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
Tom Allen Sat 8 Oct 2022 3:19PM
Mike said they had bigger events there before and he trusted us to do that (he was very complimentary about us as respectful visitors) shame they don't seem to want to go through with it now. I know it's extra risk for them as it involves an event notice being looked at by officials, so maybe on reflection he just doesn't want to do it next year. who knows. thanks for reeching out and asking though. I also wonder if we want to pay £1000 for Monay night? is that good value for money?
I have also got details of two further sites we could go on a mission to look at while we are all up there if anyone else is instersted in that? One of them is on the north side of Galloway forest park, which is only just over and hour away. That land would be free for us to use as it's owned by an American burner who wants to support us. It is an empty site though, but with no neighbours and huge woodlands.
Allan Thu 13 Oct 2022 4:28PM
I'm happy to get involved in visits to potential sites (whether for this year or for future years), I'm looking at properties around that area anyway. May know another potential site around that area too, will check with owner.
Sam Lee Thu 13 Oct 2022 9:44AM
We have £2477.99 in the account. I'll ring and pay deposit to secure the site.
Vic B Sun 23 Oct 2022 9:31AM
This thread is closed now and we will be staying at the old site for next year.
I cant work out how to put this comment up top*
Fran Ellis · Wed 5 Oct 2022 5:14PM
Hello, appreciate this AP is closed but still seems to be the best place to post an update! Chatted to the site. Unofficially 150 people max, no infrastructure for any more than that. Cost is £7,100 for the whole site Thursday to Tuesday, including a couple of yurts that we cancelled last year to reduce the price per person. A weekend costs £4,100, extra nights = £1k p/night. A weekend means 2 nights Fri and Sat or Sat and Sun. They need a deposit asap, which is 25% total booking (Can anyone confirm how much cash we have left from last year for this?) There are no clashes at the moment if we want to extend our booking to Tues-Tues (the people before us leave on the Sunday).
Finally, I mentioned operating the 'spa' ourselves for increased privacy, including mentioning that some members felt uncomfortable getting undressed with Mike being there all the time. The sauna almost certainly fine but hot tub very expensive to fix if anything goes wrong, more than our 500 cleaning deposit. So we have to raise this with Mike directly.