Fire on the beach

[Kieran]

What are the rules of lighting a fire on a beach?
If there are any???

Kieran

[chris grace]

I think there may be local by-laws rather than national laws.

[Martin]

You're not allowed to light any fires on the beach without the permission of the land owner. However, as the signature at the bottom of someone's posts on another forum says, 'it's better to apologise than to ask permission'. (Not that I'm advocating lighting fires on other people's land without permission) ;)

Martin

[Kieran]

Beaches aren't always owned?

[Martin]

Beaches aren't always owned?

Yes they are. Name one that isn't?

Martin

[chris grace]

In South Wales the beaches are mostly owned by either the national trust , the local council or private owners.The national trust have a no fire policy,the council don't seem to have any policy apart from no camping (sometimes) and private owners seem to have no problem as long as you pay to park.Most of the best beaches are out of the way and nobody has ever told me to put one out,I've never had a huge bonfire mind just a small cooking fire.

[Martin]

Yes they are. Name one that isn't?

Martin

Sorry Kieran, that did sound a bit aggressive. :ashamed:

The bottom line is, all land in the British Isles is owned by someone. There is no such thing as public land, only land to which the public have access and that access can be revoked at any time.

In reality, as Chris alludes to, there are landowners who are very relaxed about what goes on on their land and most of the time they don't know what is going on at all. However, it is important that you understand that, when you set foot on someone's land, they have the right to allow you or not to allow you to do anything they like. So, if you should be on a beach with a fire and someone asks you to put it out or to leave the area, they are well within their rights to do so and you should comply without question.

Hope this is more helpful.

Martin

[MikeWilkinson]

I believe that there are no general laws in the UK regarding Beach fires below the high tide line, however local authorities have imposed certain by-laws.
However not clearing up properly gets you in trouble for littering/dumping.

Things to point out - all beaches are owned up to the high tide line, after that it belongs to the crown and so by-laws technically cannot be enforced by local authorities, the only exception to this is foreshores given to certain families by the crown, which are private! Likewise MOD property is, as members of the armed forces are technically employees of the crown.

Fires below the average high tide line should not be lit anywhere near beacons or light houses for obvious reasons, although it would not be a crime, the accidental grounding of a boat because of the fire would be.

At present I believe the crown still owns 55%of the Uk's foreshores. As a lot of you on here live down in sunny Cornwall you will be disappointed to know that the whole of the foreshore there was owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, with half of that now being sold on to private owners :(

My advice - providing your being careful and not a yob, have a small fire below the high tide line, clean up all large debris before leaving, be prepared to be moved on by a land owner - unlikley if your out the way and careful.

[Kieran]

I believe that there are no general laws in the UK regarding Beach fires below the high tide line, however local authorities have imposed certain by-laws.
However not clearing up properly gets you in trouble for littering/dumping.

Things to point out - all beaches are owned up to the high tide line, after that it belongs to the crown and so by-laws technically cannot be enforced by local authorities, the only exception to this is foreshores given to certain families by the crown, which are private! Likewise MOD property is, as members of the armed forces are technically employees of the crown.

Fires below the average high tide line should not be lit anywhere near beacons or light houses for obvious reasons, although it would not be a crime, the accidental grounding of a boat because of the fire would be.

At present I believe the crown still owns 55%of the Uk's foreshores. As a lot of you on here live down in sunny Cornwall you will be disappointed to know that the whole of the foreshore there was owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, with half of that now being sold on to private owners :(

My advice - providing your being careful and not a yob, have a small fire below the high tide line, clean up all large debris before leaving, be prepared to be moved on by a land owner - unlikley if your out the way and careful.


I thought it was between high & low water where the crown owns?

[Metal mug]

Well where I am there Isn't really a rule about fires on the more remote beaches. Just so long as you tidy up afterwards no one can really have a moan at you then.