Scotland’s New Barbecue Ban: A Step to Prevent Wildfires
For years, the great outdoors in Scotland has been a favorite destination for campers, hikers, and day-trippers. The idea of finding the perfect scenic spot and setting up a BBQ has brought joy to many. However, this tradition may soon come to an end as new plans are being introduced to tackle the growing threat of wildfires.
Starting next month (April), a large-scale barbecue ban will be enforced throughout the Cairngorms National Park. This initiative aims to reduce the risk of uncontrolled blazes by prohibiting disposable barbeques and open campfires. The National Park authority hopes that these measures will significantly lower the chances of wildfires occurring in the area.
Plans are also being considered to extend the ban to other parts of Scotland. If implemented, this could mean that using a barbecue in many wild areas might become illegal from next year onwards. The Scottish government has confirmed that new legislation is paving the way for a widespread ban on outdoor barbequing.
Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie explained the reasons behind the move, stating, “Most large outdoor fires are caused by humans, either by accident or on purpose, which also means that most wildfires are preventable.” He emphasized that even a small fire can spread uncontrollably if the wind changes direction, posing risks to people, property, and the natural environment.
Despite the restrictions, fans of summer barbecues need not worry. The ban will not apply to private gardens and licensed campsites, provided that the barbeques are under control and do not pose a fire risk.
Growing Threat of Wildfires in Scotland
Scotland’s countryside is facing an increasing threat from wildfires due to climate change, which brings higher temperatures and longer dry spells. The first wildfire warning of the year was issued recently, with the Scottish Fire and Rescue service declaring a ‘very high’ risk in the north and north-east of Scotland. Authorities have urged the public in these areas to avoid lighting fires outdoors.
2025 was the worst year in living memory for wildfires, with 241 separate incidents recorded. One of the largest wildfires occurred at Carrbridge and Dava Moor, destroying nearly 10,000 hectares. Camp-fires and barbeques were among the most common causes of these wildfires.
In one example last year, a disposable barbecue sparked a wildfire in the Glen Finglas area of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The blaze killed nesting birds and wildlife such as lizards and voles, spreading across two hectares of ground. Fire crews later found the disposable grill that had started the fire, with a charred burger still on top.
Mr Fairlie stated, “The wildfires we saw last year were on a scale never previously experienced in Scotland. These new byelaws aim to reduce the growing risk of wildfires and the dangers they pose to our land, public enjoyment, public safety, and natural heritage of our beautiful countryside.”
Enforcement and Legal Measures
To prevent wildfires, the Cairngorms National Park Authority has introduced new rules making it an offence for any person without lawful authority to light or use a barbecue in the National Park. A barbecue is defined as “an appliance or rack on which food is cooked out of doors over an open fire and shall include a disposable barbecue.”
Gas barbecues, which are larger and more commonly used in gardens, are exempt from the ban. The rules permit barbequing on private property and in licensed campsites as long as measures are taken to “safeguard against damage or danger to any person, wildlife, livestock, building, structure, tree, shrub or vegetation.”
The Cairngorms ban will be enforced between April 1 and September 30 every year, with a fine of up to £500 for anyone who violates the rules. The byelaws also ban other fires in the wild, stating it “shall be an offence… to light, have or tend a fire in the National Park, or place or throw or let fall a lighted match, firework or any other thing so as to be likely to cause a fire.”
Strategic Action Plan on Wildfires
Earlier this month, the government published a Strategic Action Plan on Wildfires, noting that 2025 marked “a significant escalation in wildfire frequency, intensity and impact.” The plan highlights the potential consequences of wildfires, including threats to public safety, major demands on emergency services, disruption to rural communities and businesses, and long-lasting environmental damage.
The strategy mentions the new Cairngorms byelaws and proposes “enabling the potential future use of similar measures by local authorities.” It states that the new Natural Environment (Scotland) Act, passed by Holyrood in January, will “ensure that local authorities have the ability to put in place fire prevention byelaws, similar to those in Cairngorms National Park, if they wish to do so as part of their local wildfire management strategies.”
It adds, “Subject to local authorities making fire management byelaws and decisions by the next administration and parliamentary approval, a fixed penalty notice regime could be implemented in 2027.”
Disposable barbeques, which are aluminum trays loaded with charcoal briquettes covered by a wire grill, are a cheap and convenient way of cooking outdoors. Around a million are sold in the UK every year. However, as single-use products, they have been blamed for generating huge amounts of waste and causing numerous wildfires across Britain.
In response to concerns, several supermarkets, including Waitrose and Aldi, have stopped selling them. Grant Moir, Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said, “The Cairngorms National Park is home to incredible landscapes, habitats, wildlife and communities. We want residents and visitors to enjoy this special place – but we also need their help to protect it for generations to come. Our new byelaw aims to reduce fire risk by banning barbecues and campfires from April to September. The message is simple: Protect our National Park. No flame, no spark.”
