03-08-2006, 11:25 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Little village called Chedworth
Posts: 5,047
| | | Re: Campfires
Quote: |
Originally Posted by JP I teach Fire craft (amongst other things) and it pains me to see the scorched earth broken bottles and beer cans while walking our fair countryside, a little knowledge and a few moments is all that is needed to repair and cover so nature can recover. JP |
What method do you recommend for this? |
03-08-2006, 01:21 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Essex
Posts: 166
| | | Re: Campfires
Hi there Mark check this site the info you require is on it http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/de...asp?revid=1697
we are now running family bushcraft weekends as from next year which may be of interest to you and your wife check us out on here http://www.bearclawbushcraft.co.uk for more details.
Gill fire craft is a huge subject ill try to condence it down a bit but i could bore you all day on the pleasures of pyrolosis  choosing the correct fire site and preping and clearing it correctly is paramount (wont go into that now)
Fire is mans (or womans) greatest tool we are a fire based society and our species developed at a rapid rate because of it. We should never disrespect our fire the same as we never disrespect any other tool such as a knife, axe ect, our fire brings us safety and cooks our food, makes water safe and keeps us warm so as thus we NEVER burn any rubbish on it as it taints our food and leaves residues in the soil and wood ash and as we use the wood ash in wilderness living for many uses we take any rubbish home with us and dispose of it properly rather than burning it, an hour or so before we are finished with our fire we use all remaining fuel up, push the burning ends of the logs inwards to reduce them to ash and let the fire burn its self out fully, we then take a sharpened stick and push holes into the soil in the fire site and around the edge (as deep as possible), (note: leafy dry soil eg pine duff will burn underground and if not put out properly will ignite when it reaches the surface,this is the cause of many forest fires) and spread the ash and remaining coals out over the burned fire area, then we use as much water as it takes to extinguish the fire (wee on it if neccesary  ) if water is not available a smaller cooking fire must be used and it must be finished with and the site not left untill the fire site and surrounding soil is totally cool to the touch (this varies between soils, fire should never be lit on duff made up of pine needles in a pine forest unless you are confident you know what you are doing ) After you flood the area with water and are comfortable with the fact its out you use your hands to mix all the ash into a slurry, only by touch can you be sure of the absence of heat, only then can you scatter the sodden cool ashes and scatter them well so they do not appear obvious in the surrounding undergrowth, once the fire base is clear of ash and is cool the leaves ect you previously cleared can be swept over the burned area leaving no trace, nature then takes over. As i said each type of fire may take different techniques to build, light and extinguish correctly and if in a survival or wilderness living situation not done correctly could cost lives ultimatly your own.
Sorry for the Drivel but you asked lol JP x http://www.bearclawbushcraft.co.uk  |
03-08-2006, 01:25 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Little village called Chedworth
Posts: 5,047
| | | Re: Campfires
No that's excellent advice! Clearly worth knowing -thanks!
Sounds stupid but it's never occured to me to clear a space on the ground and retain the cleared material to replace after the fire is cold - so simple! |
03-08-2006, 02:19 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Essex
Posts: 166
| | | Re: Campfires
My pleasure, the simple things are often the most efective JP x |
30-08-2006, 09:27 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1
| |  Re: Campfires
Hi,
I was also looking for campsite that allow fires and came across this site http://www.campfiresburning.org
Doesn't seem to have been around too long, worth a look though |
14-10-2006, 12:44 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 5,228
| | | Re: Campfires
Hmmm ... andnever worry about the greenhouse emissions? I like a nice fire myself - have one every two or three years using old building wood - but what if everyone became regular wood fire burners?
What worries me most is where the wood for these fires is going to come from? Surely no one on a wildlife forum would be using natural deadwood? |
14-10-2006, 03:58 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cornwall..
Posts: 1,476
| | | Re: Campfires
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Paul mabbott Hmmm ... andnever worry about the greenhouse emissions? I like a nice fire myself - have one every two or three years using old building wood - but what if everyone became regular wood fire burners?
What worries me most is where the wood for these fires is going to come from? Surely no one on a wildlife forum would be using natural deadwood? | It would seem, you are after an arguement here Paul, dragging up an old thread and having a go at it...... |
15-10-2006, 10:22 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 5,228
| | | Re: Campfires
Not particularly: just came across it and it struck me as rather odd ..... Quote: |
Originally Posted by Jonny It would seem, you are after an arguement here Paul, dragging up an old thread and having a go at it...... | |
08-11-2006, 08:40 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2
| | Re: Campfires
Hi
We allow campfires at our bush camp near Hay-on-Wye, but facilities very basic! Firewood is provided from a renewable resource, deadwood stays in the forest, and all payments are in effect 'conservation payments' because without the campsite, we would have difficulty managing the 30 acres ancient semi / mixed conifer woodland. Please give us a try Bushcraft Adventures or Bushcraft courses and bike/canoe hire Cheers! Paul |
08-11-2006, 09:06 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1,373
| | | Re: Campfires
never light a fire under an electricity cable (or any cable!), it changes the ions in the air or something and as a btcv outdoor group found to their cost it sent a big lightning bolt down. |
09-11-2006, 10:15 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 5,228
| | | Re: Campfires
Well done - sounds excellent - when next I'm in your part of the world .... Quote: |
Originally Posted by PCD Hi
We allow campfires at our bush camp near Hay-on-Wye, but facilities very basic! Firewood is provided from a renewable resource, deadwood stays in the forest, and all payments are in effect 'conservation payments' because without the campsite, we would have difficulty managing the 30 acres ancient semi / mixed conifer woodland. Please give us a try Bushcraft Adventures or Bushcraft courses and bike/canoe hire Cheers! Paul | |
04-09-2007, 02:28 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1
| | | Re: Campfires
Theres a nice campsite in Exmoor called Cloud Farm that allow camp fires, all they ask is that you put stones around it. A lot of camp sites in that area allow fires. Cloud Farm have their own website if you want to look. Its not too costly either has a river running right along side it, very nice place! |
08-09-2007, 11:56 AM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Surrey
Posts: 879
| | | Re: Campfires
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul mabbott  Hmmm ... andnever worry about the greenhouse emissions? I like a nice fire myself - have one every two or three years using old building wood - but what if everyone became regular wood fire burners?
