Crafty Carper January 2016

WIN

s of grabs t e r rs fou s up fo rod

New gear for 2016

From sonik, starbaits, fortis, chub, avid, and more

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arper.c o

No.221 January 2016

On sale 23rd December–19th January 2016

January 2016 | Issue 221 | £4.25

Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!

catch carp all winter Bait Tackle

Tactics Venues

ed skillz

Fish in Europe for free, and catch a monster like this

Julian Cundiff

Hot bait. Does heat make a difference to your results?

marv wait

Clever paste tricks which will give you a big edge

craftycarper.co

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Crafty Carper /// Issue 221 /// January 2016 /// www.craftycarper.co

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On the cover: A winter capture heading back to its home.

Editorial James Turner Editor James looks at what’s in

store for you in this issue of Crafty

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Wychwood Competition Thanks to the guys at Wychwood, we’ve

got four sets of the awesome 201 series rods up

Carper, and reveals what he’s been

15

Paste Pulling Power Marv Wait Marv reveals some of the paste

tricks he uses to put a few fish on the bank

for grabs, with a total prize value of over £700,

over the winter months, and he doesn’t

and it’s a competition well worth entering.

disappoint, live for the Crafty cameras.

up to over the past month.

10

The Knowledge Dave Lane Dave’s now moved away from

St Ives and heads over to his winter water to try to change his luck. He comes face-to-face with his target on his first session, but is it in his net?

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Unlocking Kingsmead Jack Funnel

After spending a memorable time on the Thames, Jack heads over to RK Leisure’s Kingsmead, and it’s not long before he manages to get amongst some of the chunky stunners which reside there.

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Crafty Carper Under-21s Dan Price checks in with his

monthly blog and enjoys a Linear social, James Bushnell Jr. relives the story of an epic session earlier this year, while Lewis Porter tells the tale of the capture of a beautiful old creature.

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Crafty Catch Column Sponsored by Sticky Baits

This is the place to get your catch pictures published, so send them in to us, and you’re in with the chance of a great prize from those top guys at Sticky Baits.

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Carp Food Here you’ll find the latest and

greatest products of carpy cuisine on the shelves of a tackle shop near you, as well as the Editor’s Choice of the month, and a crafty tip from Joe Turnbull.

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Carp Food Special – SSP Baits This month we take a look at

a new range of bait which comes with massive plaudits from around the carpangling world. Were we impressed?

Turn to page 51 to find out.

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details how he takes a carping journey which actually

approach. He likes to add something

costs less than heading to an overseas commercial.

hot to his swim, but does temperature

Who’s up for some real adventure angling?

make that much of a difference?

Carping On The Wild Side Ed Skillz Have you ever fancied taking a trip and

fishing some of the unspoilt areas of Europe? Ed

4

Hot Stuff Julian Cundiff With winter well and truly

here, our man Jules looks at his baiting

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Contents /// January 2016

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The Question Is

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This month’s carping

conundrums are answered by our panel

It “Rig orked w e on l k Tac magic end r e i h e th C’s, t tely olu SS my lt abs way.” u a res me m blew l Cotta Bil

of experts. If you get your question answered, you’ll receive a cracking

I Love It When A Plan Comes

Together Kev Hewitt Kev reveals all on how his hard work, effort and determination, as well as a few blanks, resulted in a 50lb+ day-ticket chunk.

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the pages of TicketMaster this month,

you the low-down on what’s hot and

in the carp-angling arena recently,

and free fishing offers for every reader

what’s not. Plus the Crafty Team give

and their sleeping bags are one of

to take advantage of. Get on it!

you their essential items this month.

a number of new items. If you’re in

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an angling holiday for next year,

hitting the tackle shops in 2016.

and fancy a little luxury too, then

There’s an impressive list of high-

Domaine De La Ribière could be

quality gear, and I’m sure you’ll find

of a pair of waders which cost so

just your thing. There are gîtes, a

something to whet your appetite.

much money. Are they worth the

The TicketMaster We’ve got four day ticket

fisheries from across the country in

Hot Holiday – Domaine De La Ribière

If you’re in the market for booking

swimming pool, and absolutely huge fish. What more could you want?

