As summer approaches and the days stretch long over the vast moorlands of the Peak District, visitors to iconic locations like Kinder Scout begin to arrive in greater numbers. Warm weather, clear skies, and the timeless appeal of outdoor adventure draw thousands each week. But with the seasonal surge in visitors comes a recurring and dangerous threat: fire.

The temptation to light a campfire, disposable barbecue, or even a few sparklers might seem harmless on a breezy summer evening—but in a fragile and volatile landscape like Kinder Scout, even a small flame can spark devastation that lasts for years.

A Peat Plateau on a Knife Edge

Kinder Scout is the highest point in the Peak District, famed for its sweeping views, rugged terrain and wild, windswept beauty. But it is also ecologically sensitive and dangerously flammable. Much of the Kinder plateau is made up of blanket bog, a dense layer of peat—a carbon-rich, organic material formed over thousands of years from decaying vegetation.

In dry conditions, this peat becomes highly combustible. Unlike a typical grassland fire, peat fires burn underground. They can smoulder for days or even weeks, reigniting long after the initial flame has gone. Fighting a peat fire is incredibly difficult and resource-intensive, often requiring helicopters, large-scale ground crews, and careful coordination from fire and land management teams.

Worse still, a fire on peatland destroys vital carbon stores, releases harmful greenhouse gases and causes extensive damage to biodiversity, soil structure, and water quality.

The Danger of Wild Camping and Illegal Fires

Wild camping is not permitted on Kinder Scout or anywhere else on open access land in the Peak District without the landowner’s permission. Despite this, each summer, small groups pitch tents on the edges of the plateau or down in the valley by the river at Grindsbrook Clough, a popular beauty spot at the base of Kinder. With them often comes the lighting of fires, barbecues and disposable grills.

Grindsbrook—normally a peaceful spot for a picnic or a paddle—frequently bears the scars of this behaviour. Blackened stones, burnt grass, scorched moss and melted cans are too often the legacy of overnight revellers. These may seem like isolated incidents, but their impact accumulates. Fire-damaged areas can take years to recover and the risk to the surrounding moorland is considerable—especially when embers are carried uphill by the wind.

The Myth of “Safe Fires”

Even campsites—many of which are responsibly managed—can unintentionally contribute to the problem when they permit open fires or BBQs without stringent control. Visitors unfamiliar with the moorland environment often underestimate how far a single ember can travel, especially on a breezy day.

A barbecue on the ground, a fire pit too close to dry bracken, or even a gust lifting ash from a smouldering log can be enough to set alight the surrounding area. These fires can spread fast through undergrowth, damaging trees, threatening nearby farms and placing wildlife and people at serious risk.

Several large moorland fires in recent years—including high-profile incidents across Saddleworth Moor and the Dark Peak—have begun in just this way. The response can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, divert emergency resources, and result in long-term access restrictions.

Kinder and the Carbon Crisis

Peatlands like Kinder Scout are not just pretty places to visit; they are globally significant carbon stores. The Peak District is home to around 1,900 square kilometres of upland peat, and Kinder sits at the heart of this vital ecosystem.

When these areas are burned, not only is the habitat for countless species destroyed—including rare birds like the curlew, golden plover and ring ouzel—but centuries of stored carbon are released into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change.

Conservation groups, including Moors for the Future and the National Trust, have worked tirelessly in recent years to restore the peat on Kinder—blocking drainage channels, replanting sphagnum moss and preventing erosion. Fires undo this progress in an instant.

What You Can Do: Safe, Responsible Visiting

If you’re heading to Edale, Kinder Scout, or any part of the Peak District this summer, here are a few simple ways to help protect this fragile landscape:

Never light fires or use disposable BBQs in the open countryside, moorland or public access land.
Stick to designated campsites that follow strict fire safety and environmental policies.
Take your litter home, especially anything that could become fuel—like food packaging.
Report suspicious or dangerous behaviour (including illegal camping or fire-lighting) to rangers or local authorities. Dial 999.
Follow fire warnings and closures during periods of high risk.

If you're camping at a site that permits fires, always check the rules, use raised, designated fire pits and be absolutely certain everything is fully extinguished before you leave. Better still, skip the flames and opt for a camp stove, cold picnic or pop to a nearby pub. The views are still just as good without the smoke.

In Summary

Kinder Scout is one of the UK’s most iconic walking destinations—a place of vast skies, rugged beauty, and ecological importance. But it is also delicate, especially during the hot, dry months of summer.

The temptation to light a fire might seem small, but in a landscape of dry peat and wind-swept heather, the consequences can be catastrophic. One careless spark can scar the land for generations.

As visitors, walkers, campers and lovers of the outdoors, we all have a part to play in protecting Kinder Scout and the wider Peak District. This summer, let’s leave no scorched earth behind—only footprints, memories, and a promise to tread lightly.

Fires on Kinder Scout: A Risk That Burns Beyond the Flame