Bures Scout & Guide Campsite
Where is Bures?
Bures village is situated on the border of Suffolk and Essex in an area of outstanding natural beauty and is 6 miles from Sudbury, 25 miles from Ipswich and 12 miles from Colchester and is served by a local bus service and Greater Anglia Trains. Travelling from London by car via M25 corridor is only 1 hour away.
Bures is also situated along the Stour Valley Path which runs from Newmarket High Street near the source of the River Stour to Cattawade near Brantham where it joins the estuary, a distance of 60 miles and St Edmunds Way [ideal for Expedition Challenge, Outdoor Challenge, Hiker’s Badge, Chief Scout Award, Troop Hikes and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, (Explorer Scouts)].
About the site
1st Bures Scout Group has periodic use during the Summer only (1st March-31st October) of an area adjoining their Headquarters in The Croft (off the High Street). The site consists of grazed pasture, with wooded area running down to the River Stour. The campsite is ideal for:
- Summer camps
- Patrol camping
- Lightweight camping
- DofE Groups
- Survival Skills
- District and County events
- Paddle along the River Stour
Only one group will be allowed to camp at any one time on camping field. Out of season in the Scout Headquarters Grounds (in front the main hall) flood light for late winter arrivals! DofE groups in the Headquarters Grounds. We have a landing stage and floating pontoon for kayaking, boating, (Classification of River Stour B1 non-tidal), swimming and rafting activities.
Please note: This campsite is NOT for general public hire.
Equipment for hire
- Kayaks (17), Double Plastic Kayak & Canadian Canoe
- Rafting equipment (barrels, paddles, poly lashing rope, pioneering poles and buoyancy aids). The River Stour is only 60 metres away.
- Pioneering equipment: poles and lashings
- Ropes (aerial runways/boson chair/commando bridge 25mm & 30mm) with block and tackle/aerial runway seat
- Barbeque & Altar Fires (5)
- Air Rifle Shooting
- Slacklining
- Outside plug for mains electric supply to campsite
Fishing
Fishing available at the Recreation Ground & Common Land only (when in season). All you need is a rod licence.
Amenities and places to visit
- Near to village for Post Office, The Village Deli, Rose’s Grocery Store, Sameday Store, Doctors, The Three Horseshoes Public House, The Eight Bells Public House & Recreation Ground
- Wood fires allowed and large wood pile
- Campfire circle logs
- Mains Water point in camping field
- Bring your own toilet facilities if you wish (elsan disposal point in SHQ grounds)
- 3 Toilets
- 2 Showers
- Disabled Toilet (Headquarters)
- Main Hall & fully fitted kitchen for hire
- Gliding (off-site at Wormingford Airfield) www.esgc.co.uk
- Local Bus Service (Go Ahead) to Sudbury, Colchester and Bury St Edmunds
- Group Minibus to hire on-site from group
- Bures Railway Station, Marks Tey, Sudbury Branch Line with connections to London, Colchester, Norwich, Ipswich and Clacton-on-Sea
- Kingfisher Leisure Pool Sudbury www.ssleisure.co.uk.
- Great Cornard Sports Centre open air swimming for hire (summer months only) www.gcsportscentre.co.uk
- Gainsborough Painting Museum, Sudbury
- Gainsborough Trail, Sudbury www.gainsboroughtrail.org.uk
- Sudbury Museum in Town Hall
- Kentwell Hall and Melford Hall in Long Melford and the famous wool village of Lavenham
- White Dragon Activity Centre Archery & Laser Tag, Colne Road, Bures www.whitedragonactivitycentre.co.uk
- Colchester Climbing Project – climbing walls
- Roman Castle, High Street, Colchester
- Hedingham Castle, Bayley Street, Castle Hedingham, Essex www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk
- Leisure Pool & Fitness Pool, Colchester www.colchesterleisureworld.co.uk
- Cinema, Head Street, Colchester
- East Anglian Railway Museum, Station Road, Wakes Colne (on the Sudbury Line) www.earm.co.uk
- Duxford Imperial War Museum – just one hour and 10 minutes away www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford
How to reach us
Access to The Campsite is on the B1508. SAT NAV users – nearest house to campsite: CO8 5JN
From Sudbury: after passing the 30mph signs and the Black Barn (right – partly hidden by trees), the entrance is on a left hand bend, turn right just after the ‘Bures St Mary’ village sign. The gates to the campsite are in front of you. NO ACCESS VIA THE CROFT ROAD.
