4 minute read
How Fires and Stoves Define the Glamping Experience
You’ve got the accommodation sorted – but what vibe have you created at your site? Guests will remember the nice furnishings, sure, but the memories created is second to none.
What is it that draws people to glamping over, say, a hotel or traditional B&B? It’s the closeness to nature and the outdoor experience… and what is more outdoorsy than a classic campfire! Personally, some of my life’s most prominent conversations have been in front of a log burning stove or cosied up underneath a blanket by a fire pit with that incredible, woody smell that lingers on your clothes.
Tradition Meets Comfort
Fire pits and wood-burning stoves evoke a sense of nostalgia for the old ways ways of living. The smell of wood smoke, the warmth, and the crackling of flames offer a visceral, grounding experience that goes beyond ordinary camping.
Today’s fire pits and stoves have evolved with stylish, functional designs that complement glamping’s upscale appeal. Whether it’s precise heat control or sleek fire pits built into the deck of a luxury tent, there is a plethora of options to merge practicality with high-end aesthetics.
Salamander Stoves is a family-run business specialising in the manufacturing and design of high-quality stoves, and believes that ‘having a wood-burning stove is the finishing touch to any glamping accommodation, creating a warm, practical and useful focal point.’ Salamander Stoves also mentions that when purchasing a wood-burning stove, you need to factor in the size of your space and the wattage of the stove – offering a range of flue kits tailored to suit different spaces.
The Gathering Space
Fire pits naturally draw people together. Guests can enjoy cosy evenings under the stars, sharing stories and roasting marshmallows, all with our favourite modern comforts (comfortable seating, blankets, and tipple of choice.
There is a variety of fire pit designs to choose from, from the classic stone circles, to portable gas fires. If your focus is on guests DIY-ing a fire, the Indian Fire Bowl Company works with a network of Indian artisans who source and bring authentic, recycled Indian fire bowls to the UK. Their range of recycled Indian fire bowls start life as oil drums which are handcrafted, carefully shaped and riveted in the traditional way for strength and durability.
Anyone Can Be a Chef
While you can splash out on a premium gas grill, the general experience of glamping lends itself much more to a traditional fire. Perhaps add an option for guests to purchase a “grill kit” to cook over the fire – filled with delicacies from your local butcher or farm shop – for a farm-to-table experience. For eco-conscious or minimalist glamping setups, portable fire pits offer greater flexibility, while maintaining the comfort of a roaring fire or a hot meal.
Safety, Sustainability and Regulations
Your guests’ safety must always come first. Stoves and fire pits are popular glamping features but of course come with fire risks. Install easily accessible fire extinguishers/fire blankets in each unit, and conduct regular risk assessments. Be sure to have carbon monoxide detectors in your accommodation – they’re cheap to purchase, but are true life savers. In your guest welcome pack, consider writing a step-by-step guide on lighting the fire pit or stove, and what procedures to follow should anything happen.
Logs Direct, a family-run kiln dried wood supplier, offers the following advice to glamping site owners: ‘Legally speaking, make sure you are buying Ready to Burn accredited wood. Everyone is out there selling logs, but check that you are thinking about tomorrow with sustainable buying habits like FSC (meaning that the products haven’t harmed the forests).’
Although not a strict regulation, there are many benefits of using kiln dried wood in both stoves and open fires; the low-moisture wood gives off less smoke and more heat. If you’re an eco-friendly site, Certainly Wood pioneered the kiln drying process, which is now used as a standard across the industry, and offers starter kits which make great welcome packs for your guests, or logs in boxes, which are both 100% plastic free.
Fire as a Wellness Element
For many, sitting around a fire is a form of meditation. It helps guests unplug, relax, and connect with nature in a way that fosters their wellbeing. Even cooking on a fire or stove can be both therapeutic and rewarding, encouraging slow living in a natural setting.
Don’t underestimate the importance of something as simple as fire in creating memorable, meaningful outdoor experiences for your guests. Decide where you want your site to sit in the balance between the rustic, elemental allure and the upscale, comfortable experience more guests are seeking, and proceed accordingly.
