Getting There

[pensnest]

I don't know at what point it's appropriate to start talking about travel arrangements, so it may as well be now!

Our booking actually starts at 4pm on the Friday evening, but apparently there is a pub about half a mile away (looks as though it is called the Craven Arms), and I propose that those of us who travel to Ludlow earlier that day should make our way to this pub and have a convivial luncheon there.

We have to be out of the place by 10 on Monday morning (though I imagine many if not most of you will leave at some point on Sunday).

Anyway, the point of this post is,Travel Arrangements. Can I suggest that people comment to this thread with things like

- where in the UK you're travelling from, and when you expect to be travelling

- if you have discovered a convenient and reasonably-priced means of making the journey via public transport, do share the details

- if you can give a lift/would appreciate a lift. If there are some who can collect others on the way, I'm sure suitable arrangements regarding petrol can be made.

ephemera_pop and I were discussing travel arrangements a few weeks ago - unfortunately her might-have-been-available minibus Is No More. But perhaps there is among the London contingent someone who would be willing to hire a car for the weekend, and could make it a peoplecarrier, and thus bring a good handful of you? I know there are several London-dwellers who, ahem, will be signing up, and probably some of our Euro-sparklers will be flying in, and glad of a journey in company. Cost shared between six or seven ought to be quite reasonable, and a lot more convenient than trains.

It may well be necessary for us to figure out who will be dashing off to not-too-distant bus or railway stations to pick up people, so if you're planning on driving and are willing to be drafted for this duty, say so!

I hope this will be a reasonably easy way for us all to figure out where we can help each other. At least, it should provide a place to start.


The postcode of the cottage is SY7 0HH, if you want to check it on www.streetmap.co.uk, and I'll put up a reminder of this, plus the directions I have received, when we get into March.

Comments

[saba1789.livejournal.com]

Haha, I so did not even notice the couch thing. *g*

Ah, okay.

And Pen maybe having us found a minibus driver sounds indeed fabulous. *crosses fingers that'll work out*

[stellamira]

Well, I'm not exactly comfortable driving on the other side, either, but I'd try it if it means that I won't have to switch busses and trains and take 6 hours in the end (and also that I won't have to deal with the Britsh public transport system anymore).

[pensnest]

I know - most inconsiderate of the public transport system!

I did look into the possibility of getting an actual coach, with a driver, but it's difficult to figure out which companies do them. One local coach company here didn't fancy the job at all, and another that I found would want nearly £900, so I don't think that's a goer!

I'm definitely hopeful about being able to acquire a minibus driver somehow, though.

[simply-fly-away.livejournal.com]

Irk. I was planning on leaving at ass o'clock in the morning on the Friday as my route is via the M1 and M6, neither of which I am willing to brave during the rush hour, 5pm really is far too late (I want to be in that area either before the morning rush hour or just after) and would add a whole heck of a lot of time (and petrol money) onto the journey.

If your classes do work out and you can make it in the morning on the Friday, you're more than welcome to a lift from Retford or Newark, or even staying here on the Thursday night. Let me know what you want to do and I'll make plans around you (or not, as the case may be) :)

I'm hopefully going to be staying an extra night somewhere in Wolverhampton, I forgot to say. I'm glad you're heading south, I wouldn't want to leave you there in Ludlow all abandoned! ;)

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

I found out that Arriva Wales trains have hourly connections from Manchester Piccadilly, and if I buy a single for each separate connection, it'll only cost me around £25 with my railcard. It's actually not a bad journey, I've done long journeys before, so if the car thing doesn't work out, it's not too bad for me to take the train.

[nopseud]

The 150 Euros from Avis for a 7-seater looks like a pretty good deal! If everyone packed lightly, that might work out okay.

I managed to persuade Europcar to hand over some rates. They seem to be quite pricy overall, but I was offered a Kia Caren for £99/eur147.


As for as the driving itself, almost all of it is on motorways or dual carriageways, so it shouldn't be to bad, and there's no city driving at all.

[pensnest]

I can probably get you back to the vicinity of London (ie either Hemel Hempstead or St Albans train station) on Monday, as the quantity of Stuff being transported ought, I trust, to have diminished! Not quite sure how early it'll be, but we have to be out of the cottage by 10am.

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes if you please! I think I'll hitch a ride back to the London environs with you. :)

[nopseud]

Having looked at the Kia website, the Carens with the seven seat configuration has very, very little space for luggage -- basically, there is no boot. So everyone would have to sit with their bags by their feet/on their laps.

[simply-fly-away.livejournal.com]

Ok, just let me know what you decide :)

[stellamira]

Yes, that's the problem with the Avis car, too. As far as I found out, the two additional seats are fold-out seats in the boot (? I'm so used to the American English.), so you have to decide between carrying people or luggage. There is an offer for a bigger 7-seater on the British Avis site, but that's more expensive.

[nopseud]

I'm waiting for e-mail back from Pen about things, but I have another scheme in the planning which would mean only having to hire an ordinary-size car, and would also mean that people who need to get back to Stansted on Sunday would have a lift.

(Quick summary: On Friday, my Other Half and I drive down to Stansted in two cars to collect the overseas people + the Londoners. With a hired car too, that will give us three cars, and twelve people + luggage. Other Half will go back home on Sunday via Stansted, to take back those who need dropping off then. Then you and I can drive back Monday.)

Iconis was also volunteering to drive, I think, so if you could split it between you that wouldn't be too bad.