Getting to Dhamma Dipa

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Arrival & departure information

All students are asked to arrive between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. on the day the course begins. After registration is completed, a light meal and orientation will precede the start of the course. The course will end at approximately 7:30 a.m. on the last day, day 11 of the course. All new students, as well as old (returning) students taking a full course, are required to remain until the very end of the course. Part-time old students will not be permitted to leave on Metta day, the tenth full day, except in case of emergency or by prior arrangement with the assistant teacher(s).

If you want help planning a journey by public transport click here.

By car:

1. From London, take the M4 to junction 15 (Swindon), then the A419/A417 to Gloucester.
2. Join the A40 to Ross-on-Wye but avoid the town centre; instead follow directions to Hereford on the A49.
3. From the North, take the M5 and M50 to Ross-on-Wye.
4. From the roundabout west of Ross where the A40 and A49 meet, take the Hereford road.
5. After about four miles you will reach Harewood End.
6. Drive through the village and then take the second left turn which is about one mile further on.
7. Turn left onto a slightly concealed turning signed to Pencoyd near the bottom of a hill. (If you reach the left turn to Hay-on-Wye, B4348, you have gone too far.)
8. Ignore other signs to Pencoyd and after one mile, at the second crossroads, turn right at the sign for Dhamma Dipa.  (See the map)

By coach:

1. Coaches run regularly to Hereford and Gloucester from towns and cities throughout Britain.
2. Having arrived in:
   • Gloucester take the no 33/38 local bus going to Ross-on-Wye and then on to Hereford.
   • Hereford, take the 38 bus to Ross-on-Wye.
3. Ask to be let off at the Harewood End Inn or the Llandinabo bus stop. (see 'Collection from local bus stop' below).

An example coach journey:

1. A coach leaves London Victoria at 10:00, arriving at Gloucester at 13:20.
2. The local bus (33) leaves Gloucester for Hereford (via Ross on Wye) at 13:45 (and regularly until 18:00).
3. Ask to be let off at the Harewood End Inn or the Llandinabo bus stop (see 'Collection from local bus stop' below).

By train:

1. Travelling by train from:
   • London Paddington station it takes about 3 hours to get to Hereford via Newport.
   • From Scotland, Northern England and Wales, there are regular train services during the week to Hereford.
2. From Hereford, either:
   • Take the local bus (38) to the Llandinabo or Harewood End Inn bus stop. The bus station in Hereford is about 5 minutes walk from the railway station. Head left out of the main station entrance past the mini roundabout, with a Morrison's supermarket on your right hand side. Cross the main road at the zebra crossing and turn right. The bus station is then on your left after about 100 metres, behind a cinema (see ‘Collection from local bus stop’ below).
   • Or, if you wish to travel from the station by taxi to Dhamma Dipa then please ask the price beforehand. It should cost from £18.
   

An example train journey:
Mon-Fri

Paddington	Hereford	Hereford	Llandinabo	Harewood End
11:52	14:51	15:15	15:39*	15:41
12:45	15:52	16:15	16:39*	16:41

Collection from local bus stop:

• Please note that on the registration day of courses, a vehicle from the Centre will meet local buses between 2.00 and 6.00 pm at the Harewood End Inn. We no longer have access to the waiting area at the Llandinabo bus stop, so the vehicle cannot park there.


• If you prefer to walk, get off at the Llandinabo bus stop. Walk one mile down the country lane signposted Pencoyd - please note that this lane is prone to flooding in wet weather. We would not advise walking from the Harewood End Inn bus stop. Dhamma Dipa is 2 miles from the village centre, the first mile of which is along a busy road with no footpath.

Return journeys:

Saturdays

• The first local bus to Gloucester leaves Harewood End Inn at 8:41 (arriving 9:40 in time for the 11:00 coach to London).
• The first local bus to Hereford leaves at 7:28 (arriving 8:10) and leave hourly thereafter.

Sundays

While local public transport is limited on a Sunday, lifts from other departing students may be available. You can also arrange a local taxi for early journeys.

Sunday coaches:

• A National Express coach leaves Ross-on-Wye at 10:05 for Heathrow Airport (arriving 13:25) and London Victoria Coach Station (14:20)
• There are no local buses to Ross on Wye to connect with this coach so taxis or lifts from other students need to be arranged.

Sunday trains:

• The first local bus to Hereford leaves Harewood End Inn at 10:52 (arriving 11:16)
• This bus connects with trains to:
  o Birmingham International at 13:32 (arriving 16:09)
  o Bristol Temple Meads at 12:42 (arriving 15:01)
  o London at 13:32 (arriving 16.38)
• An earlier train to London or Bristol via Newport leaves at 10:11.