cheap day out. fire on beach

JuneBow

I am looking after two energetic children on Tuesday and was thinking of letting them build a fire on the beach and getting them to cook lunch on it.
Obviously I would not let the fire get out of control and would clear up afterwards. But is it against any law to do this?

ampersand

Hope not - great idea.

Few children seem able/permitted to free-run and do anything much like this now, building kingdoms of imagination and learning by experience.

Ebe_Scrooge

It's a bit of a grey area. In general, the beach between the high- and low-water lines is owned by the crown, above the high-water mark will by owned by a private landowner - whether this be the council, National Trust, whoever. There may be bye-laws banning fires.

Having said that, in practice most owners are pretty relaxed about such things, as long as you're not causing a nuisance and clear up after yourself.

Personally, I often do exactly this with my kids - nothing beats catching your own fish then cooking it over an open fire I've never had any problems, I think as long as you're sensible you'll be fine ( unless, obviously, there are notices expressly forbidding it ). Even then, if you're below the high-water mark it's crown-owned property and bye-laws don't apply there.

Good for you, hope you have a whale of a time

PasturesNew

Be careful with any fires on any beach. It's well known that disposable BBQs that've gone out and been removed can leave behind sand still hot enough to burn the feet/skin of people walking over the spot.

Some beaches are private, some have local rules/laws about what you can/can't do.

JuneBow

Many thanks for the replies.
It seemed such a simple idea that I thought there must be a catch somewhere. Not sure why I didn't think of it when my own were that age.
The beach I had in mind would be council owned. (ie what I now understand to be above the water line - thanks for this.) I had visions of some busy body treating me like I was coaching the kids to torch the local old peoples home.
Part of the whole thing would be to make sure they behaved responsibly. But also its probably not the sort of thing you do with your parents. (like I didn't)

JuneBow

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

It's a bit of a grey area. In general, the beach between the high- and low-water lines is owned by the crown, above the high-water mark will by owned by a private landowner - whether this be the council, National Trust, whoever. There may be bye-laws banning fires.

How do I know where the high water mark is?
Broadly speaking, would that be where the sand was wet?

Ebe_Scrooge

JuneBow wrote: »

How do I know where the high water mark is?
Broadly speaking, would that be where the sand was wet?

Usually, you'll find a line of debris ( seaweed, driftwood, assorted flotsam & jetsam and general rubbish ! ) part way up the beach - that's your high water line. That's the highest point the water has reached since the last spring ( highest ) tide, and barring any storms or suchlike, spring tides are the highest tides.

Generali

It's probably not a bad idea to do the fire between the high and low tide marks if allowed. The sea will wash the fire away at the next high tide and it's just wood that youre putting into the sea.

paddyrg

Great idea - take cool box with some sausages just in case fishing doesn't work out! Other things that may be handy are one of those instant log things (couple of quid, basically sawdust and paraffin compressed, easy to light), or take some candle ends to use as firelighters just in case foraging doesn't get you everything. You might even like to try taking some dry cotton wool, tinder and a steel and flint (camping shop) and be a survival god.

Ebe_Scrooge

paddyrg wrote: »

You might even like to try taking some dry cotton wool, tinder and a steel and flint (camping shop) and be a survival god.

Actually I'd forgotten about that, it really is a great idea. My lad got given one of these for his birthday a couple of years ago, and loves using it to light campfires - makes him feel like a real Ray Mears / Bear Grylls Even more so if you can forage for the tinder yourself, but it is a good idea to bring some with you as a backup.