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We analyse Greenwich sunpot group position data for one solar cycle (1952-1963) in order to study the rotation rate of clusters of sunspot groups, so-called active nests. We find that the latitude-dependent rotation rate of nests shows an intrinsic spread. This spread appears to be caused by extensive and dense clusters of sunspot nests (superclusters or nested nests), and by very compact single nests of short duration. The ‘best’ rotation rate is defined as the rate at which the highest number of sunspot groups appear to form nests. This latitude-dependent best rotation is close to the rotation rate of individual recurrent sunspots, although nests seem to rotate slightly more rigidly than sunspot groups.