First Timer Advice Needed

[Chrisbristol]

Hello. I am attending for my first time this year and have a few questions I hope everyone can give me some advice on.

I know it's ages yet but obviously I'm looking forward to it and have wanted to go for years, and like to be uber prepared!!! I could never get it organised, so this year I decided to go on my own. Luckily 7 of my pals all chose to join me! There are a few questions so any bit advice from you would be great. We are all in our twenties if that makes a difference to you answers. I realise there is a 'suck it and see' element about doing something like this but we just want an idea really.

Firstly I would like some advice on tents. Would you recommend 2 six man tents (4 in each), or 4 three man tents (2 in each). We have a few tents between us and also don't mind buying another if we need. Obviously would like to be as comfortable and convenient as possible.

We live in Bristol but two live in the big smoke so are coming to us first. We were looking to drive down on Wednesday morning as early as poss. Is this a good idea? is it heaving? (I realise it is busy most of the time).

Where is a decent camping spot if we are there fairly early on in the setting up stage? I have heard the site is absolutely massive and don't really know the whereabouts but there are web sites with guides and directions. When would you recommend packing up? Time is not a worry for us so we can go whenever. Is it best to wait until a lot have people have packed up and left? Or get strait on it?

How much do people recommend we take with us. We have read the checklist etc on this forum. But would you say - take more than we might need to be sure, or try to tavel as light as possible. We have got a festival trolley so can put heavier items like booze on that. How far is the walk to camping fields, half an hour?

What are the toilets like? I have heard some very disturbing stories about them!!! A mate from football said he takes a single sent with a makeshift loo from a deck chair and then disposes of the black bags. This sounds a little over the top but is that a better option, or shall we just brave it?

I think that just about covers it for us. Hopefully you can give us some good advice. We are massively looking forward to it and I have never heard a single person say, well, it's alright. Everybody comes back having absolutely loved it. Thanks everyone

[Big Vern]

first time for me to fella, cant wait! I just wanted to also ask, i appreciate you can't take glass, but i assume cans of beer are fine?

[coma girl]

Cans of beer are fine.

Toilets are nowhere near as bad as some people make them out to be, I'd advise avoiding the portaloos though. Stick to the long drops and you'll be fine.

Try this site Glastoearth for a map or google for the fine guide

[alfoir]

Tent wise - whatever you feel comfortable carrying. With three tents you are more likely to create a "circle" with all three tents pointing inwards to a central area which is good for sitting around and having a few drinks and banter.

Driving wise, we drove from Cheltenham and came off the M5 on to the A39, which was mobbed. We took an excellent decision to hit the small country roads leading off from the A39 and skipped more than half the queue, spitting us out near the car park entrance (type in Woodlands to Google maps, it's just below West Pennard - that's the road we came out from). Saved us hours! So I'd recommend sticking to smaller country roads as much as possible.

Booze wise, I usually take two boxes of wine (lighter, less space, and a good amount of booze) along with a 24 pack. I'll remove the bag from the wine box and use this around the site as it's easy to carry about, mainly when it's difficult to get to a bar or when you're in a silent disco or something!! It's definitely worth trying the different bars around the site - lots to choose from depending on your tastes! The 24 pack I keep in the tent for drinking around the campsite.

Toilets are fine, bring some toilet roll and a small thing of hand sanitizer. Wet wipes are also good!

Camping wise, depends what type of atmosphere you are looking for. We had a great spot in the Dance Field, it can be a bit of a trek getting in to it from the car parks but it's a great spot for getting around the site once you are set up. Depends on how bothered you are about the initial carrying of your stuff. There's a good map on the Glasto website information section, have a look at that and depending on what type of areas you want to be near you can refer to that.

Hope that helps!

[Chrisbristol]

Great reply thanks. The only other question I have is what sort of time did you start hitting the chaos? If I have to leave when it's still dark then so be it. Thanks

[Madyokel]

Be there early.

Preferably staying in the carparks overnight if you want a good spot to camp.

The q's at entry gates will be long.

Store any valuables in the lockups.

Don't take anything that you cannot afford to loose

The festival is what you make it.. Enjoy.

Grumpyhack says--- No Rain

[Fingle]

I have been to Glasto a few time now and my advice would be to go Tuesday night and sleep in the car as the ques were huge when the gates opened. We qued at ped gate C from 4.30am and were quite near the front, took us about half an hour to walk to where we camped and were set up having a beer at 9.30am.

I would say take the 3 man tents for 2 of you as four bodies in a tent after not washing maybe a bit smelly especially if its as warm as last year.

As someone said take only what you can afford to lose, use the lock ups and carry all cash, valuables etc on you at all times.

Set off later on the Monday is the quickest way out I have found or between 3 and 6 on Monday morning.

Pack as light as possible I never need as many clothes as I end up taking.

The toilets are fine but be prepared they do smell but if you use wet wipes and be careful its okay, just breath through your mouth.Also the flushing toilets are good at the farm and they have a nice big sink/trough thing there when you need a wash.

Get to know your neighbours everyone is really friendly from what I have found.

When I first went to Glasto at 17 I took a child's sleeping bag and no jumpers or a coat - do not do this!! lol

You will have a great time and don't worry too much as if you forget something you can buy most things on site albeit a little pricey.

Hope your first Glasto is as memorable as mine as I always want to go back!

