Information about the site
Location: Nine Ashes is the County Training and Activity Centre, and is situated approximately 3 miles from Bodmin on the B3266 Camelford Road. The site consists of 25 acres of woodland, and 5 acres of camping (with an additional 7 acres added during the peak season, by use of adjoining farmers fields). The site is part of the private Pencarrow Estate, and is well secluded from the road, and whilst in easy reach of Bodmin & Wadebridge, is very much in an isolated position.
Site: The site has the 'Molesworth' building with kitchen & toilet facilities and the 'Trefusis' building a separate wooden wet weather building with two rooms and a verana area. Two toilet blocks in the centre of the camping area, both equipped with hand basins and showers are available for campers. The camp site allows altar fire cooking, and these are provided, however some 'earth ovens' are also at the side of the site, the woodland provides an ample supply of fallen timber for cooking. The site has a camp fire circle and a selection of pioneering poles which are also available to use. The woodland has many trails and varies from natural oak/beech woodlands through to pine wooded areas, and also is home to an adventure playground and a outdoor chapel. A 25 foot high stone climbing wall is available for use, with qualified climbing instructors and equipment available to hire, and additional 50 foot tower is planned for the future.
Building: The building comprises of the following rooms:
Male Leaders Toliet: In use for building and campers use, not soley restricted to hall users.
Female Leaders Toilet: In use for building and campers use, not soley restricted to hall users.
Disabled Toliets/Leaders Shower: In use for building and campers use, not soley restricted to hall users.
Unisex Toilet: In use for building users and kitchen staff only.
Kitchen: Recently totally upgraded, and be hired seperately from the hall.
Reception Hall: Small entrance area at the front of the hall to allow storage of footwear & coats.
Main Hall: Roughly 14mx12m in size, the hall is suitable for meetings but not for pack holiday sleeping.
Trescowe Meeting Room: Meeting room for 8-12 people - currently under construction and not available
Pencarrow Meeting Room: Meeting room for 4-6 people and can be required for County Team use.
County Office: Soley for County use and not hired as part of any building hire by other parties.
Local Amentities: Local canoe hire (canadian & kayak) is situated in Wadebridge, 4 miles away, and local cycle hire will deliver direct to the site upon request. Nearby are a number of footpaths leading to the 'Camel Trail' a 20 mile footpath & cycleway, leading to Padstow. The north coast beaches of Polzeath and Rock are only 8 miles away and Newquay 15 miles, the south coast is 14 miles from the site. Adventure attractions such as 'Crealy Adventure Park' offer a fun filled day of themed activities with travelling distance about 14 miles from the site. Bodmin offers a Steam Railway, Military Musuem and Old Prison to view, whereas Padstow can offer boat rides along the coast, or over to Rock Beach.
Nine Ashes 'Bolt-On' Activity Provision | Details and of Activities Available | Cost of Activity |
Team Building Activities Wall Climbing Tower Climbing Crate Stacking Archery Rifle Shooting Camp Fire Leading First Aid Training Pioneering Mountain Biking (On-Site) | Leader or Team of Leaders Provided, depending on type of group and number of activities required Equipment & Qualified Climbing Instructor Provided Equipment & Qualified Climbing Instructor Provided Equipment & Qualified Climbing Instructor Provided Equipment & Qualified Archery Instructor Provided Equipment & Qualified Shooting Instructor Provided Experienced Camp Fire Leader Provided Equipment & Qualified First Aid Instructor Provided Equipment & Pioneering Instructor Provided Equipment & Mountain Biking Instructor Provided | £35 per Session (Min) or £1 per person for 2 Hours Duration £35 per 2 hour session £35 per 2 hour session £35 per 2 hour session £35 per 2 hour session £35 per 2 hour session £10 per camp fire session £35 per 2 hour session £35 per 2 hour session £35 per 2 hour session |
Where to visit, and what to do whilst in the area.