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Hot Holiday –

Carpers’ Kit We take a look at some of the

best products on the market, and give

In Focus – Avid Carp Avid have been increasing

their number of top-notch products

the market for a new sleeping bag In Focus – SONIK We look at the latest

offerings from SONIK which will be

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and cover, this is the place to go.

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In Focus – Le Chameau Now this is an interesting

one, as never before have I had hold

£200 price tag? You’ll soon find out.

In Focus – Starbaits The D-Tec Alarms from

Starbaits have been well received,

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Seine Netting Explained David Smith

CatMaster Tours

so we thought we’d take a closer

Looking for a spot of carp angling in

look, only to find out that there’s

lake? You’ll be well and truly

warmer climes, either this winter or

a new camo version for 2016.

shocked when you see just

at any time of the year? Then we’ve got just the place for you – a trip to the Ebro in Spain, where there are stunning hard-fighting carp and monster catfish to angle for.

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what goes into it – it’s not all In Focus – Shimano There are rods, and then

there are rods from Shimano. The TX9s have been receiving rave reviews, and upon closer inspection,

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Day Ticket Edges Harry Hales

With a long list of day-ticket captures to his name, we’ve enlisted the help of

we can see exactly why.

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How hard can it be to net a

plain sailing, that’s for sure.

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Subscribe If you want to get your

favourite carp-fishing magazine through your letter box every month, then this is the place to go. Take out

In Focus – Powa Pac

a subscription this month and you

If you like to have a good

will receive a whole load of bait from

supply of power while on the bank,

Sticky Baits, and soon be on the way

to make the most of your sessions on

for things such as phones, tablets

to catching carp for fun on The Krill.

the busier day ticket waters around.

and lighting, then this is well worth

Harry Hales to give his insight into how

a look. It’s been accompanying

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me on my travels, and there’s an in-depth review on page 92.

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Inbox Keep up to date with

the latest news, and you can also get in touch with us to find out all the

In Focus – Fortis x Snugpak

If you want to look cool this winter, and follow the trend of DPM and the use of gilets, then this is

rumblings from the carpy grapevine.

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Another Year Goes

By Jo Green

Jo has definitely had an eventful

the place to go. We put the new

year, so we take a look back through

Fortis and Snugpak collaboration

her captures to see the wondrous

SV3 under the microscope.

fish she’s added to her photo

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album over the last 12 months.

In Focus – Chub Keeping warm is essential

at this time of the year, and we got hold of the new all-weather

114

Mega Deals

Visit our website to find your local stockist

If you’re up for a

bargain, head over to page 114

jacket and trousers from Chub.

to check out our Mega Deals for

Find out how warm and how

some of the best offers from

good it looks on page 94.

the country’s leading retailers.

Crafty Carper 004-005_Contents_CC221.indd 2

END TACKLE AND HAND-SHARPENED HOOK SPECIALISTS

65

VALUE FOR MONEY WITHOUT COMPROMISING QUALITY

prize delivered straight to your door.

www.rigittackle.com 5

T 07722 881 823 E rigittackle@gmail.com 04/12/2015 12:12

A tough second half to the winter on Bundy’s.

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Knowledge Dave Lane

The

Dave moves away from St Ives to take on his winter water, and on the first session, he meets his target!

I

have finally made the move to my

my biggest-ever true winter carp.

the sweeter, and the disasters and

winter water, after hanging on at

My previous winter best was Mary

disappointments are soon forgotten.

St Ives way longer than I originally

from Wraysbury, at an ounce under

intended. The problem with moving was quite simple – winter didn’t actually

50lb, but that was decades before!

