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Other Information
Translations and visitors from overseas
We will provide translation facilities for those who don’t speak English as a first language. Please contact your local centre for details.
We can also offer first priority for dormitory accommodation to those who’ve travelled from abroad.
Children
Children are welcome on the retreat. However, your children remain your responsibility throughout the event. We are not providing a crèche, but there are a variety of facilities available for children.
There will be a toddler’s tent where you can take your young one to play in a safe environment, with toys and games provided.
There will be arts, craft, sports, bush craft and other activities laid-on for older children for a couple of two-hour slots each day (one slot in the morning and one in the afternoon). Please let us know the age of children when you book.
There will also be a space for teenagers and young people to hang out, and optional activities for them, such as debates and discussions.
In the evenings there will be storytelling and ritual that will be suitable for children and adults.
There will be no charge for under-3’s and 3 to 16 year olds can attend for half-price.
Special Needs
If you need accommodation indoors, or you have other physical needs, because of disability or old age, please contact us and we will do our best to help you.
Much of the retreat will be held in marquees in the fields surrounding Taraloka. The fields are pretty flat and we can provide help to those that need it. Please contact us as far in advance of the retreat as you can.
Travel
By plane
The nearest international airports are Manchester, followed by Birmingham.
Trains take about 1 hour 40 minutes from Manchester airport to Whitchurch, and there is about one train per hour.
The train journey from Birmingham International to Whitchurch takes between two and two-and-a-half hours, and there is at least one train per hour.
By train
Ask for information for Whitchurch (Salop) Station. You can plan your train journey and buy tickets at National Rail Enquiries.
From there it is a 20 minute taxi ride to Taraloka — see taxi information below. We will also provide a shuttle service to and from the train station and retreat. This will leave Whitchurch station at 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6pm on Friday 28th May. Please state if you are travelling by train when you book, as this will help us plan the shuttle service.
By taxi
The 20 minute ride from the train station to Taraloka will cost about £9. It is advisable to book the taxi in advance. Taxi firms familiar with Taraloka include:
Powell: 01948 780380 or 07710 645237
Jim: 01948 663018
Tony: 01948 664305
Hall: 01948 662222
By car
Route from Shrewsbury
- Follow signs for the A49 Whitchurch until you go through the village of Preston Brockhurst (about 8 miles).
- Turn left at the sign to Wem (B5063).
- After 3 miles turn right under the railway bridge at the T-junction.
- At the next T-junction at the end of this road turn left (a church is on your left)
- After 5 miles you will reach the village of Northwood.
- After the Horse & Jockey pub (on left) and a humpbacked bridge the road bears right. On the sharp left bend, take the right turn, signed Bettisfield.
- In Bettisfield, go over the hump-backed bridge and past the village hall (on the left). After 100 yards turn right down the track with the Taraloka sign.
Route from Whitchurch:
- Follow signs for A495 Oswestry. Turn left after 5 miles, signposted Bettisfield.
- After about half a mile you will pass a church on your right and then go over a bridge. After about 200 yards turn left onto track signed Taraloka.
Parking facilities
There will be parking facilities, but please also think about sharing cars with others from your centre, or, better still, arranging a coach or minibus form your centre, as this is better for the environment.
We’ve got our very own page on the Freewheelers website, where you can offer or request lifts to the retreat. Please go FWBO International Retreat lift share page at Freewheelers. If you can offer lifts it will really help!
Please note that for safety reasons you will not be able to drive your car around the site. We will only make an exception for this in the case of elderly or disabled people who need to get take their baggage nearer their tent or dorm.
FWBO contacts
For information about other retreats run by the FWBO in the UK, please see Going On Retreat.
For retreats in other countries, or to find out more about the FWBO, or to find your most local FWBO group see our main website.
There are other FWBO websites worth exploring, such as Free Buddhist Audio (for downloadable talks on Buddhism) or Wildmind (for on-line meditation teaching).
Useful links
Tourist Information
If you’d like to book your own off-site accommodation for the retreat, please contact the local tourist information office at Whitchurch:
Whitchurch Heritage Centre
12 St Mary’s Street
Whitchurch
Shropshire
SY13 1QY
+44 (0)1948 664577
whitchurch.heritage[replace with an ‘at’]ukonline[replace with a ‘dot’]co[replace with a ‘dot’]uk
(This email address has been ‘munged’ to stop it being harvested by email spammers.)
You can also search for local accommodation on the official UK tourist board website, Enjoy England