From Ipswich: Take the A1071 via Hadleigh & Boxford and turn left on the A134 sign posted Colchester. Turn right signed posted Assington and stay on this C road to Bures. You will pass Bures Green (a small hamlet of houses). DO NOT TAKE the road via St Edmunds Lane as this is a very narrow lane (Sat Nav will tell you to turn off) – DON’T. Stay on the road and then you will go downhill into Bures (Cuckoo Hill). At the junction, turn right sign posted Sudbury. Campsite is only 200m on your left and just beyond the cottages (Croft End Cottages). Entrance is on your left on the bend just before exiting the ‘Bures St Mary’ village sign. The gates to the campsite are in front of you.
From Colchester: pass through the village going over river bridge and into Suffolk. Turn left at church (sign posted Sudbury), go up the hill (High Street), round a narrow left bend and down hill just beyond cottages (Croft End Cottages). Entrance is on your left at bend just before exiting the ‘Bures St Mary’ village sign. The gates to the campsite are in front of you. NO ACCESS VIA THE CROFT ROAD.
Map OS Sheet: 155 (Bury St Edmunds & Sudbury) Reference TL906343
We welcome site inspections.
Conditions of use
The Scout Law is accepted as the Law of the site. However, there are some guidelines that MUST be made for the safety and comfort of all site users. Please park cars, vans, trailers inside the campsite at the top of the site after unloading of equipment. Vehicles must be well away from tents and altar/BBQs fires etc. (fire risk).
DO NOT block the entrance to the Sudbury Road or park your vehicles along the top track. Only guide DOGS are allowed on-site.
KEEP ALL GATES SHUT AT ALL TIMES. Sheep/cattle could be grazing in next field! Access to River Stour straight in front of the container for Kayaking and Rafting etc. Use the cut out bank and landing stage.
KEEP OUT of Allotment areas. Mains water on campsite. Altar Fires allowed. Campfire Area. Use designated area.
NO AIR RIFLE SHOOTING ON-SITE – unless the activity is run by Qualified Leaders.
HAND AXES should only be used in your own Chopping Area for kindling only. Trees and Shrubs should not be touched. NO PITS allowed wet or dry on campsite. Please place your rubbish in the headquarters wheelie bins – Green: general rubbish; Blue: recycled. When disposing of ash, place onto the campfire circle area.
Use of toilet and shower rooms in extension building. Please clean after use. Cleaning materials and mops provided. Empty bins. Blue roll paper should be placed inside the green wheelie bin ONLY or burn during your camp. Lock up before leaving and put key back into key safe box at the end of your camp, please. If off-site – please lock all doors.
When clearing up, please leave your site how you would expect to find it. It is essential the site users do not leave grass level obstruction such as tent pegs in the ground. These can cause damage to mowing equipment etc. The wood pile should be kept tidy and any tins on the campfire should be disposed into the green wheelie bin. Make sure fire is out and check for litter. We only like memories and foot prints. Close all gates.
Arrival and departure: Weekend and week day camping: Any time.
Summer Camps run from Saturday to Saturday.
Arrive after 14.00hrs.
Depart before 12 noon.
Please remember you have neighbours, the site has a 22.00hrs-07.30hrs curfew, by which time your site MUST be quiet. Radios, ipods, mobile phones, DVD players etc. should not be heard on your campsite at anytime during your stay, please.
1st Bures Scout Group does not accept liability for loss or damage to cars, tents or any property belonging to the user of the campsite (including property belonging to the Hirer) etc.
Campsite Fees etc. to be paid after your stay. We now only take BACS as payment.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION. ENJOY YOUR CAMP.
