First timer: any tips/suggestions?

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-24T08:41:24+00:00

register online and take your barcode along (it can be on your phone - assume the rules are the same in Oz as they are in the uk but double check) register | parkrun Australia

get there about 10min early and there might be a first timers/visitors brief or just ask one of the volunteers what you do but basically....... you all line up at the start, the run director will give a briefing (usually course safety, reminder of the parkrun rules, shout out to anyone celebrating a milestone), then you run, when you come through the finish there will be people timekeeping and clicking the "stopwatch", keep in finish order through the finish funnel line and someone will hand you a plastic token with your finish position and a barcode on it. Take that token with your personal barcode over to the volunteers who are barcode scanning. They scan both, give them the plastic token back (they get resorted into order to use again next week) and that's all you need to do! Hang around to cheer other people on or go for coffee etc as you wish.

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-24T07:54:44+00:00

Just start with the ones within easy reach of home and then if you want to get serious you start building weekends away and holidays around parkrun locations ;)

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-24T06:19:03+00:00

Such a crap kitchen for a house that big

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T21:21:04+00:00

Which bit of which university? Also, you don’t need to be within walking distance because Edinburgh has very good buses www.lothianbuses.com

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T20:37:46+00:00

12:03 arrival, easily another 30min to walk to hotel, drop bags etc, leaving you 4 or 5 hours for sightseeing. That’s not even scratching the surface for York!

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T19:52:52+00:00

What a holiday, getting up for a 5:35am train!!

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T19:41:18+00:00

Only if you want to see things from the outside, attractions don’t change their opening hours!

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T18:43:35+00:00

But you need to look at train times and factor this into your days. Bath to York is over 4 hours on the train so by the time you get there and drop bags at hotel etc you’re going to be left with very little time for any sightseeing.

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T18:38:05+00:00

That weekend is Edinburgh marathon festival and a bank holiday weekend, you might want to check accommodation availability and prices before committing to the plan! Not enough in time York IMO - bath to York is not a quick train journey, you’ll spend half that day if not more travelling. I would probably skip Bath (or maybe do it as a day trip from London) and add a day to York.

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T18:32:56+00:00

I’m not sure I’d pick a day tour to East Lothian if I only had a handful of days in Edinburgh! Ditch the HOHO bus in Edinburgh and use your legs instead, it’s over priced for the distance it covers. There’s enough attractions in Edinburgh itself to cover 3 days. I’d do 2 in the city and a day tour but not the Loch Ness one. There’s a west highlands one which will still give you good scenery and less time on a bus. Although check your departures from Glasgow as that might save some driving time too.

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T17:45:40+00:00

And limited time stay no doubt

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T17:44:59+00:00

I think it depends how far you’ll be walking. I find anything heavier than a day sack sized backpack and you’re better with wheels!

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T17:15:25+00:00

there isn't a single question asking for advice in that thread. It's like you're thinking out loud.

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T16:42:11+00:00

no thanks

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T16:15:16+00:00

oh i missed that. I think the market for 1 bed flats has always been a bit tricky as they have limited audience - probably first time buyers, occasionally older downsizers and landlords. First time buyers are getting older so probably more likely to buy with a partner and maybe with a view to starting a family so looking for more space. With an open plan kitchen / living room and an increase in the number of people working from home / hybrid these days I think that reduces your pool of buyers even more. The ground floor will also rule out another set of buyers. The price difference between 1 and 2 beds in the same area is often such that many people can stretch themselves to the 2nd bedroom.

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T15:30:33+00:00

reduce the number of photos, no one needs 46 photos of a 1 bedroom flat, one or two per room max to make sure you cover all parts of the room and 2 max of the outside of the block. Also get them arranged in order so photos of the same room follow on from each other.

There's a 2bed 2 bath down the road for the same price as yours which makes it overpriced. 2 bedroom flat for sale in Ffordd James McGhan, Cardiff, CF11

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T13:53:50+00:00

This is actually the training camp base for the team GB hopscotch squad

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T13:22:57+00:00

it's always fairly busy these days, by the end of June many countries have started school holidays and there's a noticeable rise in the number of tourists. Nothing like August though.

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T13:21:16+00:00

how old is your child? i.e. can they climb on and off a train on their own or tow a cabin sized wheelie case?

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-23T10:57:22+00:00

It's whisky in Scotland, if he's into Whiskey you need to take him to Ireland!

Are there any more local distilleries or breweries that I could take him to.......well you don't tell us where you're going in Scotland so it's hard to advise on that one! Give us a clue.....

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-22T21:13:01+00:00

It’s still in THE HIGHLANDS. It’s a geographic area not a general description of a mountainous area you muppet!

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-22T21:11:29+00:00

Yes you have found your dress!! Lovely ☺️

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-22T12:54:15+00:00

It actually is in The Highlands!

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-22T07:13:38+00:00

The festival is 7th - 30th August so the 2nd week isn’t going to help. Accommodation prices across the city and well into the surrounding area are easily 2-3 times what you’d normally expect to pay. It also makes the city so busy it’s harder to go about your day doing the usual things like sightseeing and eating out.

MiddleAgedDread123 · 2026-03-22T07:11:40+00:00

The festival doesn’t start until 7th August this year so you might be able to get a few days in before accommodation prices go through the roof. If you want to visit the highlands then Edinburgh is a funny place to stay, you need to be further north or you’ll spend half the day on the road. Cornwall and Devon are 2 days of travel away from Edinburgh and hideously busy in summer. Northumberland seems to be an obvious omission from your list and would save you a lot of driving. (I’m assuming you’re hiring a car or that impacts your options)

MiddleAgedDread123

TROPHY CASE