For many of us, the campfire is a beloved and indispensable outdoor tradition - a luminous, dreamlike force of nature that for generations has served as the centrepiece of woodland and forest gatherings.

One of the most magical parts of camping and glamping is sitting around the campfire with a delicious beverage in your hand, chatting away to your loved ones and the campfire activities that come along with it! But how do you make the perfect campfire and campfire setting that will make your outdoor dream become your reality? Well, it’s really not as difficult as it may initially seem, especially if you follow our step by step guide on how to make a campfire.

So, you've settled into your campsite and want to get a fire going before nightfall to warm your hands and souls. A well prepared fire will burn for hours if you're efficient in the assembly, leaving you plenty of time to relax into a comfy camping chair, toasting some marshmallows and enjoying watching the flickering flames in great company.

There may be no better place to catch up with good friends and family than being outdoors, sitting around a campfire. There’s no email, no can’t-be-missed tv programme and no distractions as you are completely off-grid. We inclined to relax, unwind and let our guards down a bit more around the soft glow of a fire. Because of this, conversations are deeper, stories are funnier and you’re guaranteed to learn a few things about the people you’re with that you never knew before. The campfire is your entertainment for the evening and there’s nothing else to do but be present in the moment and enjoy all of the meaningful connections and deep belly laughs you probably haven’t had in a while.

In this guide you'll learn the key steps for building a successful campfire in a step by step guide, as well as fire safety tips, and finally some campfire activities for the whole family.

How to make a campfire

To burn a successful fire, you’ll need three types fuel: tinder, kindling and firewood.

• Tinder, ideally newspaper but if you’re in the wild you could use small twigs, dry leaves, needles or forest duff.

• Kindling consists of small sticks, typically less than one inch around.

• Firewood is any larger piece of wood and is what will keep your fire going long into the night.
  

1) Find a spot where you’re allowed to light campfires: Build fires only in designated fire rings, grills or fireplaces. Most developed campgrounds have some version of these. Using a fire ring will lesson your impact and keep your fire contained. Your fire bed should be on exposed earth and not grass (especially dead grass). If you can’t find an area like this, you can dig away grass and plant material or pile up some dirt into a small platform (always check local guidelines first). Here, at Round the Woods we have a designated central fire pit.

2) Check the weather and wind direction - you want to lay the fire so that any wind can blow into the core of the fire. A fire needs a supply to oxygen to stay lit so if it is a still day you may find you need to blow on the fire to give it a helping hand - sometimes a shield of bodies can help with wind whilst the fire is being lit.

3) If you’re making your campfire in a new spot, find a clearing away from trees, clear any loose leaves from your spot and place a ring of stones or rocks in a circle to create the fire boundary. Position your campfire at least 3m (10ft) away from anything flammable like your tent or overhanging trees. Ideally, the area will be sheltered from the wind but always leave enough distance to protect yourself and the environment.

4) Newspaper scrunched up in a ball in the middle - avoid newspaper with a film on it as this doesn't burn well. Stick to normal and dry newspaper that will light easily. By putting the newspaper in balls, you are stopping it from blowing away and creating a nice ball of fire to help spread the flames.

5) Small kindling laid on top of the newspaper in a teepee shape - stack the kindling wood in the shape of a tepee over the tinder – this method has proved to be most successful for top explorers. Keep adding more until it takes a solid structure, then add the firewood against the pieces to strengthen the tepee. Leave a space in the wind’s direction so air can flow!

6) Logs, ideally dry for the initial fire starting although they do not need to be kiln dry for campfires. Lay a couple of logs outside the kindling, maintaining the tipi shape. It goes without saying that you want dry wood to start your fire. Avoid anything that is green, too wet or that bends without snapping – it almost certainly won’t burn well. At Round the Woods we provide piles of campfire logs. Try to use only fallen wood that hasn’t become a home for creatures – this is better for the environment and burns more effectively too than wood straight from a tree.

7) Light the newspaper in several places around the fire with a match - light the tinder with a match or lighter. Using a firelighters made of wood wool can help the tinder catch the flame as they are designed to easily ignite . (Be sure to carry waterproof matches and firelighters). After lighting the tinder, blow lightly at the base of the fire to provide oxygen, which will help increase the intensity of the flame and further ignite the wood. If you want to channel your inner caveman/woman try lighting the fire with a firesteel tool.

8) As the fire burns add more logs and firewood to keep the fire going - as the fire burns, move embers to the center to burn them completely. Ideally, you should reduce them to white ash. But remember, always check with the campground operator to make sure fires are permitted. In some areas, severe dry periods can cause campfires to be prohibited even in campgrounds. Unlike tinder and kindling, you can get away with your fuel wood being a little damp. A well-built fire will dry it out. You’ll want a range of different sized logs for your main fuel, not just small logs. Gather a range of logs that are roughly as wide as your wrist or your forearm that you can keep adding to the fire.

