The Venue

Where is it then?

Map below. The google maps link to this map point is here. Read the travel page to avoid getting stuck up a mountain pass.

The Birks, Duddon Valley, Lake District, Cumbria

The Birks is a recently renovated historic farmhouse in a secluded valley in the Lake District. Once belonging to the Forestry Commission, it's now owned by a local school, who use it for residential weeks and general "enrich the children with nature" type activities. The Birks as a venue is not just the farmhouse - the property also encompasses a couple of acres of varied terrain. There's a couple of fields, two small forests, and a little river. There's public access footpaths through a lot of the "grounds", but the area doesn't get a lot of foot traffic.

When the school are not using it for school things, they rent it out to holidaymakers and clubs. The venue has been used for larp fairly regularly by the various Lancaster-based horror larp groups over the years, making great use of the open fields, paths and wooded areas to have exciting and perilous adventures.

It's fairly youth-hostel standard in terms of accommodation and facilities, mostly comprising of rooms with bunk beds. Due to the period features of the building there are some oddities like low beams and narrow/steep staircases, stone floors, and some of the electrical sockets are in odd places.

There will be a travel guide published before the event - PLEASE READ IT - this is a rural location and the drive involves twisty Cumbrian roads and single-lane tracks. You do not want to be lost in the lake district. Trust us on this.

Facilities

Hygiene: There are five showers and four toilets.

Laundry and drying: There's a washing machine and a drying room - hopefully we won't really need either, but they exist

Communication: There's no mobile phone signal in the valley. There is a payphone located in the downstairs bedroom, the number will be given out so players can be contacted by the outside world for emergencies.
Wifi is available, although don't expect miracles of speed from it. Due to the stone walls of the house being very thick, the wifi signal typically only reaches the kitchen and living room of the main "house".

Kitchen and Food: The event is fully catered, and the kitchen is big and well equipped enough to feed scores of hungry schoolchildren. We will be limiting player access to the kitchen so our chef can work their magic, but it should be possible for players to store any medications or other essential items in the fridge, and access hot/cold drinks.

Bedrooms: These are mostly bunkrooms with 2-4 bunk beds in them. We'll be making all efforts to house people in rooms that suit their preferences and comfort. You will need to bring your own bedding and pillows.

Communal Areas: There is a lounge, dining area and a gallery/mezzanine, as well as the entire outside.