Cooking over a wood fire is one of the great pleasures of van life. Here is how to do it safely.
Best Portable Wood Stoves
- Solo Stove Lite: £65. 140g. Burns twigs. Incredibly efficient. Boils water in 5 min.
- Bushbuddy: £70. 150g. Top-loading. Great for simmering.
- Ohuhu Folding Stove: £20. 400g. Budget option folds flat.
- Kelly Kettle: £50. Uses steam jet for super-fast boiling. 250g.
Cooking Methods
- Skewers: Sausages, marshmallows, veg. Easy, no pans.
- Dutch oven: Cast iron pot with lid. For stews, bread, cakes. Place on coals.
- Foil packets: Fish and veg wrapped in foil. Place on coals for 10-15 min.
- Grill grate: A folding grill over the fire. For steaks, burgers, fish.
Safety
- Cook on the provided fire pit at campsites (do NOT dig your own)
- Check campfire bans (common in summer during dry spells)
- Never leave a fire unattended
- Extinguish fully with water (not dirt)
- Do not cook under trees (low branches catch fire)
UK Rules
Most campsites allow fire pits. Wild camping fires are permitted in Scotland with care, but not in England or Wales without landowner permission.
