Best time to travel

[jimbo21]

Hi.
Im new to this, first time we are going, me, mrs and three kids.

Will be travelling from the North down the A1 and eventually onto A37 and then onto the A361 to Pilton, which I thought will avoid Glastonbury itself and get us straight to the festival. Hopefully.

Thing is, eldest Daughter can only get out of School midday on the 22nd, so instead of setting out then in a bid to avoid taffic was thinking of driving down about 11pm wed night. I have done night driving before and will be having some sleep through the day as Im off work then. Others can get some sleep during the journey (Our kids could sleep on a clothes line tbh), the youngest is 8 and hes great at travelling anyway.

Does this sound stupid? Im not sure how long it will take us but looking at RaC routefinder I reckon around 5-6 hrs. This could potentially get us there nicely for 5ish in the morning. Will the roads be empty about this time? Will we be able to get straight in that early?

Thanks for any advice anyone can give me, much apprieciated.

We are all really looking forward to it, cant wait .

[santhony]

You should have no problems rolling in at that time. I night drive every year from Hull, and rolling in at that time on the Wed morning last year was a breeze. Also, if the M1/M42/M5 route is easier for you, travelling via Glastonbury town from the M5 shouldnt be an issue for you either at that time. The only time I didnt night drive I was stuck in traffic for 14hours. Never again!!

[Nelly]

I think you will be arriving Thursday morning won't you?

Welcome by the way

[jimbo21]

Thanks.

Yes we will be arriving thur, about 5am-ish. Would I be able to get straight in then, or do the doors open later on? Not looking forward to 5 hrs solid driving, but would not like 14hrs wait in traffic. My neice went two year ago and set off wed morning and they said people were just getting out the cars and sitting on the side of the roads!!

The forum is great with all the info, I feel like I need to make lists!!

[Cans O' Cannrahan]

The gates open at 8am on the Wednesday, and they stay open until the festival closes so it doesn't matter what time you arrive like.

Cans

[Nelly]

I think you are doing the right thing travelling through the night and arriving early Thursday, I think the worst traffic is Wednesday during the day.

Good Luck!

[jimbo21]

Thanks for the info.

[theandyevans]

Defo driving at night in 09 went dowm on the wed day took us forever to get there this included some very dodgy roads/tracks with caravan on the back needless to say everything inside wes all at one level when we got there ........last year we travelled down on tues night stopped of at bristol morrisons for last orders on gas(LPG). Then had a nice drive through to campervan east nice atmosphere at 2 in the mornin. even better at about 10.00 watching lots of people going past with all sorts of things to carry their stuff in saw one guy with a wheelie bin but hey seems logical. This year going down tues eve again but a bit earlier. Oh and btw anyone tried the ikea pear cider ?.....tastes good

[Glasto-worker]

I used to drive to it so over the years worked out a quick way that missed the traffic going from Shepton Mallet to Pilton but the last time I was going down my favourite unlisted road I 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 was not so lucky.

You will note I have not listed how to find it because even at 5 am the block is likely to be in place.

Assuming you keep to your plan really your best to stick to the official route and its well signposted.

Glastonbury has its own micro climate - the image below was taken at 5.20 am Monday morning near gate D and there is no way I would have driven though that mist - it took about two hours to clear but I do know from the Coach driver that the first time he spotted the mist was about one mile from the production road entry point and up till then it was a perfect clear day.

I have seen them before although still rare.

Clearly you will have to play it by ear but if you encounter a dense mist it would be wise to pull over and wait { as I would imagine most drivers would } as by Thursday morning the roads are not going to be chock a block.

Good luck.

[tort]

Hi Jimbo. Arriving early Thursday morning will mean a stress free entrance both to the Car Parks and at the Pedestrian Gates. As others have said the gates are open 24 hours a day so you should be able to pretty much drive & walk straight in.

With your kids being the age they are I don’t know if you will be wanting to head for the family camping areas, but if you are then the main Family area in Cockmill Meadow will already be full by the time you arrive. The easiest access to the alternative Family Camping area in Wicket Ground is via Pedestrian Gate A so you are best off approaching the site from Glastonbury to the West and using the car parks on that side of the site otherwise you’ll find it will be a considerable hike from car to campsite.

[Sparkey]

Hello lovely glasto people, the misses and I will be leaving London about 7pm on the Tuesday night, driving down the A303 to a B&B in Sparkford which i think is about 10 miles from Pilton, staying the night at the B&B and setting off about 8am on the wednesday morning to drive the remaining 10 miles...hopefully that will get me in without much waiting ?????? what do you lot think ?

[GlastoWatch]

Hello lovely glasto people, the misses and I will be leaving London about 7pm on the Tuesday night, driving down the A303 to a B&B in Sparkford which i think is about 10 miles from Pilton, staying the night at the B&B and setting off about 8am on the wednesday morning to drive the remaining 10 miles...hopefully that will get me in without much waiting ?????? what do you lot think ?

That is probably the worst possible time to arrive. If you want a good camping spot, arrive much earlier, if you want to go straight in without waiting, arrive much later. Personally, I'd opt for the former.

[Sparkey]

Ok thanks ...much earlier it is !!

[robbieflash]

Just an idea, we're heading in from London late Wednesday afternoon.. Probs get to gates for around 8? Anyone given that a shot? What's it like?

[Cans O' Cannrahan]

How's sliding in at around 6.15am on the Wednesday by car? Blazing down the A37 to try for the East car park entrances?



On a separate issue, why would anybody, ever, want to use this picture??




!

[Lou's other half]

On a separate issue, why would anybody, ever, want to use this picture??

The Splash Mob thread?

[jimbo21]

Heres another question, just realised daughter has another exam on the Tuesday, so was thinking of either leaving late Sunday night (altho Id rather not) or waiting til the majority has left on Monday, which will be when? 5pmish or later?

Like Ive said I will do anything to avoid traffic q's.

What would experienced peeps suggest?

[SarahO]

last year we left the site at about 5am Monday morning, having had 3 hours sleep. We drove straight out. No queues at all!

[Lou's other half]

Heres another question, just realised daughter has another exam on the Tuesday, so was thinking of either leaving late Sunday night (altho Id rather not) or waiting til the majority has left on Monday, which will be when? 5pmish or later?

Last year we stuck around until about 4pm on the Monday and then wandered out, drove straight out, no traffic. You do need to think about what the traffic will be like out in the real world as well though, the M25 was pretty packed by the time we hit it. All depends on where you're going