About Rough Close
Rough Close is Coventry Scout’s 43-acre campsite and activity centre located 4.5 miles from Coventry City centre on the western outskirts of the City. Access is via a gated private drive from the B4101Tanners Lane, Berkswell.
The site spans over 43 acres of ancient natural woodland, large fields and pocket sites. The woodland together with its abundant wildlife make an ideal Scout campsite enjoying the peace and quiet of the countryside whilst being within minutes of the City’s urban civilisation.
The camping areas comprise of 2 large fields, 4 smaller fields and 10 woodland pocket sites. Toilet and shower facilities are available nearby to all camping areas.
View Site Map
Contact Us
Find Us:
Rough Close Scout Campsite,
Tanners Lane,
Berkswell,
CV7 7DD
Grid Ref: SP264779 (Access Road)
Contact Us:
024-7646-4310 (Answer machine)
roughclose@coventryscouts.org.uk
Cabins/Buildings and Fields
The Norton Cabin, is the premier accommodation on-site, has sleeping for 18 young people in three bunk rooms and 4 adult leaders in two bunk rooms, it has full facilities including a fully fitted kitchen, day room, toilet and shower facilities fully equipped for the less able members. It is centrally heated and equipped with a fire alarm system. Adjacent is “Ma Williams” Cub Field which is associated with the building and can be used for camping and games.
The kitchen is equipped with a cooker (8 hobs, 2 ovens and grill), fridge, freezer, kettle and microwave. The Activity Room is equipped with 6 tables and 24 chairs.
The external toilets and showers are accessed from the veranda, and are for use by those occupying the Norton Cabin and other campers on site.
Additional trestle tables, chairs, benches are stored close by, only for use on the ‘Ma Williams’ Camping Field and not in the Norton Cabin.
You may begin your camp / holiday any day of the week, arrival and departure times will be agreed but in general would be: – Weekday departure any time up until 12:00 Friday, Weekend arrival is from 17:00 Friday until departure any time up until 16:00 Sunday
This enables us to check the campsite and building carry out any maintenance and prepare for the next group.
CABIN AND SURROUNDING AREA CLOSED – SEPTEMBER 2025 ONWARDS
The Guild Cabin replacement works will begin in September 2025, estimated completion by Spring 2026.
During this time the Guild Field and surrounding woodland are Out of Bounds to all camp site users. Exclusion map below.
4 x Shelters, Wooden floor 4m x 3.5m. Electric lighting.
Main Shelter. 4 x Picnic benches. Shelter sides can be opened.
Kitchen Area. – Lockable, Sink, hot and cold running water. 4 Ring gas stove (Note; no oven) Fridge Freezer . Water boiler, Kettle.
Fire Shelter. – Adjacent to Shelter. Suitable for basic cooking.
The ‘George Sheppard’ Cabin provides a superb day room suitable for training or section meetings and has a fully fitted kitchen and the cabin is centrally heated. Adjacent is the ‘Scout Training Field’ which is associated with the building and can be used for camping and games.
It is the responsibility of the User Group to provide these cooking utensils and crockery etc. for their group.
Full central heating. WIFI
Main Room. 9m x 7m, Power Points, Tables and Chairs.
Kitchen, 6 Burner stove with oven. Sink-hot and cold running water. Fridge freezer. Water Boiler / electric kettle, Dish washer.
Camping Field – 35m x 25m adjacent.
Fire Shelter
Suitable for a class room or meeting room, Can be used for day or evening activities or camps on the main field.
Main Building – 5m x 5m. Heating – Electric convector. White Board. 2 x Picnic benches. Extra tables and chairs available. Veranda. Note; – No cooking facilities.
Fire Shelter with Fire bowl.
Suitable for a class or meeting room, warm shelter or base for day or evening activities or light weight camps.
Main Building – Wood burner. Lighting and power. Fixed bench seating. Extra tables and chairs available. Note; – No cooking facilities.
Fire Shelter. Fire bowl – suitable for basic cooking.
Camping Sites
There are various camping areas across the site. The Norton cabin, George Sheppard Cabin and Guild Cabin each come with a large field. You can see more information on the dimensions by clicking the book button below.
In addition the fields tat accompany the buildings, we have a variety of other camping areas including:
Main Field – A large field that is great for large camps, events and activities, this can be booked as an entire field or in split sections. Users of this site make use of the main toilet block at camp centre.
Top Field – This is another large field that can be booked as an entire site for events or as smaller sections, see the booking site for more information. Users of this site have a separate toilet block located in the car park for the Top Field.
