John's Lee Wood is suitable for everything from Beaver sleepovers to group camps and district fun / activity days. We have four cabins of varying size that are available for sleeping & cooking or just as alternative accommodation in case or bad weather when camping under canvas. You are welcome to come and look around, but please arrange your visit with the Bookings Secretary in advance.
We have 24 clearings in the woodland for camping pitches & these vary in size from Patrol to Group camp.
The site is owned by the City of Leicester Scout Districts & is open thoughout the year, except for Christmas weekend, to most organisations who hold public liability insurance.
The site is staffed by volunteer warden teams on an eight week rota system with a separate team of volunteers to staff the providore & another team of retired staff who work on the site in the week.
Please note: We can only accept bookings from registered groups / organisations who hold public liabaility insurance. We cannot accept any bookings from members of the general public.
We have a large brick built shower & toilet block in the centre of the site. This has male and female facilities with hot showers, toilets and washbasins. Hot water is available free of charge and the showers take FOUR 10p coins for a four minute shower (please let each coin drop before inserting the next one). There is also an outside water tap for campers to collect water for use on their site and a stainless steel sink for backpackers to wash their pots.
The campfire circle is available for any campers to use. Please check with the wardens first to avoid two groups arriving there at the same time.
Our open air chapel is available for any campers to use. Please check with the wardens first to avoid two groups arriving at the same time. Please respect this area and try to keep noise to a minimum if others are using the chapel.
We have a games area and a small adventure play area for our younger visitors (please ensure this is supervised by an adult at all times as it's use is entirely at your own risk and we accept no responsibility or liability for any injury however caused.)
There is a large car park to accommodate cars. minibuses and coaches, although advance notice is required for coaches. Limited vehicle access is permitted past the car park.
Vehicles should be parked in the car park on arrival until you have checked in with the Duty Wardens. Vehicles with HEAVY / LARGE CAMPING KIT will then be allowed up the main driveway to unload (please speak to the Duty Wardens for vehicle access). Vehicles must then be returned to the car park within 1 hour. Vehicles are not allowed on any campsites and must stay on the gravel driveways at all times.
For the safety of our campers, and to preserve the site, we have a strict 10mph speed limit which we ask you to respect at all times.
Night Time Safety Precautions
At night we ask drivers going on site to put their hazard lights on as they go down the track. Most do so without any bother, but some don't like being asked to do this. This is an on site safety precaution. It does not cost anything and is only the flick of a switch!
There is a log and wood pile opposite the shower block and campers are welcome to use anything they find on there. We cannot guarantee the supply and please make sure your campers wear adequate footwear and watch out for any nails in the timber. There is usually a reasonable supply of fallen branches around the site which campers are welcome to use.
Some of the sites have concrete slabs where you can light a fire and others are alter fire sites. We have a supply of alter fires that you are welcome to use. Please ask the duty wardens if you require one.
Please do not burn glass and metal in the fire on your site.
Please Note:
It is illegal to burn any timber containing glue, resin, timber treatments, paint etc. This includes plywood, mdf, chipboard, laminates and all other similar materials. Doing so is a breach of environmental laws and could result in you being prosecuted by the environmental agency.
John's Lee Wood is close to Bradgate Park, Beacon Hill, Swithland Woods, Twycross Zoo, Snibston Discovery Park, Beaumont Leys Leisure Centre, Riding Stables, The National Space Centre and The Great Central Railway as well as many other places.
Please see our Bookings Information page.
