Cast Iron Camping Cooking in the UK: Everything You Actually Need

There is something deeply satisfying about cooking a proper meal over an open fire on a wet Welsh hillside or a blustery Scottish lochside. Cast iron makes that possible in a way that lightweight camping cookware simply cannot match. Yes, it is heavy. Yes, your rucksack will feel it. But if you are car camping, wild camping with a vehicle nearby, or setting up a base camp for a few nights, cast iron camping cookware is worth every gram.

This guide covers what you need to get started, which brands are worth buying in the UK, how to season and care for your cast iron in the field, and some genuinely good recipes that work brilliantly over a campfire or camp stove. Whether you are heading to the Lake District, Dartmoor, or a campsite in the Scottish Highlands, this is the practical knowledge you need.

Why Cast Iron Works So Well for Outdoor Cooking

Cast iron has been used over open fires for centuries, long before modern camping gear existed. It handles direct flame, wood coals, gas burners, and even campfire embers with equal ease. Unlike non-stick pans that degrade when exposed to high heat, cast iron thrives on it. The material holds heat evenly and retains it for a long time, which means your food keeps cooking even after you pull the pan off the fire.

There are a few specific reasons cast iron suits UK camping conditions particularly well. British weather is unpredictable, and cooking outdoors here often means lower ambient temperatures, wind, and damp conditions. Cast iron’s thermal mass means it is less affected by a gust of wind cooling your pan mid-cook. It also does not warp under extreme heat changes, which is a real problem with cheaper aluminium camp cookware.

Another advantage is versatility. A single cast iron skillet can fry bacon, bake flatbreads, simmer a stew, and roast potatoes. You are not carrying a collection of specialist pans. One well-chosen piece of cast iron does the work of three or four lightweight alternatives.

Understanding UK Countryside Access and Fire Rules

Before you even think about lighting a fire under your cast iron skillet, you need to understand where you are legally and practically permitted to do so in the UK. The rules differ significantly across the four nations.

England and Wales

In England and Wales, you do not have an automatic right to light open fires on most land. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 grants access to open land for walking and similar activities, but it does not grant the right to light fires. On designated campsites, check the site rules before lighting any open fire. Many sites in national parks such as Dartmoor, the Peak District, and Snowdonia (Eryri) prohibit open fires during dry periods, particularly in summer.

Dartmoor is one of the few places in England with a historic tradition of wild camping, though even there, fires are discouraged on dry moorland and completely prohibited in certain areas. Always check the Dartmoor National Park Authority guidance before your visit.

Scotland

Scotland is more generous. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives the public extensive rights to access most land for camping and recreation, including the right to light fires, provided you do so responsibly. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code, published by NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage), provides detailed guidance. It asks you to use a stove where possible, keep fires small, use dead wood rather than cutting living trees, and leave no trace. Cast iron over a small contained fire is perfectly at home in Scotland’s wild camping culture.

Northern Ireland

Access rights in Northern Ireland are more restricted than in Scotland. Stick to designated campsites or seek landowner permission before camping and lighting fires.

The practical upshot for cast iron campers is this: a portable gas stove works everywhere without permission issues, and your cast iron skillet works just as well on a gas burner as it does over an open fire. A camping-grade gas stove is a sensible backup regardless of where you are headed.

Choosing Your Cast Iron Cookware for Camping

Not all cast iron is suited to camping. You want pieces that are the right size, the right weight, and built to handle rough outdoor use. Here is a breakdown of what actually works.

The Skillet: Your Most Important Piece

A cast iron skillet is the single most useful piece of camping cookware you will own. For one or two people, a 25cm (10-inch) skillet is the sweet spot. It is large enough to cook a full breakfast or a decent portion of scrambled eggs with bacon, but not so enormous that it becomes impractical to carry and heat over a small fire.

For groups of three or four, a 30cm (12-inch) skillet gives you the space you need without requiring an industrial-scale fire to heat it properly.

The Dutch Oven: The Camp Kitchen Workhorse

A cast iron Dutch oven with legs is specifically designed for campfire cooking. The legs allow you to set it directly on hot coals without needing a grate, and a flanged lid lets you pile coals on top to create an oven effect. This is how you bake bread, cook stews, and roast meat in the field without any modern appliances.

Dutch ovens are sized in quarts in American measurements, but UK retailers increasingly list them in litres. A 4-litre Dutch oven is sensible for two to four people. A 6-litre model handles larger groups or longer recipes.