| | Type, Name, Details and Location - Contact telephone Numbers and Website details/links |
Shops & Petrol | Asda - Launceston Road, Bodmin (Petrol/Filling Station) (Undertake food delivery to site) Lidl - The Platt, Wadebridge Morrisons - Liskeard Road, Bodmin (Petrol/Filling Station) Sainsburys - Dennision Road, Bodmin Tesco - Gonvena Hill, Wadebridge (Petrol/Filling Station) |
Physical Activity Providers | Kayaking - Wadebridge & Bude Canadian Canoeing - Wadebridge & Bude Coasteering - Penhale, Perranporth Hiking/Walking - Camel Trail Footpath - Blisland to Padstow via Bodmin Hiking/Walking - Saints Way Footpath - Fowey to Padtow via Lanivet |
Tourist Attractions | Cub Scout/Scout Colliford Lake Park - Bolventor, Near Bodmin Lappa Valley Railway - Newquay Waterworld Leisure Pool - Newquay Scout/Explorer Scout Crealy Adventure Park - Wadebridge Bodmin Steam Railway - Bodmin Oasis Leisure Pool - Hendra, Near Newquay Explorer Scout/Network Bodmin Jail/Old Prison - Bodmin St.Austell Brewery Centre - St.Austell |
Overall, Nine Ashes has so much to offer, with camping space for up to six Groups (400) on the 'Pencarrow' Field (main site), use of the 'Trescowe' (additional) field (June-September) can provide for extra capacity for an additional six Groups (600) to meet the needs of most requests. Central to Cornwall, in the heart of the countryside, and well resourced, Nine Ashes is a unique camp site, and well worth a visit
Camp Site No.1 (Ash)
Approx 80ftx80ft in size - Suitable for Up to 25 Campers
Situated Top Left of the Pencarrow (Main) Field
Often used by small groups of Explorer Scouts or Hikers
(Note: This site is likely to be reduced in size to 60ftx80ft as a result of proposed new climbing walls being constructed on the edge of this site during the Summer 2009).
Camp Site No.2 (Elm)
Approx 80ftx90ft in size - Suitable for up to 40 Campers
Situated Top Centre of the Pencarrow (Main) Field
Mainly used for Troop Camping
Camp Site No.3 (Oak)
Approx 80ftx90ft in size - Suitable for up to 40 Campers
Situated Bottom Centre of the Pencarrow (Main) Field
Mainly used for Troop Camping
(Image to Follow)
Camp Site No.4 (Yew)
Approx 80ftx100ft in size - Suitable for up to 60 campers
Situated Bottom Left of the Pencarrow (Main) Field
Mainly used for Pack/Troop/Group Camping
Camp Site No.5 (Beech)
Approx 80ftx100ft in size - Suitable for up to 60 Campers
Situated Bottom Right of the Pencarrow (Main) Field
Mainly used for Pack/Troop/Group Camping
Camp Site No.6 (Birch)
Approx 100ftx100ft in size - Suitable for up to 80 Campers
Situated Top Right of the Pencarrow (Main) Field
Mainly used for County Training Team use or for Pack/Group Camping
Camp Site No.7 (Aspen)
Approx 120ftx120ft in size - Suitable for up to 60 Campers
Situated Bottom Left of the Trescowe (Additional) Field
Mainly used for Troop/Unit Camping
Camp Site No.8 (Maple)
Approx 120ftx140ft in size - Suitable for up to 100 Campers
Situated Centre Left of the Trescowe (Additional) Field
Mainly used for Unit/Group Camping and can be split into 8a (Red) & 8b (Green)
Camp Site No.9 (Willow)
Approx 100ftx120ft in size - Suitable for up to 60 Campers
Situated Top Left of the Trescowe (Additional) Field
Mainly used for Troop/Unit/Group Camping
Camp Site No.10 (Poplar)
Approx 60ftx60ft in size - Suitable for up to 10 Campers
Situated outisde toilet block between sites 5/6 in the Pencarrow (Main) Field,
and mainly used by small hiking parties or small individual visitors or groups)
Mainly used for Hikers - The 'Lawn' can also be used in this manner
(Note: This site will shortly be an un-numbered pitch)
Camp Site No.11 (Hawthorn)
Approx 100ftx120ft in size - Suitable for up to 40 Campers
Situated Top Centre of the Trescowe (Additional) Field
Mainly used for Troop/Unit Camping
(Image to follow)
(Note: This site is likely to be renumbered to Site 10)
Camp Site No.12 (Hazel)
Approx 100ftx120ft in size - Suitable for up to 40 Campers
Situated Top Right of the Trescowe (Additional) Field
Mainly used for Troop/Unit Camping
(Note: This site is likely to be renumbered to Site 11)
(Sites 11(Hawthorn) -12 (Hazel) are rarely used, and are more suitable for green field camping, or for non-scout groups or organisations who wish to use the site). Road access between sites 11 (Hawthorn) & 12 (Hazel) .Camp Site No.12 (Hazel) (Approx 80ftx100ft in size - Situated Centre Right of Additional Field)
(Image to follow). Portaloos are normally situated between sites 9 (Willow) and 11 Hawthorn). Site 13 (Blackthorn) is likely to be renumbered to Site 12, this site has never actually been used as camping pitch.
Woodland Camping
Whilst we do not advertise woodland camping, this is permitted in the form of Bivouc building or similar. Others wishing to camp in the woodlands in small tentage, may be permitted to do so depending on their requirements and the useage of the site at that time.