Should we stay or should we go?
Hi all,
The next Celtic Burn seems so far away - but the first planning task is one that needs sorting sooner rather than later: booking the event site.
The big question: Should we stay or go?
Follow-up question: if we go, then where?
Current state of affairs:
We have a provisional booking with the site where the event took place last year. Quick summary of this site (location must remain quiet - so a little description for any new members / those who couldn’t attend) - site is near Dumfries and has a camping field area, several yurts, and a few small cottages with dorm-like accommodation and spaces for activities. There is a central field area up a hill with beautiful views, an indoor space for various activities, a large marquee facilitating group meals, access to catering kitchen, and a little bit of luxury (hot tub and sauna). There are a few showers on site and drinking water is provided, as is electricity (limited supply). We had exclusive usage of the site except for the site owners.
Some issues with the site were discussed at the community meeting at the end of the event. On one hand - no site will ever be perfect and we can mitigate some of the challenges faced last year with better planning now that we know the site properly.
Going to the same site two years in a row doesn’t mean we are bound to it forever either - we can work towards a change in the following year if we can’t move quickly enough this year. However, other aspects can’t be changed, and perhaps there is a better home for the event?
Thoughts?
Important: This AP is a very practical one - not an in-depth discussion of things we did or didn’t like about last year. Emphasising the practical note again - communal effort! - if you feel that we should move, please suggest where to and help with the arrangements! That is always the challenge!
We need to confirm with the site soon either way, so: AP deadline: 8th September
Vic B Sun 4 Sep 2022 12:45PM
I agree with renting the two other yurts if we stay at this site to have further workshop spaces and making sure that everything is better signed
Fran Ellis Tue 6 Sep 2022 12:17PM
Hello, we are able to book all the yurts. Last year we originally booked them all but then dropped 2 yurts to keep the cost down last minute.
Guy Thu 1 Sep 2022 8:22PM
RE: asking around other places - what was the budget for rental from last year?
V.nice find btw folks.
Fran Ellis Tue 6 Sep 2022 12:19PM
We didn’t have a budget as such, but sites with higher capacity are good as they keep the cost per person down. This site was a little pricey pp as the absolute max was 100 people
Tom Allen Tue 6 Sep 2022 2:14PM
When we went back to collect the last of the lost and found I chatted to the owner and he said we could have more people no problem? he said he would be happy with us putting in an event notice and he has had 250 there before. paperwork looks pretty similar to TEN notice in UK that is used for other burns.
Fran Ellis Tue 6 Sep 2022 3:01PM
Oh that’s weird! Pam was very clear it was 100 max. More people would make it way more affordable as we could then book the extra yurts too
Sam Lee Tue 6 Sep 2022 8:00PM
Yes, Let's do this!!
Tom Allen Thu 1 Sep 2022 9:13PM
To me the site feels like a holiday camp not a burn. Sure I love going on holidays with all you lovely people, but that is not a burn to me. Luxury accommodation for some and tents for others really doesn't feel like a burn to me either. It would not pass even half the test for being an official regional burn for these reasons too. If we decide to go back to that site I propose we don't even call it a burn because it just isn't. It's a retreat inspired by the principles. Which is totally fine. But we need to decide if that is what we want. I'd be totally ok with that too, like I said I love holidays too! My proposal is we find a site with no accommodation , all we need is land really. Having on site water and power is nice, so a farm field would be ok. As would many camp sites etc. Giving this only a week doesn't give much time to suggest another site. Especially as my two great Scottish site contacts are both on Nevada right now. If we do take on a site with less, I am happy to lead on all infrastructure arrangements and can be on site much earlier to make this happen if needed. It should be much cheaper too, allowing us to do a more open pricing system too which would be much more inclusive. I also intend to run transport for the next Celtic burn. To make it more accessible, no one should have to fork out loads for taxis etc etc
Tom Allen Thu 1 Sep 2022 9:16PM
This year I was doing two jobs and very stressed in the lead up to the burn. Next year I have the whole month before off to work on it! Yay!
Nanna Stofberg · Thu 1 Sep 2022 5:19PM
I for one definitely think we should stay with our booking and have at least one more year on this beautiful piece of land with so many possibilities. From many other burns my clear experience is that the first year on a site always have a few baby bumps that can be addressed, changed and prevented in following year(s)
I do think we should see if it is possible to adopt to two remaining yurts that wasn’t book in 2021 so we will have even more indoor sleeping accommodation/theme spaces to host cool happenings in. Xx, N.