Campfire safety and tips

Always check with local land owners for their recommendations, and follow their steps if they provide them. Generally, though, you should extinguish your fire by pouring water on it (be careful not to stand where the steam can scald you), stirring the ashes, then applying more water. Repeat as often as needed to ensure the fire is fully out. Ashes should be cool to the touch before you leave the site, if they aren’t they may still give off heat and keep burning which can be dangerous.

Fire and smoke are both dangerous in different ways. For the safety of yourself and others, make sure you find a location that is a suitable distance away from tents and clear of nearby foliage which could ignite and spread the flames outside of the campfire. Second to this, keep an eye on the direction of the wind before you position your campfire, as this is the direction in which the smoke will travel.

Please take plenty of caution as fire can quickly spell disaster if not handled with care. You and your fellow campers’ safety is paramount, so make sure you follow our guidelines for building a campfire safely.

Campfire Safety Do’s:

1. Only build a campfire when the weather conditions are favourable

2. Burn your ‘fuel’ (i.e. wood) in small quantities and quickly in order to minimise the volume of smoke

3. Pay attention to any campfire bans, cautions or regulations in the area

4. Make sure to keep your fire contained

5. Watch out for and remove any extra wood, dead grass or anything that might add too much fuel to the fire, allow it to spread or grow beyond your control

6. Keep the fire small so it is controllable. It’s amazing how much heat you can get from even a small campfire

7. Have water and sand nearby to extinguish the fire if needed

8. When you are finished with your fire use a long stick to spread the logs out so that the fire can dissipate quicker. If you’re not using a designated firepit where you can be sure the fire won’t spread if unattended then pour water or sprinkle sand or soil on top of the fire to extinguish the flames before you leave the area

9. If you have children with you it’s good to set some safety boundaries for when they’re around the fire. We often have seats around the fire and make sure that children don’t walk or run within the seating space and only go carefully near the fire to add a log or toast a marshmallow

10. It can be fun for children to light the end of sticks in the flames but it’s often tempting to then wave the poker hot ends of the stick around which can be very dangerous

11. Keep clothing away from the fire

12. Use fire gloves when tending to the fire and use a log stick to rearrange logs so you don’t need to get too close
    

Campfire Safety Don’ts:

1. Never leave your fire unattended & supervise children near the fire at all times

2. Never burn toxic materials – such as plastic – as it can produce poisonous smoke and fumes

3. Never light a campfire in strong winds, near hanging branches, fences or residences as fire can spread quickly

4. Never use accelerants to boost your fire, such as pouring gasoline over the flames

5. Never leave glowing embers or part-extinguished flames before vacating the site as these could relight

Toasting marshmallows and making memories

Enjoying a campfire may be all about living in the moment, but there’s something about these gatherings that have a way of taking us back to some of the best times of our lives and feelings of nostalgia come flooding back.

The stars saturate the night sky, a chill fills the air, everyone huddles in a little closer to catch the warmth of the blaze and suddenly you’re all mesmorised by the orange glow and flicker of the fire embers. It’s hard to pull yourself away once you’re lost in those hypnotic flames and temporarily transported somewhere else, but where you go in that zen moment is completely up to you.

Why not make the campfire experience even more special with:

Campfire food: Smores are a firm favourite with both kids and adults alike - the delicate balance of biscuit, chocolate and marshmallows. However, toasting marshmallows is a lot less messy and takes seconds to crisp and turn all lovely and gooey. These little treats keep the energy levels up and brings a smile to everyone’s face. If you are feeling adventurous why not bring along some bread or meat to cook on the campfire (make sure the meat is properly cooked through). At Round the Woods we provide a campfire cooking kit, complete with dutch oven, tripod, grill and cheese toasty pie iron - everything you need for a campfire feast!

Telling stories: Campfire stories are a traditional family favourite - whether it’s a scary story with the use of the shadows and flames, or a group collaboration storytelling session, both bring the group closer and away from the world, into a fantasy world where anything can happen!

Singing songs: Do you have a favourite tune that makes you happy or brings back fond memories? All sing together and listen to the beautiful tunes that you can all make as a group. Having a go at a round song can be fun too such as London’s Burning.

Bring a musical instrument: Don’t fancy singing? Then why not bring a string, woodwind or percussion instrument along with you and get someone in the group to demonstrate their musical skills? The sound of music in the woods is like no other and creates a really ‘hygge’ atmosphere.

Play campfire games: Get everyone involved in a fun game to get to know each other more or to bring a sense of laughter with a campfire game. Some examples include ‘Two truths and one lie’ - make up one lie and tell two truths and people have to guess which one is a lie, or ‘Once Upon a Time’ - create a story together and the player chosen to begin shares the first few lines of a make-believe story. Storytelling proceeds around the campfire, with each player adding a few more lines to continue the story.

Whether it’s a night in a back garden tent under the stars or an annual retreat in the woods, camping or glamping is a wonderful way for your family or friends to enjoy time outdoors together. Once the sun sets below the horizon and you’re warming your toes by the campfire you’ve just made, nothing will bring you closer together and enjoy that tranquility that nature brings. Why not book in your next glamping adventure at Round The Woods for 2022 and get your campfire skills up to scratch in a safe and stunning setting? See our availability here