As it turned out, Bundy’s was a

latter half of the winter seemed to drift

look as if it was ever going to start,

typical example of the way fish can

by in a freezing cloud of ice and fog,

and the mild conditions throughout

change their habits. To quote a much-

but what did I care? I’d caught a 50lb

October and the start of November

used phrase: ‘You should have been

common in December, and that would

kept me hanging on, hoping that the

here last week/month/year, mate;

keep me going for a fair old while.

much awaited autumnal feed-up would

they were going mental.’ Apparently,

eventually happen. It didn’t, of course.

the previous winter, the fish showed

I actually think that the autumn just

like crazy all through the night

gone may go down in history as one

and the Zig fishing was

of the least productive ever, at least

superb at times, with

in my book it definitely will. In a way,

adjustables being the

however, it’s not such a bad thing. It just

main angle of attack.

goes to show that nothing in fishing

start at Bundy’s until

something happened one particular year

after I’d landed the

at a specific time, it doesn’t guarantee a

Northey common,

repeat performance the following year.

so it was the second

Back to the here and now. I am currently sitting in my bivvy on my new lake, and due to my rubbish organisational skills, I am writing this on my newly acquired

“My previous winter best was Mary from Wraysbury, at an ounce under 50lb, but that was decades before!”

I didn’t actually

can be taken for granted, and because

Last winter I joined two different

week of December

pad – or tablet, or whatever the correct terminology may be – as the deadline is actually tomorrow. Halfway through writing about

waters, Northey Park and Bundy’s.

before I even wet a line in

Northey didn’t have a lot of winter form

the massively deep water. This is very

call from Adam Penning, who was also

as such, although they had been caught

late to be trying to learn about a lake,

fishing, but on a different lake, and

there occasionally, whereas Bundy’s

but I had a lot of good information from

we got chatting about this and that.

had a good reputation for throwing

friends who had fished there before.

Fishing nights in the winter are also

up fish in the coldest of conditions,

I spent hours sitting, watching, and

catch-up nights, and I spend hours on

mainly on Zigs. As it transpired, it was

listening throughout the night, all to

the phone, keeping in touch with mates

no avail. Yes, I saw the odd fish, but

who I might not see very often. I’m

nothing compared to the stories of the

always very interested in what Adam

previous years. Even the guys who

has to say because he’s one of those

had fished there before all said the

‘thinking anglers’, and often has the odd

culminated in

same – it was like a different lake. (You

gem to impart. It’s handy when you are

the capture

should have been here last year, mate!)

struggling to get a bite, or sometimes

Northey that ended up being particularly kind to me, and in December, it

of a 50lb common,

There really are no cast-iron

Bundy’s, I received a phone

just to get the old grey matter stirred

guarantees in carp angling, and to a

up a bit. We would both, simultaneously,

certain extent, I think that is what

see a big old November moon in the

makes it so appealing. For every My biggest-ever winter carp, but what lies in wait for this year?

I did catch a couple from Bundy’s, but nothing to really shout about, and the

expected capture or sighting that

sky, and the conversation would turn to moon phases and their effect on the carp feeding. Apparently, a friend

doesn’t happen,

of his had put together quite a list

there are

that reinforced the theories of certain

probably a

‘hot times’ to fish, but as I explained

small number

to him, I only have the same 2/3 days

of unexpected bonuses,

every week, so a list of the best nights

little moments of magic that

must, by its very nature, also include

can never be repeated. Ying and

a list of the worst times. Personally, I

yang, swings and roundabouts,

wouldn’t want that kind of negativity

rough with the smooth, call it

when I set out on a Monday morning. I

what you like, but every now

think I would rather just feel confident

and again, when the karma bus pulls up at your swim, it makes it all

every week, without any preconceived ideas based

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G N I P R CA E H T N O E D I S D WIL Ed Skillz

rope to across Eu g in h s fi f do Channel of this kin across the e master ip th tr t a o g e k e ee! ta ow – and it’s fr asy it is to fashion, s s e re in w u o h s h c a u d e n m tr n is very does it, a g hidden e unknow it, why he unearthin f to o in e p s o e h o Fishing th g what lace in the sight into onderful p w d n give an in a d il ,w unknown to fish an

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Carping On The Wild Side Ed Skillz

However, these are the very reasons why I couldn’t think of exactly how big the fish are swimming

a bigger challenge for me than

in it, what their names are, and how

fishing the public waters of Europe.

