Dates for CB 2026

Thanks for all the efforts. Registering the new date for 2026 and ok with it.

I did the first CB site visit to Knockengorrach and thought we'd ruled it out for all the reasons we said at that time. Still don't fancy it myself.

@Rachel Liberty I'm curious what the reasons were?

@Jamie W 

This is the report on Knock visit in '23 & record of discussions on it.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_bm7WMt_gJfdvGF_uMmL8CmIIOXAsAit/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109118031572475059752&rtpof=true&sd=true

I can’t attend unless it’s in the school holidays. Unfortunately it seems that that’s going to be impossible this year…

hopefully this isn’t the end for me and CB and there will be more control over dates next year maybe?

The proposed dates are fine for me too for 2026.

I'm also in the "let's return back to April after that". It is a nice end of the winter hibernation and start of the events season for me, and having the burn in April makes sure it won't be clashing with other (non-burner) events.

I haven't managed to make time for the zoom calls about the new site, so I am really grateful to those who have been involved in bringing this decision to everyone.

My job doesn't do annual leave over the easter holidays, so in a purely selfish note I am pleased about a change of date. I also love bringing in the spring with a burn and would't want to stop it going back to April next year...it's worth making a couple of days.

I would love for celtic burn to stay at a Scottish site, but finding a site isn't easy...so wherever it has to be this year is ok if it gets to go ahead. I think I heard "celtic burn on tour" which tickled me.

I am more inclined to the Lake district site for this year. Although I understand the concerns Rachel has raised about them getting tired of us changing mind, I feel like Knockengorrock site, must not be our best bet, as there have always been concerns.

Also think it would be nice to find a site back in Scotland and original dates for following years. But happy with the proposed dates for this year. And 100% up to participate in the building phase prior to the event.

@Leticia Valle García can you tell me what the concerns were re: Knock? I wasn't around then and don't have the details. Thanks!

@Leticia Valle García I don't know your specific concerns, but some things have changed between 2023 & 2025 site visits. A lot of the things which had been discussed (licensing, privacy on site) then are a bit different or more flexible.
It (just like Ravenglass) would still require us to do a lot more, hire in things & plan, organise & execute a lot more than previously.

@Allan , @Jamie W mainly about being a really bad place for midges. But I need to check some other comments said at the time that made me feel that way, as I have actually never been myself!

So I don't really have an informed opinion and I would be happy with any decision.. Ravenglass sounds like an attractive option for an year though.

I'm happy with Knock and changing the date to June for this year.

I'm also fine with the Ravenglass site temporarily. 💛

Couple things:
''Re the dates, I have a slight logistical concern which is that Knockengorrogh hosts a festival that ends 2 weeks before we would get there (21st - 24th May).''

Is a very good point, Knock will be destroyed and a mess if the rains are bad (as they have been). We'd be renting a very churned up field.
It also doesn't really have any facilities outside of a small cabin for making tea/cooking?
If we can get the place for very cheap and cash in hand then makes it a nicer option, but toilets/showers etc?
If is 2 weeks after festival there - will they be having the strike volunteers still be working while we are there and we share facilities?
They often have people staying a bit afterwards.
Off topic!
Dates @ Knock, Midges can be ravenous there so that effects what kind of things we'd rent/need for communal spaces, & rain/mud as factor, & means moving the established date.

General comment on dates:
-While is colder, esp a night, to have an early burn we dodge midges entirely.
This has an effect on the type of spaces and what we do, no outside for periods, no open tent hire etc. If we've good indoor facilities is fine - Knock does not have them though.

-Am not against early June but is going to start clashing with other burns, festival fatigue, holiday plans etc. More and more people will have clash and drop off, whereas we all kinda know and plan for the CB dates already and they dont conflict with much.
+ side of not doing in school/bank holiday periods is can get better price/more availability for potential sites, - side is....loosing people (!) both those educationally applicators, or entangled through some lesser human and those working 9-5's who the holiday period helps.
I think is fair to say about Nori's post aswell, they've been putting time into inviting folks, expanding and rally folk to come north to join us and really get the s+ / kink side established on the thought that we have an established date.

The early in the year factor is a strong pull for other Burners I've met and spoken with also - if we're looking to grow having a stand out date that's accessible is very helpful.

-Since we're moving site, and in a limbo currently, I guess am feeling conservative and say make 1 change at a time. Bah Humbug!
I selfishly quite like having it early in the year with crisp fresh air, and your warm faces make shedding the winter off easier x

TL:DR
Guy votes No Thank You to a date change unless we're really up against the wall,
but will explore other site options and see if can rustle up alternatives rather than just have a a moan (thank you to all work so far all!) before a final ballot X

@Guy So would you prefer to not have a Celtic Burn in 2026?
Realistically we're looking at 2 sites, neither of which can do April. We set ourselves a deadline to decide on a site and amended it, now we're (rightly) consulting on necessary date changes.

But time's slipping away. We need to make decisions now, in Sept, to secure a site unless we want to leave things to the last minute & risk no event (a real possibility).

Either those actively looking at sites have freedom to book and negotiate some dates which aren't April (taking into account all the feedback & views here) or we won't have a site secured for CB '26.

Of course am keen!
I just don't think we dont need to rush into a site before having more options than just 2?

Heck, Knock was something I also put forward, is a nice place am just wary with the suggested date change being tied to site (esp post-Kock festival) and it not having facilities.
Earlier in lambing season has some considerations, but have we ran by decibel level by site and the limited numbers of cars passing through the field section to reassure?

Am going to get stuck into checking some places, may find nothing, so am not just chirping from the sidelines though! Appreciate the work folk have put in already.

My personal view is that we have to be flexible on dates.
I don't care whether it's the first week of July or later, frankly it's not easy to get and negotiate a site. We have to be flexible and let those negotiating do so in good faith with an overview of all perspectives, but no constraints. Or we'll miss out on securing a site.

I don't think we need to worry too much about clashes with other burns. I recognise this may impact a few people, but it shouldn't dictate the timetable of CB. If an available site clashed with Nest I'd just have to make a choice, which wouldn't be great, but I'd do it.

I agree with Rachel that if we decide not to go with Knock in '26 (after having the same conversations & visit as in '23) we may burn our bridges there and fall into the time-wasters category in their heads.

Personally I would prefer Knock, but I'd also do Ravenglass. I'd be content for Knock to be more permanent, if it rolls that way, but Ravenglass would be a temporary site due to being South of the border.

To address a few points which I have knowledge of:
I don't know specifics of Ravenglass' available dates. For Knock they finish their event 24 May '26 and have a takedown period. They suggested a start date of 7 June & we talked about that in the meeting. Knock can do any dates in June, July or Aug. We suggested 7-14 as closes to April & not clashing with other burns.

As far as the state of Knock we have a choice of 2 areas which are potentially suitable. Obviously state of the ground would depend on weather & time from their event. Condition & drive-ability of road will be improved prior to their event (& in a better condition than we saw on visit), as someone asked on the call.

Other points or queries raises about Knock may already be addressed in https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J56T5drOmMOVhCHMXtRaF3uAbLtFtA4psRE6bg-g2Zo/edit?usp=sharing