Rough Close Scout Campsite & Activity Centre
WHERE
Coventry
What it’s like
A 43-acre Scout campsite near Coventry, booked out to Scout groups and affiliated organisations for camping, climbing and shooting activities, not open to the public.
This one's for group leaders rather than families browsing for a day out. Rough Close is a working Scout campsite across 43 acres, and it's booked by whole groups, Scout troops and affiliated organisations, rather than by individual families turning up with a tent. If you're not part of one of those groups this isn't a site you can just book a pitch on.
For the groups that do come, there's a proper spread of accommodation, from cabins with kitchens (Norton Cabin sleeps 18 young people plus 4 adult leaders) to a teepee site, a dome, and open camping fields. Activities are instructor-led where staff are available: crate climbing (capped at 10, and only running March 23rd to October 24th), a climbing tower (max 8, in hour-and-a-half sessions), air rifle shooting and archery. Groups can also bring their own qualified instructors for some of these if the site's staff aren't free, which is worth sorting in advance rather than assuming on arrival.
Weekend camps run from 5pm Friday to 4pm Sunday, though you can actually start your camp on any day of the week by agreement. There isn't a café or catering on site as such, just the Scout Shop's Providore side for sweets, drinks and camp essentials, so groups are cooking or bringing their own food. Four toilet blocks around the site have showers and disabled access, which matters when you're camping for a weekend rather than popping in for an afternoon.
The Scout Shop itself is only open Saturdays, split into badges-and-uniform on one side and snacks on the other, and it's limited to six young people in there at once with an adult. It takes cash and card. None of this is a site to wander into on spec, it's built around bookings, so if you're organising a group trip the contact details are worth having ready rather than turning up hoping for the best.
Facilities
Plan your visit
Can my family camp here for a weekend?
No, this site only takes bookings from Scout groups and affiliated organisations, not individual families or members of the public.
What accommodation is on offer?
Cabins including Norton Cabin, Guild Cabin and George Sheppard Cabin, a teepee site, a dome, and camping fields and pocket sites across the 43 acres. Norton Cabin sleeps 18 young people and 4 adult leaders with a kitchen.
What can groups actually do while they're there?
Crate climbing, a climbing tower, air rifle shooting and archery, all instructor-led when staff are available. Crate climbing only runs from March 23rd to October 24th.
Do we need to bring our own instructors?
Site instructors aren't always available, so groups sometimes bring their own for certain activities, depending on Scout policy rules. It's worth confirming this with the site ahead of your booking.
Is there food on site?
There's no catering as such, just the Scout Shop's Providore side selling sweets, drinks and camp essentials, so groups tend to cook or bring supplies.
What are arrival and departure times?
Weekend camps run from 5pm Friday to 4pm Sunday. You can start a camp on any day of the week if arrival and departure times are agreed in advance.
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