Future alternatives to Lumb Farm. - Horizons Unlimited

**Linzi** · #1 10 Apr 2012

OK, for any HU users who want to help, Grant and Susan are really busy this year and haven't the time to research an alternative and cheaper site than Lumb Farm for the UK Summer Meetings.

I'd ask anyone and everyone to put a little effort into this for the benefit of us all. Only when someone's found an ideal site should he/she contact Grant or Susan.

Again, the requirements are below followed by some tips to aid a search.

Good camping for 700 people with all associated services such as toilets.
Hotels not too far away for non campers.
At LEAST 3 presentation rooms, preferably more. One to be for more than 400 people. Screen and projectors to be included.
GOOD food and pub onsite.
Not too close to a town with Ripley being just right.
A central UK location is critical.
Decent prices and a flexible management.

Searching: Could some folk check up via local Chambers of Commerce? Local tourist offices and councils are a good idea too. An agricultural showground could be good too. Let's brainstorm it and pull together please.

I've obtained some good ideas local to Ripley from Alpkit.com and I've tried the Scouts and Guides associations to no avail. This is a really challenging task which really would benefit from locals working on it.

Ciao, Lindsay.

**Fantastic Mister Fox** · #2 10 Apr 2012

Universities?? Probably way too expensive but they'll meet the requirements apart from camping facitilites, they will how ever have halls of residence, which will more than likely be mostly empty.

Rather than approaching the University Conference office's it might be worth approaching the Students' Unions who may be able to provide the facilities??

**stephen.stallebrass** · #3 10 Apr 2012

Just a suggestion. East of England Showground: pub/restaurant, hotel/additional conference facilities, grounds for camping, easy access from A1, not far from city centre. Only trouble might be cost??? No idea what they would charge. It's the home of Peterborough BMF.

**ben555** · #4 25 Apr 2012

> A central UK location is critical

How come? These are supposedly 'adventure' motorcyclists afterall - how about SCOTLAND?! Plenty of space up here and much cheapness. Fantastic roads and scenery.

**Trix** · #5 25 Apr 2012

Agree with Ben why does it have to be central England half the fun is riding the bike, with that in mind this place fits all the other needs and they hold a bike rally once a year anyway so know what to expect..

Home Page of New Hall Vineyards

**ben555** · #6 26 Apr 2012

If this was the US or Austrailia then a 'days ride' would be a piece of cake..

**John933** · #7 26 Apr 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben555

If this was the US or Austrailia then a 'days ride' would be a piece of cake..

If this was the US or Australia then you would not have the dam weather to contend with.

John933

**John933** · #8 26 Apr 2012

The Norfolk show ground just out side Norwich is big. And hotel's near by. As for central. I'm afraid it's not.

Google Maps

But it will have ever thing you need.
As for cost's I have no idea.
John933

**ben555** · #9 26 Apr 2012

Anyway are we talking about the centre of the UK, or the centre of England?

Centre of the UK is Lancashire: Centre points of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**colebatch** · #10 26 Apr 2012

Since the Emerald isle has it own HU meet and most NI folk tend to go to that one ... I think we need to talk about GB rather than the UK ...

More relevant than the geographic centre of GB would be the population centre or demographic centre of GB ... which is Appelby Parva , Leics. - Junction 11 on the M42 - about 35 miles south of Lumb Farm

Center of population - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question...7043602AA9yA5k

**ben555** · #11 26 Apr 2012

It's just a shame that we can't have it somewhere interesting. Like lake district, dales etc. A 'farm near the M42' just doesn't sound that attractive.

Snowdonia?! Seaside? Whitby? Hmm

**Linzi** · #12 26 Apr 2012

Hi, Grant told me that the location being central is absolutely vital. He mentioned a Californian meeting that, in the past, had been set in wonderful wooded, coastal bliss but the reasonable distance to it put off very many. A bit further south and the numbers rose substantially.

I and he agree that a wild Scottish location would be superb but it really would ram the numbers down. Central to GB, as Walter pointed out, is needed.

I'd guess that some 100km north or south and a bit east would be accepted.

Finally, after all its Grant and Susan's decision. Where ever it is to be this looks like being a very hard hunt indeed.

Ciao, Lindsay.

**ben555** · #13 27 Apr 2012

Perhaps we could ask MAG? Which other motorcycle groups have big meet ups?

**Trix** · #14 27 Apr 2012

I find it odd that the UK is compared to California but another option is Mallory park race circuit , I organised a rally there a few years ago also you try Billing aquadrome ...........

**BruceP** · #15 28 Apr 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by John933

If this was the US or Australia then you would not have the dam weather to contend with.

John933

Actually, the weather in the US is more extreme. If people can't be bothered riding in the UK light showers and breezes they will not enjoy US weather.