Any idea which roads are closeD?

Cans O' Cannrahan · #1 10-05-2011, 05:00 PM

Hello all.

I've been me fair few times like to the big G and used the old brum brum before. However, one of me lads from 2009 left Bristol at half seven and didnt get to to the festival car park until 9pm! As I say i've driven before and never had that many problems but I was wondering does anybody know which roads are closed or have one way systems in place so I can plan me route nice n' tidy like. I'll be coming from Wiltshire, and want to use the gate (blue?) from the A37 but maybe approach from the south (using a303?), but was worried that some of the little pumpy roads that I can spy on google maps will be closeD and therefore couldn't do a little snipe through the ancient lanes to get back round like?

Sorry for long winded message.....many thanks!

Cans

not long now, excited to F!!!

tort · #2 10-05-2011, 05:45 PM

2009 was exceptional for a number of reasons but the fact they open the car parks on the Tuesday night these days has alleviated a lot of the problems your mate encountered that year. I'm not sure how possible it is to wriggle round some of the backroads round East Pennard but I would say going up the A371 to Shepton Mallet and then back down the A37 from the North may save a bit of time if it's congested.

Lou's other half · #3 10-05-2011, 06:10 PM

There's some stuff in the Fine Guide under Directions to Car Parks, including stuff for SatNavs:

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.u...sportGuide.pdf

Hope it helps!

RickySSmith · #4 10-05-2011, 06:43 PM

Back in 2009, that big road coming from the south with the Quarry on it? I don't know what the road is called, but theres some massive concrete works place, you will probably be on it if you go past stonehenge on your way to the festival.

Anyway, we were stuck on there for HOURS and a kind tractor driver told us to turn off that road and take a left away from the massive queues of traffic and there was an amazing shortcut which brought us out just near the showground. That tractor driver and Google maps on the iPhone saved the day, must have cut off about 4 hours of stop start traffic...

I know that probably doesn't help at all but if you know the road I mean you can probs find it.

Saying that though - last year was an absolute breeze what with the carparks being open the night before and that, so I shouldn't worry

Cans O' Cannrahan · #5 10-05-2011, 10:56 PM

cheers bluds

Glasto-worker · #6 15-05-2011, 12:24 PM

There are some short cuts although its a gamble as while one end is not blocked at the other end it may be blocked.

I used to drive to it so over the years worked out a quick way that missed the traffic but the last time I was going down my favourite unlisted road and was puzzled to see so many vehicles displaying a Glasto badge going up the road I was driving down.

It was only at the end did I spot the Police turning drivers back - lucky enough as I was working and was able to show proof the Police let me though although everyone else were not so lucky.

So it does not matter what fancy high tech equipment you may use they still will not tell you if there is a block in place.

I now use a WBC Staff Coach which gets us there Tuesday afternoon - no traffic - no hassle and no walking as it sails in and stops straight outside our Crew Camping area.

I used to enjoy driving to it as it made a nice little drive and I was in no hurry as it did not matter if I was delayed but now the WBC has a policy to get all the staff inside a day before the gates open it makes sense using the coach rather than driving myself.

At the end of the day - you can be lucky and slip though but as more and more people use that route then the Police may decide to close it down.

Good luck.

Mark Collins · #7 16-05-2011, 05:57 PM

This should help you plan your route
http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.u...Management.pdf

Cans O' Cannrahan · #8 17-05-2011, 02:05 PM

Nice one Mark pal.

That document raises one question though. It seems to suggest you can choose which gate you can head for, as they'll be signposting along the way, obviously depending on the direction you come from. In my past experience I seem to remember you being directed/forced to go down a particular road to a particular gate, or is this not the case?

Sorry, I realise this subject is pretty dull! Just being delusional in thinking i can beat the system like.

Liz2021 · #9 20-05-2011, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by Cans O' Cannrahan

Nice one Mark pal.

That document raises one question though. It seems to suggest you can choose which gate you can head for, as they'll be signposting along the way, obviously depending on the direction you come from. In my past experience I seem to remember you being directed/forced to go down a particular road to a particular gate, or is this not the case?

Sorry, I realise this subject is pretty dull! Just being delusional in thinking i can beat the system like.

"In my past experience I seem to remember you being directed/forced to go down a particular road to a particular gate, or is this not the case?"

I agree, we have driven the last 2 years (got the coach for the first one) and both times we have been directed to the blue route/East Car Parks.

Looking at the bigger picture now from reading this thread it may be that we came into the festival the wrong way? I have now printed off a map using Google Maps and hope that we will be able to get to the West Car Parks without being directed the other way?

Were planning on travelling down the Tuesday night so I hope by going through Glastonbury town itself we will get to one of the West Car Parks, no matter which one really as close to Gate A or D as possible! Pref gate A!! Knowing us though we will probably get lost in the dark and park in the East car parks as usual!! ha ha ha

Lou's other half · #10 20-05-2011, 03:43 PM

It definitely depends where you approach from. We're coming from London, but want to park in the West car park to be near to Dairy Ground. The direct route would bring us in from the east and then we'd be forced into the East car park with a looooong walk to our campsite (Chris, are you reading this?!) So we're going down the M4, then south down the M5 so we can turn off (at junction 23, I think, for the A39) and drive in from the west. Actually being motorway coming from London it probably is the quickest route, but it's not the most direct by any means!*

Planning is everything... until you actually get on site and then it all goes to pot (so t'speak)

Oh it's so close I can taste it...

* Please note that this level of organisation is exclusively reserved for Glastonbury Festivals and in no way should be interpreted as a reflection of my true ability to maintain a normal day-to-day existence. All rights to remain a disorganised muppet for the other 359 days a year are reserved by the author. Always read the small print. The value of your tent can go down as well as up. Never, ever, eat the yellow snow. And hey... let's be careful out there

Liz2021 · #11 20-05-2011, 05:04 PM

"So we're going down the M4, then south down the M5 so we can turn off (at junction 23, I think, for the A39) and drive in from the west. Actually being motorway coming from London it probably is the quickest route, but it's not the most direct by any means!"

Were going to take the M4, M25, M3, A371, A37 and then A361

as you can see I have put a lot of thought into and Google mapped it! ha ha

I just hope that we get there and get into the West car parks...I will be siging the whole way down so even if we dont I dont think there will be much that could dampen my mood on Tuesday 21st. I will be over excited to say the least!!

Will do our best to bribe the stewards at the Hospitality car parks too!

ha ha ha ha

al_coholic · #12 21-05-2011, 07:52 AM

If anyone is bored you can use Street View on Google Maps to see your whole route, I did it last year because I had a campervan and wanted to make sure I could get down so back roads ok.

Hash4Cash · #13 21-05-2011, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Liz2021

"So we're going down the M4, then south down the M5 so we can turn off (at junction 23, I think, for the A39) and drive in from the west. Actually being motorway coming from London it probably is the quickest route, but it's not the most direct by any means!"

Were going to take the M4, M25, M3, A371, A37 and then A361

as you can see I have put a lot of thought into and Google mapped it! ha ha

I just hope that we get there and get into the West car parks...I will be siging the whole way down so even if we dont I dont think there will be much that could dampen my mood on Tuesday 21st. I will be over excited to say the least!!

Will do our best to bribe the stewards at the Hospitality car parks too!

ha ha ha ha

you missed the A303 out there