Campfires and barbecues are to be banned from the UK’s largest national park for half of the year in a bid to reduce the risk of wildfires.
Scottish ministers approved the new byelaw for Cairngorms National Park, which will be enforced between 1 April and 30 September every year.
The decision follows a lengthy consultation process and comes a few months after part of the northern boundary of the park was damaged by summer wildfires.
Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “In introducing a fire byelaw of this kind, the Cairngorms National Park Authority is leading the way in safeguarding Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage from climate crisis threats.
“The wildfires we saw around Scotland earlier this year only remind us of how urgent this issue is, and I commend the park authority and partners on the huge amount of work they are doing to take forward this byelaw and a range of other mitigation measures.”
Cairngorms National Park – the largest in the UK – is home to around 18,000 people and welcomes about two million visitors a year.
It offers sanctuary to around 25% of the UK’s rarest species, such as the capercaillie grouse, which experts say is on the verge of extinction in Scotland, and the Scottish wildcat, which is considered critically endangered.
The national park, which covers parts of the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Angus and Perthshire, also features around half of Scotland’s ancient pinewoods.
Wildfires can start in several ways – including from natural causes such as lightning, as well as manmade causes, such as visitors lighting campfires, or from muirburn that gets out of control.
Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) previously warned that the “changing climate” will make the risk of wildfires “considerably higher in the future”.
A “very high” wildfire risk warning is currently in place across Scotland, rising to “extreme” on Friday. This marks the first September wildfire warning since 2020.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said the warning is the thirteenth of 2025 – the most wildfire warnings issued in one year in recent times.
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CNPA said an “overwhelming majority” of residents and visitors were in favour of a fire management byelaw.
The maximum fine for breaking the byelaw will be £500.
The byelaw will not – as per the wording of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code – prevent the use of a camping stove, provided it is used appropriately.
It also does not affect licensed land management activity, which is covered by the muirburn licence.
CNPA said it was working with Police Scotland and the SFRS to prepare for “robust enforcement” of the byelaw, including enhanced patrols at key sites and an extensive training programme for rangers on the ground.
It said leaflets, signage, press activity and social media advertising would be used to help promote the ban.
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Sandy Bremner, convener of CNPA, said: “The Cairngorms National Park is loved and cherished by so many of us, and we all want to protect and safeguard this incredible place.
“This byelaw will help us to do just that.”
