Getting there
Location | Public Transport | Lift-sharing | Hitching | Driving | Help!
Location
The gathering this year will be held at Woolseybridge Farm - a lovely site in Norfolk with lots of trees and a little stream. It's approximately 1.5 miles NNE of Diss. Diss has regular train services and a wholefood shop.
The Grid Reference of the site is TM130819. The post code is IP22 5SY.
View detailed map. Other maps, directions, satelite / aerial photos etc. can be found by typing the post code and/or grid ref into the various online map providers, such as Streetmap, Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSN Maps or Multimap.
Public Transport
The site is easily accessible by public transport, you can get the train either to Diss or Norwich and then catch the bus route no 1 (Simmonds) from Diss to Norwich or vice versa - this route goes right past the site and we'll be asking the local bus company if they will stop right outside the site on request. Or you could walk or cycle - it's only 1.5miles away from Diss train station. Please come by public transport if at all possible! .
We will run pick-ups from the train station for anybody who can't use the bus service or for larger groups of people. If you need a lift please let us know well in advance (and not in the middle of the night, when you're at a train station somewhere!). Ring the Gathering mobile on 07789 331857. Please don't email as no one will be checking the gathering email account from 22 August onwards - we'll be on the site setting up!
Wheelchair users intending to use Diss station will need to book assistance with the train operator. There are no lifts so station staff have to assist mobility impaired customers across the track. Apparently the station is not manned 24 hours a day and the gate for the crossing is kept locked - so do phone and book to be sure .We have been told the bus service includes some low-floor buses with easy access for pushchairs, people with mobility impairments etc.
Train and bus times
As you no doubt know, you can check the rail times / buy tickets via the National Rail website.
The bus station in Diss is a short walk from the train station. From the station turn towards Diss town (right at bottom of hill). Go past entrances to Tescos and Morrisons towards Thetford on the main road; bus station is a small brick building on the left almost opposite the Esso garage.
The bus station in Norwich is 20-30 minutes walk from Norwich train station.
The bus to get is the Simonds number 1 between Norwich and Diss.
From Diss Bus Station towards Norwich at these times: 0715 - 0905 - 1205 - 1335 (Mon-Fri only) - 1645 - 1845 It takes about 8 minutes and you want to get off just before Burston, ask for Woolsey Bridge Farm. Please note if you are coming for set-up there are no buses on the Bank holiday Monday.
From Norwich bus station towards Diss (No 1 Simonds bus), this way you get off just after Burston, ask for Woolsey Bridge Farm. Times are as follows:
Tue-Friday
Norwich: Castle Meadow Stand R Dep: 1140 - 1340 - 1540 - 1810 - 2303
Norwich: St Stephens Street Stand A 1143 - 1343 - 1543 - 1813 --
Saturday:
Norwich: Castle Meadow Stand R: 0833 - 1140 - 1340 - 1825 - 2303
Norwich St Stephens Street Stand A 0835 - 1143 - 1343 - 1828, the journey takes about one hour.
Timestables can be found here: http://www.travelineeastanglia.org.uk/scripts/webtriplanner.dll/timetables
If you need a low floor / easy access bus, your best bet is to phone Simonds (bus company) on 01379 647300 to enquire when they will be running.
Walking / cycling from Diss rail station to the site
From Diss station, walk / cycle to main Thetford Road down the hill and turn right towards Diss town; take the right turn into Skelton Road and follow this all the way to the T junction, then turn left and carry on past the Friend's Meeting house, library and job centre, all on the left. On the right there is a church at the top of a small hill; At junction past church turn right towards the Saracen's Head pub on Mount Street. Follow this road straight on and out of town, past the cemetery; after a mile the road takes a sharp right turn, follow the bend to the right (not the lane that goes straight on) and keep going. Site on left after about a mile.
Lift-sharing
We've set up a lift sharing forum. Its open to anyone but you'll have to register to get a password, just like a liftshare website. Post up your lift sharing requests and offers, and hopfully you'll find others who are travelling from somewhere near you. Some of the Earth First! groups around the country will be coming in minibuses, so you could also check out the addresses here and email you nearest one.
Hitching
Hitch to Norwich or Diss; from Norwich hitch south on the A140 to Dickleburgh. It is then a 3 -4 mile walk or hitch to the site; on the Dickleburgh bypass (don't go into Dickleburgh village) is a right turn to Shimpling and Burston; follow this road through Burston village, past the village green and out of the village. There is a sharp left turn, then down a hill to a sharp right turn. Site is on the right just over a little brick bridge.
From Diss either walk or bus, or carry on up the A140 to the turning on the Dickleburgh junction as above (only this time the junction is on the left).
Driving
Please leave your cars and vans at home if at all possible and come by public transport. There is some very limited parking and well, we're Earth First!ers, aren't we?! So ditch the car and come by bike/train/foot.
The hitching instructions work for driving as well. Drivers need to take the A140 between Ipswich and Norwich.
From the south go past the roundabout that goes to Diss (A1066 junction) and go over next roundabout; Dickleburgh is on the right and there is a left turn to Shimpling and Burston. Follow this through the village as described above.
From Norwich take A140 south towards Ipswich; past the Ram Pub at Tivetshall is a left turn to Dickleburgh, don't take this, but look out for the right turn to Shimpling and Burston just past it and follow instructions above.
Help!
If you get lost or need help, give us a ring on the Gathering mobile on 07789 331857