Camp Sparkle 2015 travel update

[nopseud]

This info is also on the sign-up form, but I thought I'd put it here, too, for reference and help with planning:

Previous discussions for travel this year are here.

In summary: Pen and I have both moved house. Pen now lives in Norwich, which is about as far east from Camp as it's possible to get in the UK without taking to boats, and unfortunately doesn't have great public transport connections. I now live near Rugby, which has excellent public transport and is convenient for Birmingham airport.

As a result, there will be no pickups/drop-offs for Heathrow, Gatwick or Luton on any day. If you have to fly into a London airport, then to get a lift to Camp with either me or Pen, your best option is to arrive before Friday and stay with one of us. I now have lots of space for sparkly campers (two double beds, and plenty of floor space for various mattresses).

There is an airport in Norwich which apparently has flights from a limited selection of places, including Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Pen may also be willing to make one trip to Stansted on Thursday -- it's about a three hour round trip from her new house, so it will rely on people coordinating their arrivals. I can collect people from Birmingham Airport, and Rugby is an easy train journey from London, as it's a mainline station only 55 minutes from Euston (if it's time critical for catching a flight, note that the slow trains can take twice as long).

Pen will now have a 6 hour-ish drive to Camp, so she'll be leaving early on Friday morning (~9:30am). Provided that flights arrive at a suitable time on Friday morning, she may be able to take a detour to collect people from Stansted (she'd be getting there ~11am). I'm planning to set off no later than 1pm on Friday, so will be able to pick people up from Rugby station/Birmingham airport in the morning.

Otherwise, you'll need to make your own way to North Wales. There are train and coach services, and there is a good train service along the north coast of Wales. We can easily collect you from/deliver you to the train station at Colwyn Bay, or there is a local bus stop right outside the house in Old Colwyn (bus timetables are here: http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/wales/timetables/).

Leaving will probably be more relaxed, but when booking flights please bear in mind that there will be no lifts to Gatwick/Heathrow. I'll be getting home probably no later than 2pm, and can then take people to Rugby station or Birmingham airport. Anyone who wants to stay over and fly home on Saturday or Sunday is very welcome.

Comments

[turlough]

I'm flying to Manchester Airport and taking a train to Colwyn Bay. The train takes 2 hour 15 minutes (one change) and costs £16 for an advance ticket.

ETA: If you're coming into Manchester Airport on the 19th and would like company for the rest of the journey, chalcopyrite and I will be taking the 16:29 train to Colwyn Bay.

[fadedsouls.livejournal.com]

I'm flying in to Gatwick on Thursday around noon-ish. I'll have a look at the trains once we get closer, to see if it'll be easiest to head to Pen or Anna. Or, perhaps you guys know which of you will have an easier time picking me up from a trainstation. I'm also good with going wherever it is easiest to place me. :p

[pensnest]

I honestly think you'll be better off going to A's place, if you can - simply because the journey from my new home to Camp is *at least* five and a half hours by car! Not that you wouldn't be very welcome chez Pen, because I'd be very happy to have you and show off my new Nest, but for your own sake, choose wisely!

It's also probably cheaper to go to Rugby, I suspect.

[fadedsouls.livejournal.com]

I'll look into trains and such this week, and figure it out so we all know. And by we I mean you guys ;)

Cheapest does sound pretty good though, he he.

[stellamira]

I booked a flight to Manchester, but I'm actually arriving a week early to go hiking. If all goes according to plan, I will arrive at some point on Saturday on foot.

As for leaving, I was planning to take the train back to Manchester unless someone's going in that direction (I think no?). Is there a specific time when we need to be out of the house so I can look for cheap advance tickets?

[rikes]

I'm flying to and from London with iconis. We were planning on taking a train from Euston to Rugby on Friday morning and getting on the minibus if there's room for us (and our bags). If not, we can take the train all the way to Colwyn Bay, but would like to know which one well beforehand as the advance train tickets are quite a lot cheaper (~￡40 vs ￡85). Same thing on the way back, if possible.

[rikes]

I think we had to be out by ten last year?

[nopseud]

We were planning on taking a train from Euston to Rugby on Friday morning and getting on the minibus if there's room for us (and our bags).

Yep, that will be fine!

[fleurrochard]

I'll arrive in Birmingham on the 17th and will stay there with a friend until the 19th - getting picked up on the 19th (maybe I could come to the airport if someone arrives there in the morning?) would be great. If I should better come to Rugby to join the minibus there (if there's room for me and my luggage?), I can do that as well (but knowing in adance would be great, because tickets.)

I'll fly back from Manchester and will take the train from Colwyn Bay to Manchester Airport on Friday morning.

[fleurrochard]

Hey, I'm also taking the train back to Manchester on Friday morning - when is your flight? Maybe we could take the same train?

[turlough]

I'm also flying back from Manchester on Friday but I'm going to have to take the train at seven in the morning because of my flight. I doubt you want to get up that early if you don't have to :-)

[fleurrochard]

Well, my flight is at 12.20, so I shouldn't leave too late either, but the train at eight would probably be early enough... I'll investigate!

[stellamira]

Actually it's not till Saturday evening. I'm spending an extra day shopping in Manchester. Maybe it still works out? When is your flight?

[fleurrochard]

My flight is at 12:20, so I probably should take the train at about 8 at the latest, so I'll be at Manchester Airport at about 10. (I prefer to have a bit of a time buffer)

[stellamira]

Argh, sorry for the delay in answering. I think that's too early for me. :( And my hostel in Manchester (that I still have to book *cough*) won't let me check in before 2 pm, anyway.

[fleurrochard]

You are taking the train at 7:02, arriving at 9:04, right? Because I think I'll take that one as well, but want to make sure it's the right one! :)

[turlough]

Yup, the 7:02 train it is. (Far too early! :-)

[fleurrochard]

It is indeed far too early! (I could probably also take a train at about 8, but that way I don't have to travel alone! :-) And since there's a Costa's and a WHSmith before Security, I will be fine. :D )

[turlough]

I'm getting company on both my train trips, yay!

[fleurrochard]

:D