Money, Money, Money

[kneeshooter]

So, next year I'm going to Orkney on a little trip with some special friends. This is fine, except there's a chance it'll clash with Maelstrom on one weekend or the other.

Ok I think, there are airports in Orkney and airports in London and various other places on the way. I'll do some research and see how much it will cost to drive to Orkney, then leave the car for someone else to bring back while I fly to the likely event site.

Cue a jaw-on-floor moment. I could fly half-way to Australia for the £300 price of a Kirkwall to London flight, or save about £50 by flying to Scotland then taking a 6-8 hour train journey to London.

Just how much do I love LRP...?

Comments

[boglin.livejournal.com]

I did mention that flying was *very* expensive...

[kneeshooter]

Yes - so I see :-) Mind you the round trip drive is over 1000 miles so the petrol cost is hardly insignificant.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Blimey - 532 miles to Aberdeen ferry terminal - is that the best destination?

Or 650 miles to John O Groats ....

That's quite a distance ....

[kneeshooter]

Ferry to/from Aberdeen is more expensive (as one would expect) than the John O Groats alternative.

But yes. It's a long way.

[boglin.livejournal.com]

LOL - you do all know where Orkney is, right? ;p

[kneeshooter]

You head towards Birmingham City Centre, then keep going for about 12-14 hours?

[jfs.livejournal.com]

There's a difference between knowing "it's at the north end of Scotland and then a bit" and "It's 650 miles". :-)

[laurah1893.livejournal.com]

What do you mean by "special"?

[kneeshooter]

Absolutely nothing at all in this case.

[laurah1893.livejournal.com]

That's so "touching". lol
Hey where my camera? *checks mailbox*

[kneeshooter]

I tried to get it down the cable, but it didn't fit. Sorry :-P

[black-marx.livejournal.com]

a little trip with some special friends???????

[kneeshooter]

God it must be a slow-LJ day today. I'd love to craft a tale about debauched plans for the northern wastes, but I can't.

Just a turn of phrase. Unfortunately.

[kantti.livejournal.com]

Possibly an unfortunate turn of phrase, though. :)

[kneeshooter]

I think of it more as aspirational than unfortunate but then I have been rather optimistic recently. Hmmm. Maybe I'm ill.

[kantti.livejournal.com]

... and there you go with the inferences again. No stopping some people, clearly!

[kneeshooter]

I never find straight-talking easy. I'm told it makes me come across as enigmatic. Or was it idiotic...

[darkstones.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you should consider flying, but with a change at Edinburgh. Flights to Orkney are about £120 if you book far enough in advance, and I know that you can get flights from Coventry to Edinburgh for about £20.

[kneeshooter]

Good thought - the route can make a lot of difference. Plus, perhaps, can not booking so far in advance.

[darkstones.livejournal.com]

Yep, there's reasonaby priced flights to most of the islands from Edinburgh, as there's a fair bit of traffic. I mentioned Edinburgh because I know there are cheap flights to Cov, but it might be worth investigating Aberdeen (Dyce), Inverness, Prestwick and Glasgow too.

I'd be wary of considering the ferry crossing unless you are resistant to seasickness. It can get very rough!

[kneeshooter]

I love ferries and rough weather at sea, but it's the potential time pressures on the way back that are of some concern to me in this case.

[zoo-music-girl.livejournal.com]

Lucky you! Orkney is awesome! When are you going?

I went there in June and managed to get return flights via Aberdeen for £185.30 each, so it would be worth playing around a bit on BA's website to see if you can get a cheaper fare if you can be a little bit flexible.

[baldrick.livejournal.com]

If you try to drive then make sure you car has water wings ***ha ha ha***

God I'm funny... not...

Okay as soon as you get to Aberdeen the dual carriageways generally stop around 30 miles north of it so the journey time will start to go up. If you do not fancy driving north of Aberdeen then an option is Ryanair/Eastjet/Low cost airline to Aberdeen (Dyce) & other remote scottish airport. Then walk on a ferry (about £150 cheaper than car).