C

one of these big European lumps. Pay

many are in there? Or is it quite simply

Going on these road trips into the

arp angling seems to have

lakes (or commercials, as they may be

the fact that many anglers don’t know

unknown makes me feel alive, and the

taken a big jump over the last

known in the UK) are growing out of

where to start when it comes to fishing

adventurer within me wakes up the

10 years, and more and more

the ground all over Europe as if they

a public water? Everybody has heard

very moment I start my engine and

people have found their way on to the

were mushrooms, just springing up

stories of burned-out cars and flat

take off for my destination abroad.

carp-angling scene. The good thing

from nowhere. I have nothing against

tyres suffered by adventurous anglers

The fact that I have to find everything

is that never has there been more

commercial big-fish ponds, but for

fishing the public waters of France

out for myself – seeking out the puzzle

development in angling than right now

me personally, it takes all the fun out

and Belgium, so it might seem that it

first and then putting the pieces

in the carp-angling industry. Companies

of the game. I’m an angler who likes

isn’t safe to fish these waters. This

together – keeps me sharp in my own

are bringing out all sorts of material

adventure and really thrives on it. I’m

definitely isn’t the case because it

angling, and on the ball. If I don’t

to lure our beloved friends, the carp,

not saying that I have never fished

really isn’t all that bad. Another thing

do this, I won’t catch any carp, but

into a bite. It wasn’t always like this,

a pay lake, nor will I say that I never

is that there aren’t any shower lodges

having said that, you can imagine just

and I remember the days when I felt

will again, because they ain’t all the

around on the public waters, and there

how big of a joy it is to catch a carp

like an alien going out on the hunt for

same, and some of them still manage

is no bailiff who can tell you where

from a public water. It’s an amazing

carp. Now though, everybody is doing

to give anglers the feeling of being

the big fish tend to come out most of

feeling of triumph and an achievement

it, has done it, or knows somebody

on a hunt out in the wilderness.

the year, which rig works best, and

you’ve made on your own.

who fishes for carp. Fish are growing

I often ask myself, and other carp

bigger and bigger all over Europe, and

anglers I meet – why? Why do so many

these are all factors which add up

fishing public waters is, quite simply,

it’s thanks to all the bait which is going

people choose to fish the pay lakes? Is

to people taking what looks like the

the price. In Belgium, there are two

in, since every angler tries to prebait

it because of the certainty of large fish

easier option of the commercial pay

licences which you can buy

their spot to up the chances of catching

being present? Is it because they know

lake for a fishing trip to the Continent.

from the post office or online.

Off the beaten track, finding my own paradise.

which bait seems to do well. I suppose

One of the big advantages of

Catching these was such fun. They were all stunning, and from a lake that seemed to be forgotten about.

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Hot Holiday Venue CatMaster Tours

FISHERY FACT FILE:

CATMASTER TOURS Travel info: Flights are available from most UK airports. Airport pickup (Barcelona only) can be arranged or cars hired. Travel times from arrival airports are as follows: Lleida – 0.5 hours; Reus – 1.5 hours; Zaragoza – 1.5 hours; Barcelona – 2 hours; Girona – 2.5 hours.

Venue: River Ebro and Segre in areas surrounding the CatMaster base at Mequinenza.

Fish stocks: Catfish to over 250lb. The majority of anglers will catch cats to over 100lb, with one in three cats being over this weight. Carp mostly range between 20 and 50lb, with a chance of 60lb or even 70lb+.

