Why a real fire earns its place in a Highland cottage

There is a particular kind of evening in the Highlands that only works with a fire. Rain on the window, a dram on the arm of the chair, and a stack of logs ticking down in a wood burner while the hills disappear into the dark. It is not a gimmick, either. In a glen where the power can go down in a winter storm, a solid fuel stove is genuine backup heating, not decoration. If you are booking a cottage between October and April, a real fire can be the difference between a comfortable week and a chilly one.

But "real fire" covers a lot of ground, and the details decide whether you spend your holiday tending a fire or fighting one. Here is what to check before you book.

Know what you are actually booking

The phrase means at least three different things, and they behave very differently.

• Open fire in a traditional grate. Atmospheric and lovely to look at, but inefficient. Most of the heat goes up the chimney, and they need constant attention and a good draught.
• Wood-burning stove. Sealed, controllable, far more efficient. Once it is up to temperature you can shut the vents down and it will hold for hours.
• Multi-fuel stove. Takes logs and smokeless solid fuel, which is useful if you want an overnight burn. Some owners ask guests to stick to one fuel type.

Ask which one it is, what size the room is, and whether the fire is the main heat source or a supplement to central heating. A single stove in a large open-plan sitting room with high ceilings will look beautiful and warm about a two-metre radius.

Fuel: what is included, what you must buy

This is the single most common source of friction. Some owners leave a generous welcome basket of logs; others leave enough for one evening and expect you to buy your own. Ask directly:

• How much fuel is provided, and is it included in the price?
• Where is the nearest place to buy logs, and how far is it in winter?
• Is there a log store I can access, or is it locked?
• Are firelighters, kindling and matches provided?

If you are buying logs, look for kiln-dried hardwood with a moisture content under 20 per cent — it should feel light and sound hollow when you knock two pieces together. Wet logs hiss, smoke, blacken the glass and deposit tar in the flue. Softwood kindling is fine for starting; hardwood such as birch, ash or oak burns longer. Never burn driftwood, painted timber, or treated offcuts, and do not assume you can cut peat locally — it is not a casual right on someone else's land.

Chimney safety, alarms and what the law expects

A properly maintained flue matters more than the fire itself. Look for a recent chimney sweep certificate or a note in the welcome pack confirming when the flue was last swept — annually is the normal standard, and more often if the fire is heavily used. A sign of trouble is a fire that smokes back into the room when you open the door, or a weak draught on a still day.

Scottish rules are stricter than many visitors expect. Any property with a fixed combustion appliance should have a carbon monoxide alarm, and you should be able to see it and test it. Smoke and heat alarms are also required. Check them when you arrive. If you cannot find a CO alarm near the fire, ring the owner rather than shrugging it off.

Practical habits help too: open the air vent before you light up, never sling a tea towel over the stove, and use a fireguard if children or dogs are with you.

Smoke control areas and local restrictions

Most of the Highlands is rural, but not all of it. Some towns and villages are designated smoke control areas, where only authorised smokeless fuels or exempt appliances may be used. If your cottage sits inside one, the owner should tell you, and you should follow their instructions on fuel exactly. Burning the wrong thing can land the householder with a fine, and it will not endear you to the neighbours.

Also worth asking: whether the cottage sits on mains gas (rare in the far north), or runs on oil, LPG or electric heating. If the fire is your backup in a power cut, confirm that the stove does not rely on an electric pump or fan to work.

Questions worth asking before you pay a deposit

• Is the fire available all year, or does it get shut down in summer?
• Will someone show me how to work it on arrival?
• Is there an outside store for logs, and is it under cover?
• What happens if the flue plays up mid-week — who do I call?
• Are there restrictions on burning times, especially in a village?

A good owner will answer these cheerfully and probably add a few tips of their own. A vague answer about the fire is worth noting. Get the fuel, the flue and the alarms straight before you book, and the rest of the week takes care of itself: boots drying by the door, a pot of something on the stove, and a Highland evening doing exactly what it should.