I gather the route options will remain top secret, hush hush, mums the word until nearer the time but.....I'd like to book somewhere to kip the night before as per El-an Back that I can dash to straight from work in Suffolk. Would Oswestry travel lodge be as good as anywhere location wise?

WRT (and BB 200) start/finish is about 3 miles from Llanbrynmair (El-an Back start/finish) ... the only reason the January event doesn't start there too is the fact it's January

Does that help or have I made it all sound really confusing ?

Spot on Stu cheers. Starting from FF HQ then. I gather its a wee bit chilly around yours in Jan from your posts.

Another two nights to book on the cheap at Le Loge du Voyager in Oswestry, jewel of the marches.

After all that it was a quid more to stay in Shrewsbury, less of a detour for me.