The Griddle Pan

A cast iron griddle, either a flat griddle plate or a reversible griddle with ridges on one side, is excellent for flatbreads, pancakes, and toasted sandwiches. Some campers prefer a griddle to a skillet because it heats more evenly across a larger surface area, which is useful over a campfire where hot spots are common.

Best Cast Iron Brands Available in the UK

The UK market has excellent options across different price points. Here is an honest look at what is available.

Lodge

Lodge is an American brand that has been manufacturing cast iron in South Pittsburg, Tennessee since 1896. It is the most widely available cast iron brand in the UK and consistently offers the best value for money. Lodge skillets come pre-seasoned from the factory, which means you can use them almost immediately. They are robust, consistent in quality, and widely available through retailers including Amazon UK, Lakeland, and camping specialists like Go Outdoors.

Lodge also produces a range of camp Dutch ovens with legs, which are specifically designed for outdoor cooking. These are hard to find in physical UK stores but readily available online. For most UK campers, Lodge is the sensible starting point.

Le Creuset

Le Creuset is a French brand with a long-standing presence in the UK. Their enamelled cast iron is genuinely excellent and their Dutch ovens are iconic kitchen pieces. However, it is worth being clear: Le Creuset’s enamelled range is not ideal for traditional campfire cooking. The enamel coating can be damaged by extremely high direct flame temperatures and thermal shock. Le Creuset is brilliant on a gas camp stove or a controlled wood-burning camp stove, but placing it directly in campfire coals is not recommended and will likely void any warranty.

That said, if you already own a Le Creuset casserole and you are car camping with a good gas stove, it will produce magnificent results. Their cast iron retains heat beautifully and the enamel makes cleaning far easier in the field where water is scarce.

Netherton Foundry

Netherton Foundry is a British manufacturer based in Shropshire, making cast iron and spun iron cookware by hand in the UK. Their products are genuinely exceptional and represent a growing movement to bring quality cookware manufacturing back to Britain. Their skillets and pans are finished with natural seasoning rather than synthetic coatings, and they are built to last for generations. The price reflects the craftsmanship, but if you want British-made cast iron with real heritage, Netherton is the name to know.

Petromax

Petromax is a German brand popular in the European camping and outdoor cooking community. Their fire Dutch ovens (the FT range) are specifically engineered for campfire use, with flanged lids for coal stacking and excellent manufacturing quality. They are available through UK outdoor retailers and are particularly popular with serious camp cooking enthusiasts.

How to Season Cast Iron for Outdoor Use

Seasoning is the process of baking thin layers of oil into the surface of cast iron to create a natural non-stick coating and protect against rust. In the damp British climate, proper seasoning is not optional — it is essential.

First-Time Seasoning at Home

If your pan is not pre-seasoned, or if you have stripped an old piece of cast iron and are starting fresh, here is the process. Wash the pan with warm soapy water and dry it thoroughly. Place it on your hob over medium heat or in an oven at around 200°C for ten minutes to drive out all moisture. Apply a very thin, even coat of a high smoke-point oil — flaxseed oil, grapeseed oil, and vegetable shortening all work well — to the entire surface of the pan, inside and out including the handle.

Buff away as much oil as possible with a clean cloth. You want the thinnest possible layer, not a visible coating of oil. Place the pan upside down in your oven at 230°C to 250°C and bake for one hour. Let it cool in the oven. Repeat this process three to four times for a solid initial seasoning.

Maintaining Seasoning at the Campsite

After each use in the field, clean your cast iron while it is still warm. Use hot water and a stiff brush or a chain mail scrubber. Avoid soap where possible. Dry the pan immediately and thoroughly — leaving cast iron wet even briefly in British outdoor conditions is asking for rust. Apply a very light coating of oil with a cloth, heat the pan briefly over your stove or campfire to drive the oil in, and store it somewhere dry. Many campers keep their cast iron in a cotton bag or wrapped in a tea towel to protect it in transit.

Dealing with Rust in the Field

If you spot orange rust spots on your cast iron during a trip, do not panic. Scrub the rust off with a steel wool pad or chain mail scrubber, rinse, dry immediately, oil lightly, and heat the pan. The seasoning will need rebuilding when you get home, but the pan is not ruined. Cast iron is remarkably forgiving — it can be completely stripped back and reseasoned as many times as needed.

Moving Forward

Once you have the fundamentals in place, the possibilities open up considerably. The UK offers fantastic opportunities for anyone interested in this hobby, and with the right foundation you will be well placed to make the most of them.