When to arrive (taking a toddler)

Hexa-dB · #1 11-05-2010, 01:07 PM

Hello - I'm new to this board but my wife and I have been going to Glasto since 1994/5

This year we're taking our 2 1/2 year old son with us and I'm wondering when the best time is to arrive.

Last year we set off on the Wednesday morning and got caught in terrible traffic. The whole journey took about 11 hours which wasn't much fun - we also drove past the first car park entrance to get closer to the family camping field but it was full by then so we had to lug our stuff across the whole site to another family area. Obviously, once in and set up we all had an amazing time

Our current plan is to leave in the early hours of Weds morning and aim to get parked up by 7am or so, in time to walk down to the gates for 8. Does that sound at all sensible? Or should we try and sleep in the car on Tuesday night?

Any other tips for taking a toddler would be useful too, we were pretty much ok last year but I'm not sure if our son will be as tolerant of the queues as he was last year...

laraharrey · #2 13-05-2010, 09:09 PM

Just remember that if you leave in the early hrs you will be shattered, where as your child will be fine because they will have slept in the car! Can you afford to stay the night in a b&b in glasto or street on the Tues night so that you all are refreshed for the weekend?

Hexa-dB · #3 14-05-2010, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by laraharrey

Just remember that if you leave in the early hrs you will be shattered, where as your child will be fine because they will have slept in the car! Can you afford to stay the night in a b&b in glasto or street on the Tues night so that you all are refreshed for the weekend?

Hmm we could do. I seems silly as we're only 3 hours away but it could make a big difference I guess.

Good point about us being knackered and the little one being wide awake the next day. We're hoping that we can get enough sleep on tuesday evening to get us there safely, then take turns napping in the tent once it's up. The main thing is that we're awake enough to drive there safely.

Mart44 · #4 14-05-2010, 12:33 PM

Last year we found a campsite about a mile away for the Tuesday night. Set off early and were on site within an hour. Dont know if this would be an option for you but its a possibility.

crazybird79 · #5 14-05-2010, 02:42 PM

We setting off on tues after teatime rush, were up north in manchester. not had many probs with traffic in or out (as of yet!!!) last year we set off at 3am, arrived at 6am and managed to get straight on carpark

But cause we takin the kids this year, i was really worried bout camping space as we have been told cockmill meadow fills very quickly.
so we have had family chat and decided that if we have to sleep in car then so be it !!!!! ha ha
as they say......TUESDAY IS THE NEW WEDNESDAY !!!!!!!!

stinkywitch · #6 14-05-2010, 03:50 PM

we are travelling down in the early hours on wed morning, we also coming from oop north (W. Yorkshire). Last year we set off at 3:30 am ish. Discussions with Whatme are continuing because he wants to go on the tuesday now and I dont (getting old and I do not fancy the idea of sleeping in a full car and then 5 days of partying

)

Hexa-dB · #7 17-05-2010, 02:39 PM

I think we've got a solution - We've found a hotel in Shepton Mallet to stay on the tuesday night.

After doing a load of overtime lately I thought we'd splash out but it does feel very decadent.
Now we just have to make sure we can stop the water pooling on the top of our tunnel tent.. (just as a precaution, obviously it's going to be full sunshine all week!) then grind the rust off the wheelbarrow and give it a lick of paint.