Pocket Sites – There are 10 pocket sites located throughout Rough Close, these vary in size and shape, you can find out more on the booking site below.
Activities
Rough Close boasts a number of onsite activities including both leader-led and instructor-led options.
Leader-Led Activities
Our Leader-led activities require no special permits or licenses to run and include:
- Traverse & Peg Wall
- Pedal Cars
- Orienteering
- Pioneering
- Geo-Caching
- Gun Carriages
- Cavebus
- Frisbee Golf
- Tunnel Complex
Instructor-Led activities
The activities listed below require a valid permit/activity instructor for each session. When booking you will have to option to choose a site instructor or use your own, this is dependant on each activity and the requirements in the Scout’s Policy, Organisation and Rules.
- Crate Climbing Max 10 people (available between March 23rd – October 24th)
- Climbing Tower: Max 8 people time period Hour and a half
- Air Rifle Shooting
- Archery
Onsite Facilities
Fancy a free weekend for your group?
How do you fancy a free weekend of camping at Rough Close for your group?
Rough Close relies on our volunteers to maintain our facilities all year round, not to mention the hours of admin work, cleaning, building and much more. Without our volunteers, Rough Close simply wouldn’t exist!
We feel that it’s important to pass on the spirit and importance of volunteering to the next generation.
If your group can give up a weekend to help us around the site with various tasks, we’ll give you:
- Free camping all weekend
- The right tools and training to perform various tasks around the site
- Free Brunch on Saturday and Sunday
- 1 x free leader-led activity of your choice
- Make progress on badges such as Campsite Service and more!
There are 4 toilet blocks onsite, they each have hot running water, shower facilities and disabled access, all toilet blocks are for use by the entire campsite and are not dedicated to a particular building/field:
- Main Toilet Block (Located at camp centre, Opposite The Retreat). – Washing up Facilities located at entrance
- Top Toilet Block (Located in the car park of the Top Field).
- Leader Training Field Toilets (Located at the very top of the main track that runs down the centre of the site).
- Norton Cabin Exterior Toilets (Located at the end of the veranda of the Norton Cabin).
Rough Close is home to Coventry Scout’s very own Scout Shop, the Shop is located next to the main field and is split into two sections. The right hand side of the shop (“Badges and Things”), is dedicated to adults only for the purchase of badges, uniform, flags and other Scouting and Guiding products to help run a successful programme.
The left hand side of the shop (“The Providore”), has sweets, drinks, snacks, Rough Close memorabilia, fun badges and toys, as well as providing essentials such as matches, sponges, washing up liquid and any other bits and bobs you might have forgotten to pack!
Please note: The shop is limited to 6 young people at a time, accompanied by an adult leader.
The shop accepts cash and card payments, including contactless and Apple/Google pay.
Opening hours:
Saturday: 10am – 1pm AND 2pm – 4pm
Proud to be volunteer led!
Rough close is very proud to be a volunteer led campsite, all of our management committee, weekend service crew, activity instructors and shop staff are volunteers.
Being volunteer led, means we can keep prices low, return profits into Coventry Scouting and continue to provide young people with experiences and skills for life.
As a volunteer organisation, sometimes it can be difficult to find help with activities and essential maintenance across the site. Finding instructors can be made easier by advanced booking, or providing your own instructors. If you think you could provide your own instructor for a booking, then please get in touch with us at roughclose@coventryscouts.org.uk with your booking reference.
Additional Site Information
Reception Office is open from 6:00pm Friday’s when keys for cabins booked can be collected other times by prior arrangement only. (Note: No Public Camping)
Site Rules:
- Please adhere to the strict 5MPH speed limit throughout the site, including the access road.
- No fireworks or hot air lanterns permitted (at any time).
- The Scout Association “Young People First“ – Child Protection will apply, where Groups or Organisations have none.
- Please be courteous to all our neighbours and drive slowly passed the cottages at the end of the drive, and to the local farmers if walking along the public rights of way, no undue vehicle movement after 11:30pm, leave no litter and follow the Country Code.
- Risk Assessments: Group Leaders are responsible for doing their own risk assessments. You can find onsite risk assessments for activities using the “Access Files” button below.
- Campers at Rough Close are NOT PERMITTED, even if qualified with appropriate NPTC to operate a chainsaw on the premises.
- Only 0.177 Lead Free Pellets will be used in the Range, Groups using their own equipment MUST also comply.
Failure to do so will result in an additional Cleaning Charge being levied on the Group. (minimum charge £60.00).