Return of the Ring and Barrow-Downs Mega-moot - Celebrating Tolkien in 2012

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Perhaps it might be well to discuss what kinds of daily excursions/adventures folks want?

I seem to recall Lal posting about a place that is said to be related to the Green Knight, but that might have been on FB.

Don't get me started, there are dozens of amazing places to go and fantastic things to do around the East Mids and the Peaks.

But for a start...that 'Green Knight place'...it's called Lud's Church and is a chasm in the White Peak. Incredibly eerie, apparently, and hard to find - which is why it's a rare place I've not been to in the area. Up around the Staffs Moorlands it's generally very weird and creepy, especially around the Roaches, with the Doxey pool and so on. Nearby is Earl Sterndale with the Dragon's Back Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill, and between them, my favourite secret corner, Dowel Dale, which has caves and buzzards and a lovely stream. And also Arbow Low henge which is an easy place to visit, so long as the cows aren't out.

And a couple of the big name things to do:

Mr Darcy's house

Alton Towers

Sherwood Forest

[Hookbill the Goomba]

I've fallen behind on research and thinking about this due to being ill the past few days, sorry.

I'm still leaning towards the barn for some reason. But Lal's Thorpe Farm Bunkhouses and Clumber Park have me second guessing. Which isn't good at this stage in decision making.

Let's make a list of criteria and see which ones fit the most the best;

Capacity
Proximity to railway
Proximity to bus stops
Proximity to fun stuff

[Guinevere]

I have no idea how I would get to any of these from Luton Airport! To get to Loughborough is easy, there's a direct train. I hadn't realized that all this is even further away...

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Guinevere

I have no idea how I would get to any of these from Luton Airport! To get to Loughborough is easy, there's a direct train. I hadn't realized that all this is even further away...

Don't worry, Luton airport is well connected, the Midland Main line runs through Loughborough, Derby, Sheffield and the latter two have excellent links. If the place chosen is near a rail line that should be no problem, and if not then I should hope some people will have cars or even this minibus that was talked about!

When it gets nearer the time, if people decide on any big trips they'd like to do I'll help out by asking about group discounts because you can save a fortune that way, especially if you want to go to somewhere like Chatsworth or Alton Towers. I think there are also group deals you might get on the trains - I used to book group or carnet tickets for work travel.

Couple of tourist sites to get you interested (and because I like looking at this kind of thing):

Peak District Warning - cheesy music.
Nottinghamshire
Leicestershire
Yorkshire by 'eck.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Once we have a chosen venue we should chose a meeting spot for us to try and head to. Moreover, I - or someone more competent - should make a set of directions to help people get there wherever they're coming from, assuming no lifts will be available. So don't worry about it too much. Though, given how wonderfully organised and prompt at decision making we've been thus far, some anxiety is probably warranted.

So, yeah. Are we any closer to a decision?

[Lalwendë]

I can help you with directions and timetables and so on. I'm a bit OCD about planning journeys so it'll give me an excuse to geek out on maps

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Given its proximity to transport, I'm putting this up as the new front-runner option...

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...?basecamp=7020

It looks very central and affordable with train stations and buses near by. It says limited availability, so if that falls through, this is my second choice...

https://sites.google.com/site/thorpefarmbunkhouses/home

It allows for camping outside if we need the extra space of my super massive tent of insanity. It also makes it easy to work out costs for each person (£12 each per night).

Third runner is...

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p93165

And back up...

http://www.peakpub.co.uk/camping/

I'm going to make some enquiries this week (assuming I don't fall ill again ) and see what each will offer. By the end of the month I'd like to have a place booked.