What worries me most is where the wood for these fires is going to come from? Surely no one on a wildlife forum would be using natural deadwood? | I have to say that i reguarly go away camping. There are methods of having a sensible & small fire that can be hidden in a natural way afterwards. And yes I admit it means collecting alot more bits of branch etc but i only use what is on the ground. Unfortunately it is a rare sight to find places that allows you to have a fire burning but as much as it dissapoints me i have to say that i can understand, As you say there are the scorched bottles etc to be found everywhere as well as sights of fires going out of control. Trees being burnt etc where they have not chosen a suitable location. I think one of the worst things about people using fires is the believe that its ok to burn all their rubbish on it or even leave it thinking that it is dead. A couple of times i have come across an abandoned fire that has relit itself.
__________________
Life tells you nothing, It shows you everything!!!
-Bach |
08-11-2007, 10:59 AM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 161
| | | Re: Campfires
There are several campsites in Swanage Dorset that allow this.A lovely part of the world with something for everyone.Herston yard has clean toilets/showers,a shop and even a bar this is a very well kept level site but they have kept the tradition of camp fires.Can`t remember the other sites names off hand. |
08-11-2007, 01:21 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 29
| | | Re: Campfires
I remember when I did the Coast to Coast in 1991, I camped at Park lodge Farm, Keld which is at Upper Swaledale. The site has a upper and lower level and I camped on the lower level alongside the River Swale. I lit a fire and think it is ok to do that, I would check with the farm first. |
28-12-2007, 09:18 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 64
| | | Re: Campfires
Great little campsite at the bottom of snowden just before Bedgelert, I think its a National Trust farm, this year it was £2.50 per person and £5 for a fire with chopped wood supplied and a bucket to have the fire in, ahhh good times. |
20-01-2008, 02:32 AM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: east peckham , kent
Posts: 167
| | | Re: Campfires
our ancsestors have been having fires using deadwood since it was discovered... the ash when left or scattered is good for the woodland floor and enriches the ground.. plus u spread seeds not burnt in the fire... i have about 2 or 3 fires a month while out walking .. just a quick cuppa or just for the pleasure of a fire.. its in our blood.. fire meant protection from animals. and light to see and most of all warmth... i'm lucky i have some lovely little woods near me and have a few places i stop and always use the same spot.. if i used a stove which i really don't like it would use gas or fuel that is also not good for the environment.. why do u think the aboriginis burn areas of the bush.. encourages new grothe and the new groth feeds the local animal life... sorry if it sounds like i'm going on a bit but i just feel a campfire is something we should all experience... as i said it stirs something inside.. go and see... responsibly of course.. he he james |
16-05-2008, 09:07 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1
| | | Re: Campfires
Hi...Put into google .....Camping sites with campfires...look at the first listing that comes up.....it lists loads of sites in the uk and europe
good luck
|
17-05-2008, 06:29 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 88
| | | Re: Campfires
u r aloud campfires at the Red Squirrel in glencoe,great wee site five minutes away from the pub [the clachaig inn] |
17-05-2008, 07:24 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 5,228
| | | Re: Campfires
What 'our ancestors' did and what we should do are totally different things!
There's a lot of jumbled feeling/thinking in this!
We should never burn deadwood from old (semi-natural woods) - the deadwood is host to lots of beetles (cerambycids especially) and provides cover for many insects.
Scattering wood ash around in semi-natural systems is actually encouraging the growth of weedy, invasive species (nettles, Japanese knotweed &c &c).
I'm not objecting to fires ( if they're properly managed - there are some idiots about who could destroy a lot of wildlife by incompetence! ), just saying don't use deadwood from/in ancient woodland or other semi-natural habitats! Quote:
Originally Posted by outdoorguy our ancsestors have been having fires using deadwood since it was discovered... the ash when left or scattered is good for the woodland floor and enriches the ground.. plus u spread seeds not burnt in the fire... i have about 2 or 3 fires a month while out walking .. just a quick cuppa or just for the pleasure of a fire.. its in our blood.. fire meant protection from animals. and light to see and most of all warmth... i'm lucky i have some lovely little woods near me and have a few places i stop and always use the same spot.. if i used a stove which i really don't like it would use gas or fuel that is also not good for the environment.. why do u think the aboriginis burn areas of the bush.. encourages new grothe and the new groth feeds the local animal life... sorry if it sounds like i'm going on a bit but i just feel a campfire is something we should all experience... as i said it stirs something inside.. go and see... responsibly of course.. he he james | | | | |
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