Have fun! :-)

[tjefffrench]

Tents- Big as you can carry

Arrival Time- Early as you can get there, more time to relax at glasto, get your tickets worth

Camping Spot- This is up to you, i lucked out with a sweet spot near the Park

Packing up- If time is not an issue, make it a lazy day monday, slowly pack up, sit in traffic and discuss your awesome weekend

Shit your going to bring- Check the weather before you come, if its going to rain bring that kinda shit, but always bring something at least something for all weather

Loos- Don't be the guy who shits in a bag, the loos are ok at glasto. Lots of people using them over the weekend is never going to end well, but they are ok for what they are.

[alfoir]

Great reply thanks. The only other question I have is what sort of time did you start hitting the chaos? If I have to leave when it's still dark then so be it. Thanks

Edited January 10, 2011 by alfoir

[cejx]

Aim to get on site for 7am - as you only live in Bristol, I'd make the most of a decent night sleep rather than slumming it in the car overnight.

Tents - whatever works for you. Me and my other half share a 3 man.

Travel light - you won't wear half have what you lug on to site - I checked my walk on 'map my run' and it was just over 2 miles from the car to where we camped - up and down hill! Its tiring.

Toilets are absolutely fine. Don't see what the fuss is about nowadays. However, take Travel Johns for that annoying loo trip in the middle of the night. They are a godsend!

Glasto earth has brilliant write ups on the diff campsites. I've done Pennards for years, but we're moving to Dairy next year.

[Milbert]

For toilet paper, I find rolls too bulky to carry, so take loads of packets of pocket tissues instead, and make sure I always have a full packet on me. And when buying food, it's always worth taking a small wadge of napkins from the stall for emergency loo roll use.

[Ci Sgoti]

Use the lock-ups they also give away toilet rolls. These are free facilities but they do take donations which I think are worth a generous donation considering its 5 nights and its open 24 hours. One top tip I got from another thread was to take a photo of the receipt they give you just in case you lose it.

Like Cejx I used to do Pennards and its great for 24 hour goings on but I now like a bit of sleep so have been going to the Dairy area which is a bit quieter but close enough to the action.

Re: Tents I used to go on me tod and meet up with a biggish group so I only needed a small one-man tent as we had an area in the middle of the tents to have a fire etc for the evenings. Recently persuaded the other half to go now so have upgraded to 3-men tent for the two of us as she always takes too much. The one thing I never leave behind is my blow-up mattress/earplugs/wetwipes. I've estimated I get at least 1.5 hours extra sleep per morning due to the mattress and earplugs.

I come from North Wales and pass Bristol and the past two years has been a bit of a nightmare due to traffic (2009 there was a crash and 2010 was just hell, probably due to the football match and I didn't get my tent setup til after that had started) I aimed to get to the carpark for 7-8am but got stuck in traffic just as we got off the M5. I think I'll have to bite the bullet and get in the carpark earlier this year. Using the satnav and minor roads could get you stuck due to closed roads.

Edited January 10, 2011 by Ci Sgoti

[Chrisbristol]

Thanks, im trying to gather as much info/guidance as poss. Going to try Glasto earth as well, as a few people have suggested it

[rabid]

As someone said take only what you can afford to lose, use the lock ups and carry all cash, valuables etc on you at all times.

[coma girl]

The lock ups are great, we camped very near some of them so used them a lot. I'd also advise spreading your money about your person, at least if somebody dips your pocket they won't get the lot.

[grumpyhack]

I always wear a lightweight gilet. It's got 13 pockets, most of which are zipped. If a pickpocket has a go they've only got a 1 in 13 chance of hitting lucky. Also, if you want to be really keen you can put a safety pin through the zip and that's pretty secure.

[kelw]

Good advice but I'd say keep all cash, valuables etc in the lockups and only take out what you need for the day.

[grumpyhack]

My main advice for a first timer is that you'll be amazed by the scale and size of the site - nearly six miles from one end to the other and covering an area the size of the city of Bath. You'll walk miles, up and down lots of hills so make sure you've got really comfortable footwear or walking boots. Avoid wellies.

Pace yourself. Explore as much as you can. As has been said so many times, Glasto is about so much more than music. Enjoy the Green Fields, try the wonderful variety of food and make lots of friends.

[Milbert]

I have a pair of festival trousers which are combats with zipped pockets, I break my money into two wallets and keep them on me at all times. When I sleep, the wallets are kept zipped in the trousers and the trousers are at the bottom of my sleeping bag.

I keep all my cards and an emergency 50 quid in the property lock-ups.

[rabid]

How much on average a day would you spend?? My first time also this year and am wondering how much cash to take.

[grumpyhack]

Plus make sure your toenails are properly trimmed, it's amazing the difference that makes!

[Milbert]

How true. This may look pretty but would be useless at Glasto

[kelw]

I don't plan on taking food really. Maybe cup a soups or noodles. I want to experience as much as I can so will most definitely eat out and about.

[Milbert]

The only food I take is a couple of boxes of breakfast bars to stave off early morning blood sugar crashes.

[lucyginger]

I've done the last 3 glasto's and have managed on a tenner a day for food, easy. We always take our own booze, so no need to buy that, other than the occassional cold pint!

I've done it on £50 for the weekend before, you just gotta be careful!