Coming
from Overseas?
Visa - Travel
- Healthcare
- UK Weather
Visa
Citizens of the European Union, Australia, USA, Canada
do not need visas. Citizens of Africa, Middle East, Asia
generally will need a visa. To find out if you need a
visa go to British
Government Visa Web site
We suggest you do not ask for a student or educational
visa as St Beuno's is not a government recognised educational
establishment.
When you have been accepted on a retreat or programme
St Beuno's will issue a letter inviting you to the United
Kingdom. This will contain the dates of the retreat/programme.
However we cannot offer to pay all your expenses while
you are in the UK or offer to pay repatriation if necessary.
If the programme fees have been paid we will say that
all your living expenses are covered while you are in
the UK, however, this is not usually enough for the Government.
You will probably need a separate letter from your sponsoring
body.
Please leave plenty of time if you need a visa. Half
the recent visa applications have been rejected at the
first application.
Travel
If you are flying from overseas and are not visiting
people in the South of England we suggest that you try
to book a flight to either Manchester or Liverpool airports.
Liverpool is good for Easyjet and Ryanair flights from
Europe.
Manchester International has flights from all around the
world.
For travel from the airport to St Beuno's see our Airport
page.
Healthcare
Despite our rural situation Emergency Healthcare is good,
and our local doctors are happy to see people staying
at St Beuno's.
Medical Treatment is usually free on the National Health
Service.
Dental Treatment will have to be paid for - this can be
quite expensive.
If you come from the European Union please bring the EU
health card which will entitle you to free medical treatment.
Please bring the name and address of your usual doctor
and details of any medically prescribed drugs that you
need.
Very often the UK has stricter regulations on the sale
of drugs than many other countries and drugs which can
be purchased freely from pharmacies abroad need a physician's
prescription in the UK.
UK Weather
Average temperatures vary from 15-20C in summer to 0-10C
in Winter. The weather is predominantly cloudy with occasional
bright spells. It can, and does rain at any time of year.
What's
the weather like at the moment in
St Asaph?
Remember that Wales is northerly: in June the day will
last from 3.30am to 11pm, in December it will scarce begin
at 8.30am and darken again at 4pm.
What
to Bring
Waterproofs: Whatever
time of year you come to St Beuno's you will need waterproofs
and a warm jacket for walking outdoors. Although previous,
more hardy, generations swam in the sea locally, today
we are usually too soft for such frolicking. There is
no swimming pool within easy walking distance.
Boots: A good pair of
boots or sturdy shoes with a good grip is advisable
for walking the hills.
Warm Indoor Clothes: Indoors
we keep the house to 20C this is OK for North Americans
and Europeans but those used to tropical climates may
find it cold. You will need warm indoor clothes - a
sweatshirt or jumper.
Dressing Gown: You will
need a dressing gown or other respectable night apparael
as most bedrooms do not have en-suite facilities.
Laptop: If you are on
a longer programme (not a retreat) then you may wish
to bring your laptop. Wireless internet access is available.
Hobbies and Crafts: If
you have a hobby or craft work that you would like to
bring please do so. It is often good to do creative
tasks while on a retreat or programme.
We have a library well stocked with Spirituality books,
novels, biographies etc. and each room has a Bible,
so you can save weight by not bringing many books.
Mobile/Cell Phone: Whilst
on retreat we suggest retreatants switch off their mobile
phones, however, these are a useful for safety when
walking alone. Don't forget to key in St Beuno's number
and remember that 999 is the UK emergency number.
Facilities
All retreats and programmes at St Beuno's offer full
board and accommodation in single bedrooms with washbasin.
Food: We can cater for
most special diets eg. vegetarian, celiac, lactic intollerant,
low fat. Our food style is modern British - a mixture
of European dishes with the occasional very mild curry.
There is a little choice with some meals. A full Welsh
Breakfast is offered.
Bedrooms vary considerably
in size. There is some accommodation in cottages outside
the main Centre. There are three bedrooms with en-suite
facilities for those who really need this provision.
Art Room: There is a well-stocked
art room with clay, paper and various media such as pastels,
water colours, poster paints all available free of charge.
Music: at certain times
of day there is a room available for music practice.
Laundry: Washing machines,
irons etc. are available for use, particularly of those
on longer courses.
Chapels and Prayer Rooms:
there are three chapels and five prayer rooms. these are
usually available for private prayer.
Bookshop: The house has
a well-stocked Spirituality Bookshop. A
sample online >>
Fair Trade Stall: Fair
trade produce - chocolates, healthy snacks, and fancy
goods are available in St Beuno's.
Wireless Internet Access:
Is available. You can also use our broadband computer
to access the internet, so there is no need to bring your
laptop.
Personal Telephones: For
those on the three month course you will have a personal
room telephone with your own private number, so there
is no need to go through the switchboard. This can be
used for both incoming and outgoing calls (there is a
charge for outgoing calls). This service is not available
to those on retreats.
Religious Denominations
St Beuno's is run by the Society of Jesus, (Jesuits) an
order of religious men in the Roman Catholic Church. We
welcome people of all Christian denominations and people
of no church affiliation. All are welcome to attend our
daily Eucharist. Details of eucharistic participation
are available on request. Currently some 55% of our retreatants
are Roman Catholic, the others are of many different denominations,
with Anglicans much the largest second group. Longer programmes
tend
Cancellation
Policy Retreats:
Retreats are considered firmly booked once you have paid
your deposit. This deposit is non returnable. However,
if you cancel with good notice then this deposit may be
transfered to another retreat within the next year, subject
to a deduction to cover administration of £10 per
change. Under no circumstances will the deposit be transferable
if we were not informed in advance of the cancellation.
Spirituality Programmes: are
again only considered firmly booked when the non-returnable
deposit is received. This may, under certain circumstance
be transfered to another programme for the same person,
subject to a 10% deduction to cover adminstration. Under
no circumstances will the deposit be transferable if we
were not informed in advance of the cancellation.
Beuno's 2007-8
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