The Centre
Fota Scout Centre is a local campsite of Scouting Ireland's attached to Cois Laoi Corcaigh Scout County. Scouting first used Fota in the 1920's through the kind permission of the then estate owner Mrs Bell. In the 1970's University College Cork bought the estate and gave us the use of our cottage and campsites around the cottage. This arrangement was continued when the estate was taken over by the Fota Trust. Presently the estate is owned by The Irish Heritage Trust who lease the cottage and campsites to us.
Committee
Fota Management Committee made up of members of Scouting Ireland look after the running of the campsite. A separate development committee works on future improvements of the facilities.
Staff
In 2007 we introduced a fully trained Team that meet Groups on arrival, welcome and help them with any queries and also provide a check out service (a Warden Service). This team is made up of Rover Scouts and Leaders and operates on a rota basis to provide cover.
How to recognise us
All management and staff members wear the blue campsite scarf with the Fota badge.
Facilities
Fota Scout Centre is divided into three zones (two campsites and the cottage) for Groups using the Centre.
Depending on the size of the groups and requirements of the groups staying it's possible for up to three groups to use Fota at any one time.
Outdoor Details
There are two campsites at the Centre, the Avenue campsite can accommodate up to 30 people and the Cottage campsite can accommodate up to 60 people.
An Activity Store (6m x 4m) houses various activity related equipment (see Programme Ideas) and doubles as a Wet Weather Shelter
A fully equipped Campers Kitchen is available for groups camping, this includes full cooking facilities (electric hob), hot water, fridge/freezer, etc. An additional fridge/freezer is located in the Activity Store.
A Washup Galley is located directly to the rear of the Campers Kitchen for groups camping.
Please bring your own tea towels and washing up liquid for the campers' kitchen & washup area as these are not provided.
A toilet and shower block houses 6 toilets and 4 showers and washbasins serving both the cottage and the campsites. A separate block houses a disabled toilet and shower room.
A Leaders Room (3.1m x 3.3m) is available to all groups staying at the Centre whether they are camping or using the cottage. This contains a table, chairs, electrical sockets and leaflets on activities around the area
Near the Campfire Circle, an Activity Field can be used for games, pioneering projects etc.
Usable areas (approx) on campsites for pitching tents:
Avenue campsite:
- 39 meters x 13 meters
Cottage campsite:
- Rear area, 27 meters x 18 meters
- Front area, 30 meters x 8 meters
- Side area, 11 meters x 6 meters
Indoor Details
Fota Cottage has five rooms, including three sleeping rooms (sleeps 14 people in total on 7 bunks beds), communal room and kitchen.
Electricity and running water installed.
The kitchen has an electric hob and oven, sink, fridge, kettle, toaster, microwave, and a hot water heater.
Please bring your own tea towels and washing up liquid for the cottage kitchen as these are not provided.
Kitchen is equipped with pots, pans and tableware for approx. 25 people.
There are ample sockets for the use of kettles, projectors etc.
Activities
Large area of woodlands for Scouting / Guiding activities, visits to the Wild Life Park, Cobh, Cork, hiking, exploring. See Programme Ideas for more information.
Click here for a map of the Centre and available woodlands.
Recycling
Fota Centre operates a recycling policy and a number of wheelie bins are provided to aid this initiative.
Supermarkets
A number of supermarkets are within the area (see map below). You will need your own transport to get to these locations.
In Carrigtohill (marked as "A" on the map) you will find an Aldi, in Midleton (B) there is a Tesco, Alid, Lidl and SuperValue while on the back road into Cobh (C) at Ticknock Retail park there is an Aldi, Lidl and SuperValue.