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

Aganzir · 12-11-2011, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hookbill the Goomba

Given how expensive the cottage hire is likely to be, and given the fact that I own a very, VERY large tent, I would propose that the third week be either, as Aganzir says, split up and go to another Downer's/hostel/hotel or some sort of camping trip. Those don't have to be booked so far in advance, I don't think.

I think that's a good idea. Anyway we should make it clear that the 'official' moot is going to be on weeks 1&2 and week 3 is the afterparty. Personally I'm not sure I could stay for three weeks even though it would be awesome.

Thank you for looking up the cottages, Hook and Lal!

Quote:

What would be the best way to decide on where to go, guys?

For me, price is the most important factor. But we have to keep in mind that a seemingly cheap cottage in the middle of nowhere can be more expensive in the end as we have to pay more to get there.
I would suggest emailing the owners and asking if they're strict about limiting the number of guests to the number of beds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kath

We really need absolute definite coming/not answers now because that will affect which cottage we can afford.

I'm afraid if people have to decide now, there won't be many.

Quote:

Joel/Maria (as you seem to be the most informed) can you make a list of all the people invited and then we can tick and cross them off as needed?

(For those who don't know: I'm the Joel she's speaking of!)

WEEK 1: August 6-12
Nogrod; Oddwen, Eamane & Oliphaunts_Rule; Bêthberry; Estelyn; Aganzir; Squatter

WEEK 2: August 13-15, ROTR 16-19
TheGreatElvenWarrior; Oddwen, Eamane & Oliphaunts_Rule; Bêthberry; Estelyn; Volo; Squatter; Aganzir

ROTR 20, WEEK 3: August 21-26
Oddwen, Eamane & Oliphaunts_Rule; Volo

registered: Faramir Jones

People who are attending on Facebook but haven't voiced date preferences: narfforc, Encaitare, Shasta, The Might, Poison Ivy.
Maybe attending, no date preferences: Annunfuiniel, Celuien, Glirdan, Form, TGEW, Fea, Legate, Gwathagor, Lommy, Boro, Greenie, Rune, Gil-Galad, Macalaure, Diamond, Erendis, Lal (did you say you can do whichever week we choose?), Roa, Kitanna, Pitchwife, Durelin, lmp, the Barrow-Wight, Farael, Guinevere, Mirkgirl, Amanaduial (I think), and one I don't know.
Invited: Folwren, Nienna, Naria, The Ka, dancing spawn, Lottie, Nilp, skip, Cailín, Lariren Shadow, Eomer, Brinniel, Beregond, tgwbs, phantom, McCaber, Lush, Valesse, Gothmog, Firefoot, davem, Dimturiel, Sleepy Ranger, Finduilas, Azaelia, Goldwine, Anguirel, Morthoron, and one I don't know.

I guess this (plus the 18 who declined the invitation) is more or less everyone who has decided to Facebook-bond with fellow Downers.

So what we should do now is contact everone on the list, and those Downers who are not on the list, and ask if they're coming?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

One plus of this place seems to be that some of the cottages can be made to be interconnecting and if I read the page correctly, one arrangement also has a large kitchen for group accommodations, which would make it easier than every cottage having its own kitchen. No?.

That would be good, but if a 4-bedroom cottage costs £1,120 for a week, hiring lots of them would be horribly expensive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Sleeps 12 and appears to be cheap:
http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p93165#reviews

I think this looks the best so far.

Mithalwen · 12-11-2011, 04:03 PM

If you want to have accommodation for a lot of people cheaply then you might want to look at bunk barns/ bunkhouses either YHA or independents. They will charge perskull pernight so might be easier and cheaper than cottages since you don't have everyone wanting whole weeks. Many will have the option of camping onsite. Here is http://www.peakpub.co.uk/camping/ one attached to a nice looking pub in Buxton maybe not ideal because of the lack of communal area but just the first that popped up.

I don't see many cottage owners being flexible on startdates and occupancy at the absolute top of the season. You are quite likely to forfeit the deposit if you break the occupancy limits.

Anyway up to you.

Hookbill the Goomba · 01-02-2012, 11:51 AM

Right, I think it's time we made a short-list of what we think is best. Here's what I've narrowed it down to.

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

Thanks, Mithalwen!
I think this is a good idea, especially with it making the working out of cost easier for each person.

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

I agree with Aganzir that this looks promising.

http://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cotta...tedDayOfWeek=0

This is in the Peak District which is fairly accesible and it's not too expensive.

I think those are our best options. We should probably book it in the next few weeks so if anyone has any objections or better ideas don't be afraid to let us know! Time is running out!

Estelyn Telcontar · 01-02-2012, 04:30 PM

Thanks for the thought and effort that you're putting into this!

The bunk barn sounds like a good possibility - it's a low-priced accommodation, payable by the night, and space enough for a larger number of people. The only disadvantage is that there's no large communal space, so we'd have to hang out together in one of the rooms. (Problem for those who might want to sleep.)

The homestead cottage looks very nice! It has a dining and sitting room, and with the maximum number of guests, the price is good. But what happens if more than 12 want to come? They do allow additional guests in caravans, so perhaps a tent would be permitted?

The third possibility also looks nice, but sleeps only 10.

