LeCastor Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 As a Wood Badger and aficionado of Scouting, both present and past, I have long dreamed of one day making my "pilgrimage" to Gilwell Park near London, England. Also, I am now thinking it would be fun to take my family to Brownsea Island where we could participate in their family camps. Has anyone made the journey over to either of these historic sites? For our British brothers and sisters, is this something your Scouting groups enjoy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stosh Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Family camps???? Have you gone over to the dark side? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeCastor Posted January 13, 2018 Author Share Posted January 13, 2018 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Stosh said: Family camps???? Have you gone over to the dark side? Haha! No, I just thought this was a good way to get my family over to visit Brownsea Island and in a fun way. I don't know how it would work logistically to take a Troop, for instance, over to Brownsea for a camping trip. Since it's under the management of the UK's National Trust. I gather that's like the Park Service in the USA? Maybe @Cambridgeskip can give us some insight? Edited January 13, 2018 by LeCastor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stosh Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 I hear where you're coming from. If mamma ain't happy....... well, you know the rest. Le Castor Petit should be ready in a couple of years anyway. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambridgeskip Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 As it happens I am at Gilwell Park as I type! Massive event called winter camp, big weekend jamboree affair. We come every year it's great fun Gilwell are quite welcoming to visitors, phone in advance and they'll have you there. Be aware that's it's in a transitional phase. A lot of the old buildings are being closed knocked down and replaced. So the famous camp square looks quite run down but is due to be totally rebuilt. Brownsea is indeed run by the National Trust which is a charity that looks after a lot of historic sites. It's open to visitors all year, no need to book advance. There's a passenger ferry from Poole harbour. Very beautiful and the original campsite is still there. Scouts can camp there but need to book years in advance! If you have any problem with wasps be aware it's infested with them. There are plenty of places to camp near Poole and you can do a day trip there. We went for the day in 2015 while camping at a place called Ferny Crofts in 2015. Photos here http://12thcambridge.org.uk/summer-camp-2015/ 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeCastor Posted January 14, 2018 Author Share Posted January 14, 2018 Thanks, @Cambridgeskip! That's very helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambridgeskip Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 On 14/01/2018 at 12:58 AM, LeCastor said: Thanks, @Cambridgeskip! That's very helpful. No worries! I would add though that while Gilwell is worth sticking your head into if you are passing I wouldn't make a massive detour to see it if you only have limited time in the UK. There is some scout history there but you can probably see all of it in a couple of hours. The majority of the site is a run of the mill (for the UK) scout campsite and activity centre. Eccles (BP's caravan) may be there depending on what time of year it is. Easiest way to get there is to drive but if you are using public transport take a train to Chingford and get a taxi from there, or it's about 45 minutes walk. Similarly I would combine Brownsea with something else. When we went it was the same day as the Bournemouth airshow nearby which we combined it with. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stosh Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Ya, but you're standing on "hallowed" ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelpfulTracks Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Ohh, my (not so) inner Scout nerd is going bananas. I would LOVE to make that trip. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeCastor Posted January 15, 2018 Author Share Posted January 15, 2018 34 minutes ago, HelpfulTracks said: Ohh, my (not so) inner Scout nerd is going bananas. I would LOVE to make that trip. Let's do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeCastor Posted January 15, 2018 Author Share Posted January 15, 2018 56 minutes ago, Stosh said: Ya, but you're standing on "hallowed" ground. Exactly! 😎 🇬🇧 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelpfulTracks Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Just now, LeCastor said: Let's do it! I would love to, I just have to convince my wife now! Maybe, I could take her on that trip to Ireland she wants and arrange a SLIGHT detour for a day of Scouting Adventure, lol. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambridgeskip Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 3 hours ago, Stosh said: Ya, but you're standing on "hallowed" ground. Don't say I didn't warn you though.... Anyway a quick guided tour of Gilwell based on photos on our group website. The view over North London at sunset from The Quick (That's not the Thames, it's the Lee Valley reservoirs) Smame view with a bunch of my cubs in 2009 in daylight. Two of that lot are assistant leaders now! Same cubs absolutely exhausted at the same event, hot chocolate and a story from the Jungle Book before they go unconscious (that's me in the chair reading) Neckers from groups who have camper there on the ceiling of the souvenieer shop The 3G swing, one of the preferred activities among my scouts! Essex Chase, one of the main camping fields, January 2010 High ropes course One of our patrols in the camp square Same mob outside the white house (national HQ, training centre and also used as a hotel) "Big Mac" clock in the camp square The outdoor climbing wall Gates to the large campfire circle Campfire circle in full swing "The Lid" Used for stuff like this day time and evening entertainment at big events Please don't buy organise a trip expecting there to be more. There really isn't. Various statues. The various chapels. That's all I've not shown of Gilwell. Please don't go buying a plane ticket based on that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeCastor Posted January 15, 2018 Author Share Posted January 15, 2018 Thanks, @Cambridgeskip. Actually, we've got family based near London these days, so it would definitely just be a side trip. I like that you are trying manage expectations, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwilkins Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 (edited) All things being equal (i.e. we've booked and put a deposit down) we have one night's camping for my explorer scouts at Brownsea Island in the summer. Looking forward to being on "hallowed ground", walking in the footsteps etc, though I've been told not to get my expectations up too much by some, if memory serves you can't have open fires there anymore, but it should be an interesting start to the summer camp. We also go to Gilwell Park most years, in the summer, they have a camp with about 4500 Explorer scouts attending, and a great big heap of activities, and not much sleep. The little museum is interesting, and you'll usually find volunteers from all over the world there, oh, and the shop for all your branded goodies. I think there's probably a "history trail". Obviously, you can camp there, but there's also hotel rooms available if you want a night there but don't want to carry tents and sleeping bags across the pond. Though not really hallowed ground, if you're ever in that London, England, Baden-Powell House is in Kensington, near to the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A museum, and the Royal Albert Hall. It's a hostel, but not run by scouting anymore, there is a little kiosk of goodies you can buy, and an excellent photo opportunity as there's a big granite statue of Baden Powell outside it. Possibly the only statue in London of man in shorts! Edited January 17, 2018 by ianwilkins 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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