HOT HOLIDAY VENUE

be arranged if required. Swims can

Facilities:

CATMASTER TOURS

even be prebaited, and all licences are

All accommodation is air-

included. At the end of the day, the

conditioned in apartments or

guide will collect you and all the gear,

houses, within walking distance of

and take you back to your apartment,

Mequinenza centre. Accommodation

If you fancy getting a bend in your rods and sampling the excitement of fishing on one of the world’s great rivers, how about a week chasing monster cats or hard-fighting carp on the mighty Ebro?

or directly to a bar or restaurant. Car

may be shared with other anglers.

T

fishing tours, and the majority of tackle

Equipment provided depending on

hire is also available if required.

CatMaster run both cat- and carp-

Equipment and bait:

he first thing that comes

adventures. With CatMaster, you can fish

is supplied, although this does depend

tour. See website for full details.

to mind when most anglers

during the day, return to your apartment,

on which tour you choose. If you fancy a

Bait available to purchase. Boats

think of the River Ebro in

and then have an evening out with your

taste of both, why not have a few days’

available to hire if required.

northeast Spain is that it’s home to

friends in the local bars and restaurants.

fishing for the monster cats, followed

some of the world’s largest catfish.

However, if you want to continue fishing

by a few days for the big carp? One

Prices:

What many people don’t realise is

into the night, this can be arranged.

thing you can be sure of is that you’ll be

Catfish tours from £499.

CatMaster cater for groups, pairs,

in the hands of some of the best guides

Mixed cat/carp tours from

that it also contains some excellent carp, and CatMaster Tours, which are

or even single anglers, and included

on the Ebro. The company and its

£499. Carp-only tours from

based in Mequinenza, are masters at

in the price is accommodation, which

guests have held the unofficial Spanish

£300. Non-angling guests are

running holiday trips to catch them.

is in either a modern block or a more

record for catfish for a number of years,

welcome (extra fee payable).

traditional Spanish house. Wherever you

including the albino catfish record. They

Prices dependent on season.

long, so it’s vital that you have up-to-

stay, you’ll be within walking distance

even state that if you beat one of their

date local knowledge of where to fish.

of the centre of town and close to

records, you will be entitled to a free

Contact:

CatMaster have been running tours

the river. Mequinenza, the home base

return trip and, even better, if you go

Web: www.catmastertours.com

to the Ebro since the year 2000, so

for CatMaster, is a beautiful town,

on a catfish tour and don’t catch at all,

Tel: (+44) 0121 451 1861

they certainly know all the best spots,

overlooked by a historic castle. Perched

you’ll be invited back to try again. With

Online booking and

and their expertise is unsurpassed.

on the banks of the Ebro where it meets

that sort of guarantee, can you afford

email on website.

The majority of carp in the Ebro

the River Segre, the local scenery is

not to sample the mighty Ebro? CC

are big commons, and the fish tend to

breathtaking, and the wildlife is as

congregate in large shoals, particularly

amazing as the fishing. The town has

in winter, in the deep water of the

plenty of bars, restaurants and shops,

dammed sections of the river, which

and there are even several tackle

is where CatMaster take their guests.

shops if you need to purchase any kit.

The Ebro itself is over 900 miles

These areas are deep, with some

A day’s fishing with CatMaster usually

shallow reedy spots and a mix of both

starts with the guide collecting you from

fast- and slow-flowing water, although

the apartment at a pre-arranged time.

there are also areas which have virtually

You’ll be taken by van to the chosen

no flow at all that seem very much like

swim(s) for the day, and all the tackle

fishing a lake. These huge shoals of

will be set up ready to go. The guides

carp tend to range from 20-50lb, and

will supply breakfast and lunch on the

there’s a good chance of even bigger

bank while you are fishing, give you

fish, up to 70lb+ in some cases.

advice on the best methods, and help in

Fishing the Ebro is a totally different experience to the normal holiday carping

any way they can. Bait can be purchased as you go, and the hire of boats can

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Day Ticket Edges Harry Hales

DAY TICKET EDGES H A R R Y

H A L E S

Young up-and-coming carp angler Harry Hales is back in Crafty. He reveals his top tips for targeting pressured day ticket venues, as he’s had some real results of late.

