Scout Adventures Reviews 

The event it self was well run and a great experience for Scouts and Explorers. The catering option was good and made it easier on leaders with equipment. The booking was good, if a little slow sometimes to come back when query. Check in easy.

Only critic, was it would have been nice to had a call or chat facility to deal with questions in lead up.

The children had great fun. As an adult I think some of the accommodation needs a bit of TLC, showers leak on to the floor. some of the heating wasn't working and the window locks were broken so they opened out too far. The food was very good and lots of it. Time wasted on 3G swing as not enough time for 2 goes for all children but too much time for 1 go each.

The staff were very helpful and made the experience for the Scouts very enjoyable.
The entertainment was great and kept the Scouts happy even though they were wet.

Scarefest 2025
my scouts went to Scarefest at Gilwell Park, they had a fantastic time, the activities were great, the firework were fantastic, the staff and volunteers were very helpful, all scouts no matter your age should go to Gilwell

Staying on site was fine - good experience all round BUT paying or adjusting numbers last minute was a nightmare. Dealiing with children (Duke of Edinburgh Award) there are always going to be times when one or two children are eitehr ILL or just don't turn up. We are self reliant - just borrowing the camping space - nothing else. Yet there was NO flexability built into the system to just 'print out' another invoice when i arrived on site this year. Past year's - that is what has happened but NOT this year. The automated system doesn't read replies to invoice emails such that (in my expeerience this year), the emails became more and more threatening even when i had replied to them, saying that ' a cq was in the post' etc. I would much prefer to have a conversation with a person rather than a PC. That, and more flexability in terms of actual attendance on the day rather than proposed attendance 3 months before the camping date, in order to secure a site. NB: After contacting the site by telephone, all (hopefully) was sorted, but, waste of my time ref: the above two points, in writing an email(s).

Site was very good and all staff members were brilliant specially Ollie and Jennifer one thing I would say is they could improve on the toilet block near the main square other than that we had a brilliant time

The staff were extremely helpful and accomodating. We had students with some complex needs and they fully supported their integration into the activities booked. The catering staff and scouts were extremely welcoming and engaged well with all our students.

We used the lawn hut for our yp to eat in, which we felt was very run down and unsafe. The floor was uneven and the tables and benches were unsafe. The veranda was unsafe. Activties were generally well run but before the day booking activties and communication was a struggle.

Our experience of staying at Youlbury is always great however as an Oxfordshire Scout Leader wanting to book activities it is just really difficult to achieve and their administration is really bad. It hasn't always been like this.
Currently they do not respond to emails to initiate bookings.
You rarely get an answer if you try to ring.
Eventually my co-leader got a response to a web-form based enquiry. This meant our booking was late and we then struggled to get the sign up we would have otherwise anticipated.
When we sent our deposit we sent an email explaining that we needed to alter our booking from 2 to 1 nights and sent modified numbers.
On arrival we were told there was no evidence of our deposit having been paid - fortunately I was able to show the staff in the office using our on line banking app that we had paid and they left messages for the administrator.
Post our visit the administrator sent an email demanding the payment for the full original booking - didn't even take off the amount we had already paid.
When we have queried this she has written back saying she will waive fees for 1 night but that we still need to pay in full for the full costs for the other on the basis that we didn't write to alter the booking.... but we did we put it in an email. I have written back. I am not optimistic which will mean we have to dip into troop funds to pay for what I believe is their poor administration.

From the very first phone call to enquire about site hire, communication from Oli was great. He was very friendly and helpful.

The support continued throughout our visit at Gilwell Park and our team and members really enjoyed their time there.

We would very much like to hire the discs again.

Thank you Scout Adventures.

Accommodation block was dirty, many bedrooms were not cleaned before we arrived. Toilet and bathrooms were not nice- need repairs.
Food provision was not healthy- menus included sweet treats at every meal- although there was a lots of choice- kids will go for sugary foods if offered.
Kitchen area was nice- but needed a safe locked knife box.
Staff were all nice and friendly and also the actual site was nice in terms of outdoor space.

The staff were all helpful, friendly and welcoming.
The location was well kept, plenty of space for the scouts to run around, but pitches were well located to give privacy from other groups.
Scouts loved having the fire circle on the pitch and had a campfire every night.

We loved our stay. Staff friendly and helpful. Our site (8) was great. A little out of the way which made it feel that we were the only ones there. Great location being in the trees. More flat ground would be useful though!

I have been involved as a leader/ Chair of scouts association for 15 years. I can honestly say things are going down hill. the pressure i am getting since june to do some more online training required in September is unbelievable.
It is paramount the importance to safe guard these amazing young people, as we have always made this priority, but the pressure is out weighing my volunteering position. the new online system is harassing me for extra curriculum . I am not an employee with scouts , i am a volunteer; i am employed elsewhere. I have stayed so long in this voluntering role as i enjoy seeing young people evolve in life skills they will not get in schools.thats why i joined.
Sadly its now becoming quite stressful along with my salaried employment. I dont need this & i am trying to leave my role now due to the added stresses. Such a shame as i used to enjoy the scouting group.

We all loved every minute of it!

We would have loved some wood supplied though...

The young people had a fantastic time and are keen to book for next year. The staff were really helpful and everyone who went were impressed by the site and accommodation.

We had an amazing summer camp with our scouts for a week, the facilities are excellent (including a whole new shower/toilet block). The staff were amazing, even the scouts commented on how nice the international activity instructors were!

Grass sledges ready & waiting for us. Staff on hand to explain rules.
Able to use the quick for promotions & presentations.

Great evening, really well organised. The team sent us information ahead of time about road works leading up to Youlbury, so we were able to let parents know. The leaders were waiting for us when we arrived and were great with the Guides. We had a couple of very nervous Guide and they were great with them, not pushing them but encouraged them to try it out. Great night.

Fantastic stay once again in the lodge. Well equipped , clean and right in the heart of the activities. Love the upgrades around the site and great new activities to book. Staff lovely, happy to help with any questions