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

[rikes]

Can you even drive a minibus with a normal driver's license in Britain? Because as far as I know, you can't in Finland.

Isn't there anyone coming from London who could drive us? Because apart from the apparent lack of drivers this would be fabulous.

[cardalia.livejournal.com]

The renting site that nopseud linked to says so about minibuses:

Passanger carrying vehicles including minibuses
Driving Licence Category D (9 or more passenger seats) or Category D1 (9 to 16 passenger seats). All drivers of minibuses (9-16 passenger seats) are required to hold a valid driving licence showing either Group A on an old style UK Licence or Category B & D or D1 on a new EC style Licence issued in any EU Country. Drivers who passed the car test (Category B) after 1 January 1997 and who wish to drive a minibus are required to take a further Statutory Driving test for vehicles in Category D or D1. A further Driving Test may be required to tow a trailer (Category E). However; certain drivers who passed the car test (Category B) after 1 January 1997 are permitted to drive a vehicle in Category D1 (minibuses) without the need for a further test so long as the following conditions are met:-

# A full driving licence has been held for at least two years
# The driver receives no payment (or any other consideration) other than out of pocket expenses (i.e they are a volunteer)
# The vehicle is driven for social purposes only
# There is no trailer attached
# The maximum authorised mass (mam) of the vehicle does not exceed 3.5 tonnes, or if fitted with specialised equipment used for disabled passengers, does not exceed 4.25 tonnes.

So apparently someone with a B license (like me) could drive a minibus. Am I reading this right? But the problem is that minibus riders need to be 25 years old. This is the point where I'm disqualified.

[rikes]

Theoretically, yes, but I think we'll exceed the 3.5 tonnes.

[stellamira]

I'm 26, and I passed my test after 1997, so well... I'm just not sure I want to drive a minibus. And what are "social purposes"? But as long as the number stays 7, I think we could go for a normal, bigger car.

[rikes]

I'd prefer a normal car, too, but does a 7-person car have enough room for all our luggage?

[nopseud]

I'm pretty sure it wouldn't. At that point, I think the best thing to do might be to hire a couple of small cars.

[pensnest]

That mightn't be a bad thing, as it would mean cardalia would be able to drive too.

[cardalia.livejournal.com]

See, I thought so too, but students renting a car have to be at least 25 and I'm 23. If there's a way around that I might be willing to brave the roads on the left side (if anyone was willing to put their life in my hands ;).

Also, my car would have to be an automatic since I haven't driven manual transmission in a LONG time and handling that + driving on the left side would probably be too much for me.

[stellamira]

Apparently, you can too hire a car if you're under 25 (though not from the thrifty company, yes). Some just have an additional fee (like Avis) that you need to pay daily if you're between 23 and 25, some, like at the car-rental-hire link, limit you to certain classes.

[stellamira]

I don't know, but I'd be willing to try if there is no other option.

[rikes]

Also, I think the driver has to be 25 old anyway, since as far as I know we're all students.

[cardalia.livejournal.com]

This is getting SO complicated. *g* How are we all this young? If we could get someone old enough from the UK to drive it would be perfect. By now I have my heart set on going by car and resorting to public transport would be disappointing.

Is anyone other than stellamira who's over 25/coming to Stansted/has a license/willing to drive?