s Dernford Nook Facilities

Dernford Nook Facilities

Facilities at Dernford Nook:

Fifteen different camping pitches, from small to large, from wooded to open
Toilet block with four unisex cubicles and washing up sinks
Kitchen block with hobs, sinks, worksurfaces and some utensils / equipment
Parking for up to 35 cars, minibusses etc
Four small altar fire pits, one larger one
Two lakes for water activities and wildlife
Central flagpole
Small fire circle
Archery range and Games field
.. plus activity equipment:
- Pedal karts
- Canoes, paddles, bouyancy aids
- Rafting barrels and poles
- Archery can be brought on site
- Air rifles can be brought on site

Those facilities in slightly more detail

14 Campsite Pitches
- The Croft - two fire bases, slept 24, hazel and walnut dappled shade, near toilets
- The Strand - two fire bases, slept 26, separate leader's or patrol corner, near toilets
- The Holt - largest pitch, slept 42, nearest the field kitchen
- The Spinney - large trees, suit 30+ water tap
- The Siding - slept 9, smaller, ideal for leaders for groups using nearby Holt or Spinney
- The Meadow - suit 40+, large open meadow, ants in high summer
- The Brae, slept 6, and coming soon: the Burn - patrol sized pitches
- Baggys Glade - a small pitch, suit 6, suitable for open air teaching or a camp cinema
- Coming soon: The Rod, The Chain, The Furlong, The Quarter, The Mile
- Coming soon: The Field - large open field, also good for football, frisby etc
Toilets - located near The Croft, The Strand and the Flag Circle
- One wider accessible cubicle, twinned with a toilet in Tanzania
- Three other cubicles, twinned with Nepal, South Sudan and Uganda respectively
- Three washbasins
- Mains electricity with lights (coming soon: mobile phone charging for scouts)
- Two outside kitchen sinks for washing up (coming soon: with warm water)
- Leader's side: kettle, tea, coffee, spare toilet rolls, cleaning equpiment etc
Field Kitchen Block - indoor building for those catering for groups
- Three standard gas hobs running on camping gas
- Two kitchen sinks (coming soon: solar heated hot water)
- Kitchen worksurfaces that are easier to keep clean
- A rather limited set of utensils
- Fire alarm, extinguisher, carbon monoxide alarm, fire blanket
- Table and chairs outside
Car Parking
- First carpark: space for 15 cars
- Overflow carpark: space for 20 cars, bike racks for 12+ bikes
- Further parking is available back at the Reservoir on the access road in
- There is space for a minibus or two by The Holt and the Field Kitchen
- Access road to the site is single track with passing places
Altar fires and fire bases
- Six concrete slabbed fire bases across the site
- Three large altar fires (recycled barbecues) for cooking on
- Four small altar fire pits for sitting around into the evening
- Wood piles from donated offcuts from builders merchants and tree surgeons
- Some stacks of cut logs and branches from site maintenance
  - Two lakes
    - Dernmere: the main lake is 1 acre, 100m x 40m with a jetty and an island
    - The Lode: a long straight lake 100m x 20m ideal for canoe races
  - Central flag circle and flagpole
    - Six metre flag pole with Union Flag available or you can fly your own
    - Fire alarm bell and muster zone
    - Ideal area for camp meetings, HQ coleman or gazebo etc
  - Small fire circle
    - Fire base
    - Coming soon: amphitheatre earth bank surround
    - Coming soon: benches for up to 30
  - Archery rage and Games field
    - A 100mx30m grassy field with movable football goal
    - Doubles as a large camping pitch, The Field
    - Also available for use as a 100m archery range
    - Coming soon: adjoining the Games field a balistic fenced target sports range
      - An archery range
      - A tomahawk/axe throwing arena
      - An air rifles range
  Traditions at Dernford Nook:
  - Leave offerings for Danny the Dernford Otter
  - Dress Danny in your group's necker whilst at camp
  - A camp commemorative photo standing behind the Dernford camp gate
  - Earning the Order of the Otter badge by ringing the bell on the island [coming soon] and repeating the Dernford Promise: I promise that I will do my best
    To do my duty to wildlife and the campsite
    To help otters and people alike
    And to keep the campsite wild
  See our Activities page for our on-site activities and the equipment available for those
  See our Resources page for risk assessment pro-formas and badge programme info you can use for some of these activities
  
  last updated: Fri Nov 21 2025 site info

	Dernford Nook Campsite
		Bookings	Activities	Facilities	Resources	Maps	Gallery	Contact