Kath · 01-02-2012, 05:19 PM

The bunk barn sounds really good. The communal space shouldn't be a major issue either so long as we nominate one of the hired rooms as said communal space from day 1. Might mean a few people sleeping on the floor in the other rooms but most Mooters are used to that by now!

The Might · 01-02-2012, 06:05 PM

As I see I am listed as Facebook-member without a preference I unfortunately have to say that I cannot attend any of the '12 moots. Due to my final thesis and an internship afterwards I'll be sleeping less and drink a lot more coffee till October. I wish you a lot of fun and am looking forward to the pics!

Mithalwen · 01-02-2012, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kath

The bunk barn sounds really good. The communal space shouldn't be a major issue either so long as we nominate one of the hired rooms as said communal space from day 1. Might mean a few people sleeping on the floor in the other rooms but most Mooters are used to that by now!

Well if the tent were big enough to serve mainly as a communal space maybe that would be an option if most people were sleeping in the barns. Unless the pitch price were prohibitive.... and they might cut a deal on the tent pitch if you dangled the prospect of a substantial barn booking but the lack of indoor communal space being a deal breaker.

Kath · 01-02-2012, 08:13 PM

Using a tent as a communal space would be difficult. You'd have to have some people sleeping in it which messes up who pays what each night and you have no guarantee that the tent site will be anywhere near the barn.

As long as 8 people minimum were in the cottage in the second link then it comes out as the same price for a week per person as the bunk barn one and you do get the communal space and a dining room and no other people hanging around yada yada. Sticking point being whether you can have more than 12 people there. You asking Hookbill? Though, of course, we may not given we're spread over 2 weeks.

Third one seems to come out as more per person per night, and does seem to be a bit smaller.

12-11-2011, 04:03 PM	#2
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Once a Tourist Information assistant.... If you want to have accommodation for a lot of people cheaply then you might want to look at bunk barns/ bunkhouses either YHA or independents. They will charge perskull pernight so might be easier and cheaper than cottages since you don't have everyone wanting whole weeks. Many will have the option of camping onsite. Here is http://www.peakpub.co.uk/camping/ one attached to a nice looking pub in Buxton maybe not ideal because of the lack of communal area but just the first that popped up. I don't see many cottage owners being flexible on startdates and occupancy at the absolute top of the season. You are quite likely to forfeit the deposit if you break the occupancy limits. Anyway up to you. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

01-02-2012, 11:51 AM	#3
Hookbill the Goomba Alive without breath Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On A Cold Wind To Valhalla Posts: 5,912	Right, I think it's time we made a short-list of what we think is best. Here's what I've narrowed it down to. http://www.peakpub.co.uk/camping/ Thanks, Mithalwen! I think this is a good idea, especially with it making the working out of cost easier for each person. http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p93165 I agree with Aganzir that this looks promising. http://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cotta...tedDayOfWeek=0 This is in the Peak District which is fairly accesible and it's not too expensive. I think those are our best options. We should probably book it in the next few weeks so if anyone has any objections or better ideas don't be afraid to let us know! Time is running out! __________________ I think that if you want facts, then The Downer Newspaper is probably the place to go. I know! I read it once. THE PHANTOM AND ALIEN: The Legend of the Golden Bus Ticket...

01-02-2012, 04:30 PM	#4
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Thanks for the thought and effort that you're putting into this! The bunk barn sounds like a good possibility - it's a low-priced accommodation, payable by the night, and space enough for a larger number of people. The only disadvantage is that there's no large communal space, so we'd have to hang out together in one of the rooms. (Problem for those who might want to sleep.) The homestead cottage looks very nice! It has a dining and sitting room, and with the maximum number of guests, the price is good. But what happens if more than 12 want to come? They do allow additional guests in caravans, so perhaps a tent would be permitted? The third possibility also looks nice, but sleeps only 10. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

01-02-2012, 05:19 PM	#5
Kath Everlasting Whiteness Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perusing the laminated book of dreams Posts: 4,533	The bunk barn sounds really good. The communal space shouldn't be a major issue either so long as we nominate one of the hired rooms as said communal space from day 1. Might mean a few people sleeping on the floor in the other rooms but most Mooters are used to that by now! __________________ “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

01-02-2012, 06:05 PM	#6
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	As I see I am listed as Facebook-member without a preference I unfortunately have to say that I cannot attend any of the '12 moots. Due to my final thesis and an internship afterwards I'll be sleeping less and drink a lot more coffee till October. I wish you a lot of fun and am looking forward to the pics! __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

01-02-2012, 08:13 PM	#8
Kath Everlasting Whiteness Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perusing the laminated book of dreams Posts: 4,533	Using a tent as a communal space would be difficult. You'd have to have some people sleeping in it which messes up who pays what each night and you have no guarantee that the tent site will be anywhere near the barn. As long as 8 people minimum were in the cottage in the second link then it comes out as the same price for a week per person as the bunk barn one and you do get the communal space and a dining room and no other people hanging around yada yada. Sticking point being whether you can have more than 12 people there. You asking Hookbill? Though, of course, we may not given we're spread over 2 weeks. Third one seems to come out as more per person per night, and does seem to be a bit smaller. __________________ “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”