1. GET ON THE NATURALS

This may seem like a strange tip to some, but it’s certainly one of my biggest edges for targeting pressured venues, especially the ultra-tricky Monument Carp Fishery in Shropshire. When the carp are feeding with little enthusiasm and neglecting conventional baits like boilies and pellets, it’s well worth giving the naturals a try. My two favourite naturals baits are worms and maggots, and the great thing is that you don’t need to introduce any loose feed around them. Generally, a bunch of maggots or some chopped worms flicked on to a showing fish is often enough to nick a bite.

I’ve had loads of fish from the Monument on naturals, including plenty of lovely 30s.

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A N G L I N G

P U B L I C A T I O N S

P R O U D L Y

P R E S E N T S

CARP A N

E V E N I N G

O F

N O R TH

F R I D A Y T H E

H O L I D A Y

1 5 T H

I N N ,

H I G H

J A N U A R Y

R O A D ,

D O N C A S T E R

9 U X

HO L ME S

H A MIDI

• Cost of entry is £5.00 per person, payable on the door • There will be a raffle in conjunction with the PAG, with some great prizes to be won • Licensed bar on site • Doors open at 6.30 p.m.

D N 4

M A RK

ALI

An Evening of Carp once again returns to the Holiday Inn Doncaster.

Our guest speakers for the evening are the one and only Ali Hamidi, author of The Carpers’ High, who has a stunning talk lined up about his adventures travelling the globe to film the new series of The Big Fish Off. Prolific big-carp-catcher Mark Holmes will also be on hand to reveal some of his recent outstanding captures, in his straight-talking and fascinating slide show.

2 0 1 5

• Doors close at 11.00 p.m. (approximately) • There will be trade stands from Angling Publications, the Predation Action Group and RG Baits, plus others

S U P P O RT I N G T H E

An Evening of Carp (Doncaster) is being held on the evening of Friday 15th January 2016 at The Holiday Inn Doncaster A1(M) Jct 36. High Road, Warmsworth, Doncaster DN4 9UX. Accommodation is available for anyone wanting to stay over and can be arranged directly with the hotel.

The event organisers are Angling Publications Limited, and any questions (excluding accommodation) should be directed to pip@anglingpublications.co.uk

During the evening, Ali will be on hand to not only sign his book new book The Carpsers’ High but have pictures taken.

The event is being held at the Doncaster Holiday Inn (A1 (M) Jct 36) • Pay on the door • £5.00 per head • Doors open 6.30 p.m.

Rooms are available for anyone wishing to stay over at the rate of £70.00 B&B based on a twin or double room.

For reservations call the Holiday Inn, Doncaster on 01302 799988.

AEOF2016_Doncaster.indd 1

Doncaster Holiday Inn (A1 (M) Jct 36) Warmsworth, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN4 9UX Tel: 01302 799988 Fax: 01302 310197 ROAD: A1 (M) Junction 36 to A630 (T) Rotherham RAIL: Doncaster Station 3 miles AIR: Doncaster Airport 12 miles DIRECTIONS TO DONCASTER HOLIDAY INN From the A1 (M) Southbound/northbound leave at Junction 36. Take the A630 in the direction of Rotherham. The hotel entrance is 100 yards on the left-hand side.

From the M1 M1 Junction 32 to M18. M18 Junction 2 A1 (M) northbound. Take Junction 36 for Rotherham/Doncaster (A630). Turn left at the roundabout (signposted Rotherham).

The hotel entrance is 100 yards on the left-hand side.

From the M62 M62 Junction 33 to A1 southbound. Leave at Junction 36. Take the A630 in the direction of Rotherham. The hotel entrance is 100 yards on the left-hand side.

From Doncaster Town Centre Take A630 to Rotherham until you reach the A1 roundabout, go straight over the roundabout and the entrance to the hotel is 100 yards on the left-hand side.

03/12/2015 11:11