Cornel is a large camp site on the banks of Lake Crafnant in North Wales, comprising a fully equipped campers block and 25 acres of camping grounds plus a converted farmhouse divided into two discrete units, which sleep a total of 28 in five bunkrooms, replete with two purpose built modern kitchens, showers, drying room and a comfortable lounge, making it the ideal base for groups wishing to spend time in a safe and beautiful environment yet within walking distance of the Carneddau peaks.  

Although located in Conwy County Scout District, Cornel is owned and operated by the Welsh Scout Council. Funding from the sale of the District Scout Camp Site “Colwyn” was made available to assist with the initial purchase and conversion when the property was first acquired. 

The large house – known as Ty Cornel -and the smaller Annex (Cornel Fach) are available for hire by Scouts, groups and organisations of young people, also industry, D of E award organizers and award groups, schools and universities. 

Cornel Explorer Scout Unit (2003 – To Date) 

2003 was an important year for Venture Scouting, in that on 31st December 2003 all Venture Scout Units ceased to exist across the Movement worldwide. 

Saracen VSU from Colwyn Bay and Crusader VSU from Telford had an impressive record of developing young men and women that have now taken those skills around the UK and indeed the world and both units fulfilled the role of service teams at Cornel Scout Activity Centre. 

Much of Saracen and Crusader’s service activities are left as an enduring memory to the Units at Cornel in the various large and small projects that they delivered as part of the Cornel service team. 

Therefore, in 2003, the change of the sections meant that the service team at Cornel had to change and an Activity Centre Explorer Unit was formed to continue the work of Saracen VSU and Crusader VSU (Telford). The Unit started with seventeen 14 -18 year old Explorer Scouts from Conwy and Shropshire Districts. Members reaching 1& become members of Scout Network who also provide a service team at Cornel. 

The Unit meets two or three times a year at the Centre for up to a week to undertake projects ranging from painting to wall building and everything between. Members are also members of home units in order to achieve a balanced programme. 

Members from outside Conwy are entitled to wear the Conwy scarf and additionally those from outside Wales can wear ‘dragons’. Work hours are rewarded with tee shirts for 50 hours and personalised overalls for 250 hours. 

The Unit continues to develop and improve the facility they enjoy.