Camping / Travelling questions

[Daveth]

Hi everyone!

First time Glastonbury attendee this year and I'm finally starting to get excited !

Just had a couple of questions which will ease my worrying brain and put me at rest hopefully.

Firstly, I'm driving to the site this year and having had a look on the Glastonbury website I'm still a little unclear on the route I should take -

• From London: M3 then A303 and A37. (Sat Nav TA11 7DP).
• From the North East: A1 or M1, M25 to M3 (Junction 12), then A303 and A37. (Sat Nav TA11 7DP)
• From the Midlands: Preferably M40 and A34 to A303 and A37. (Sat Nav TA11 7DP)
• From the North West: M6, M5 to A39 (Junction 23) then A361. (Sat Nav BA6 9XE)
• From Wales: M4, M5 to A39 (as above) (Sat Nav BA6 9XE)
• For more local traffic using the A37 North or A361 East (Sat Nav BA4 4LY)

I would say the closest of those is the Midlands to me but I'm actually East Anglia (Kettering). Having checked on Google maps it tells me that the best way would be M6/A39 so my question is, which gate will this lead me to?

Judging from the map it appears I will be either Gate A or D, taking this on board where would be the best place for us to camp?

We have all been to festivals before, although all of us are Glastonbury virgins! So we would be looking for a field that has some nightlife, but not non-stop - and preferably not in close proximity to any toilets!

Finally, I have no qualms about driving through the night in order to get a good pitch spot but what I don't like is sitting in traffic for 4 hours.

I know that all years are different, but taking into consideration around a 3 hour driving time, would I be likely to miss traffic if I set off around midnight on Tuesday? Or is this far too early?



'Too long, didn't read' Version:

Where is the best place to camp for 4 party animals (But the type who like to go bed around 3am)?

Am I likely to queue for hours around the festival area if I arrive for 3am on Wednesday morning or so?

[Hash4Cash]

its mot likly that you will be going in through PGD, as PGA is at the bus station, and you will be driving down the 'red' route.

Ive no idea what the traffic will be like, as im on site from sunday. But it seemed to be flowing well all night last year.

Every camping feild has a number of toilets in them, some have portaloos, some have high drops, some have long drops and any combination thereof. As to weather you are going to be near the toilets or not, that depend where in the field you put your tent.

As to which field....

[Daveth]

Having read the driving section on the official website more closely it advises I come from A37 due to significantly lower ques so I will be taking this route, which will be the blue route.

This will bring me out on the other side of the site so I was thinking about aiming for Row Mead as I've heard it mentioned a few times - As long as it isn't one of the fields that traditionally flood each year I will be happy!


edit:
Looks like it's between

Row Mead
Hawkwell
Michael's Mead
Kidney Mead

as these are all closest to the Blue route

[Hash4Cash]

row mead i good, you can see the pyramid from there, hawkwell is hilly, mikes mead is very hilly, but there is little chance of flooding there, kidney mead is good for the cider bus but has in the past flooded.

[glastomad]

'Too long, didn't read' Version:

Where is the best place to camp for 4 party animals (But the type who like to go bed around 3am)?

Am I likely to queue for hours around the festival area if I arrive for 3am on Wednesday morning or so?

I'd say Pennards/dance field and No probably not

[andic]

You may not queue for hours if you arrive 3am Dave but you won't get in - gates don't open til 8am. There's no difference really between sitting in your car in the car park for hours, or in a traffic jam - both bad!

[Nelly]

You may not queue for hours if you arrive 3am Dave but you won't get in - gates don't open til 8am. There's no difference really between sitting in your car in the car park for hours, or in a traffic jam - both bad!

The difference is you can have a few drinks, use a reasonable toilet and have a little party with your neighbours!

[Daveth]

The difference is you can have a few drinks, use a reasonable toilet and have a little party with your neighbours!

I would much rather be sat in and around my car not driving than stop-start in a queue, as strange as that sounds!

I'm probably over-thinking the whole thing, just wish I could cat-nap through this week!

[Daveth]

I have decided we're aiming for Big Mead first, preferably at the top of the campsite if it's hilly (whilst maintaining a fair distance from the toilets hopefully!), and our backup campsites are Hawkwell, Michael Mead and Hitchin.

Now I have no idea how long that walk is, I'm assuming we'll be entering in gate B so the benefit is it's one relatively straight walk. I plan on leaving the vast swathes of alcohol in the car and make another trip once we're pitched

Decided I'm gonna set off around 12pm / 1am Tuesday, don't mind sitting in my car for a couple of hours - I think I'll be too excited to sleep anyway!!

[Liz2021]

Were camping in Top Webbs Ash we hope, its where we have been for the last 2 years now - slightly scared though as it will flood if the heavens open. Will try and find a slopey bit in the middle to avoid paths people use at either side and then pray if its a slight slope the rain water will flow down to the bottom.....not too sure this will work tho...

[Nelly]

IT'S NOT GOING TO RAIN! (much)

[Liz2021]

IT'S NOT GOING TO RAIN! (much)

You're right Nelly positive thoughts only and preperation for all weathers . I will do a little dance to the weather Gods when I arrive to try and get good weather for us all