Camping. Where and why?

[cham08]

Most of the time there is only a couple of minutes wait at the lock ups we have used. Have probably used most of the closest ones over the past 2 festivals.

[The Placid Casual]

Oxlyers or pylon

[jamesrfisher]

Once we leave the tent in the morning we don't go back until its time for bed.

Take a stash of beer and evening clothes in a bag, The Guardian bags are good for this.

One reason we don't mind camping on the outskirts, Baileys since 2008. Get some peace and quiet for a sleep, chilled in morning.

[robot86]

Any reviews on Big Ground in recent years? My favourite is Dairy, but coming in on Gate C means it's a massive track and don't fancy that this year so thinking Big Ground.

Atmosphere? Noise? On a slope? Toilet provision, etc? Also - when is it likely to be full by? Any help appreciated!

[ColdSideofthePillow]

I'm still thinking Oxylers as I'll be arriving from birmingham on s coach that leaves my lovely manor at 545.

It does seem a fair old trek from gate A though, it'll just be me myself and I so hopeful of getting to camp where I'd prefer to.

God I'm excited.

[kalifire]

Get some peace and quiet for a sleep, chilled in morning.

That does sound blissful. Location aside, Pennards is a lively, noisy place to camp.

[monkey1989]

2 years in oxylers but to be honest im not fussed Id camp anwhere this year

[ivan]

Any reviews on Big Ground in recent years? My favourite is Dairy, but coming in on Gate C means it's a massive track and don't fancy that this year so thinking Big Ground.

Atmosphere? Noise? On a slope? Toilet provision, etc? Also - when is it likely to be full by? Any help appreciated!

We have camped in Big Ground since 2002. Would not camp anywhere else.

Now that the 24hour reggae tent has closed it is a lot quieter , would not say much of an atmosphere - its just people chilling round tents.

It does fill up pretty quick although it is not as rammed as it used to be and there is still usually space for the odd small tent all weekend.

The slope is not a problem to be honest .

We camp not far from the cafe just off from muddy lane with the junction for the entrance to the kidz field and i have to say the views when it is getting dark on the Wednesday night are fab as you can virtually see all of the site , but certainly to the stone circle.

Toilets are fine - should you require a home from home pot loo with seat its not much of a walk up towards the cash machines where they have loads of those loo's.

If you get your spot right it is possible to watch bands on the pyramid stage via the screens but there is an audio lag of a few seconds.

I am usually late to bed so quite often i am woken up by the first band on or the standard " 1,2 - 1,2 "coming from the Pyramid .

Its a fair walk back from the Stone Circle which is probably the furthest point from Big Ground but we love it walking back through the green fields , markets , Jazz World after a long night out etc - its Glasto so its never a chore !

[Ex_ollie]

We where in Dairy last year but it was a bit of a ball ache walking back to the tent after a solid 6 hours dancing in SE corner. It was fun there though and had plenty of space for a controversial gazebo covering our little campfire but keen to get a bit closer this year.

So, until GF put an outright ban on gazebos, would we be ok to set up in Pennerds Hill or Park Home? We will have 3, four man tents so there will be a small space in the middle that won't be much use to anyone else wanting to put up a tent. Are we likely to be told to take it down even if the space it covers is tiny?

[robot86]

We have camped in Big Ground since 2002. Would not camp anywhere else.

Now that the 24hour reggae tent has closed it is a lot quieter , would not say much of an atmosphere - its just people chilling round tents.

It does fill up pretty quick although it is not as rammed as it used to be and there is still usually space for the odd small tent all weekend.

The slope is not a problem to be honest .

We camp not far from the cafe just off from muddy lane with the junction for the entrance to the kidz field and i have to say the views when it is getting dark on the Wednesday night are fab as you can virtually see all of the site , but certainly to the stone circle.

Toilets are fine - should you require a home from home pot loo with seat its not much of a walk up towards the cash machines where they have loads of those loo's.

If you get your spot right it is possible to watch bands on the pyramid stage via the screens but there is an audio lag of a few seconds.

I am usually late to bed so quite often i am woken up by the first band on or the standard " 1,2 - 1,2 "coming from the Pyramid .

Its a fair walk back from the Stone Circle which is probably the furthest point from Big Ground but we love it walking back through the green fields , markets , Jazz World after a long night out etc - its Glasto so its never a chore !

Thanks for this! Awesome, I think you've made my decision. Big Ground it is!

[Daniel_White]

First year I went we arrived late and got stuck camping in South Park which was an absolute mission to get to and from anywhere so avoid at all costs!

Camped at the top of Lower Mead the past 3 years in a row, great little spot next to the water troff. Arriving at the spot 8-8:30 gives you the whole field to choose from which is glorious, love being set up by 9 watching the field fill up. Decent central(ish) close to the bigger stages but quite a trek to Sangri-La/Stone Circle etc.

Would like to try out Pennard Hill but with Arcadia being so close to there now it puts me off a bit having drum & bass pumping out at 2am.

[Untz]

Would like to try out Pennard Hill but with Arcadia being so close to there now it puts me off a bit having drum & bass pumping out at 2am.

Yeah, if you're wanting to sleep at 2am then Pennards, Park Home and I guess Dairy is not the place to be. Even without Arcadia you've got the noise of the Park and the noise from fellow campers, of which the vast majority won't be asleep at that time.

[Avalon_Fields]

Big Ground is my recommendation, I keep thinking I will check other areas to camp somewhere else next time, but it's a super location. Just don't be lazy and end up watching the Pyramid stage from afar!

[Bobs]

Going to make a return to Oxylers this year.

We went there last year, and it's just so convenient. Flashbacks to 2010.

I personally think Pennard is overrated anyway.

[robot86]

Yeah, I like the idea of waking up to the Pyramid stage starting but there's no way I'd stay there all day. I spend a lot of time marching across the site to every different stage to see something. I should probably chill out a bit, but there is always so much I need to see!

[Purple aki squat]

Oxylers every year.

I think my homing mechanism would fail if I went anywhere else.

Ended up with a group of 20 mancs last year who were absolutely sound. If you're lucky with the neighbours its a great place to camp

[yellowsnow]

I've been looking at Glasto Map and I'm not sure when the aerial image was taken but you can get a sense of how densely packed some of the campsites are compared to others. The northwest part of the site would be good for late comers by the looks of things, like Darble, Pylon, Bushy etc. That seems to be my preference at the moment anyway!

We usually take everything we need for the day and might stop by once during the day to top up on booze, jumpers etc but that depends on timings of bands, distance and all that.

Edit: Where would you all say the middle of the site is (excluding campsites)? Trying to find a good radius away from the middle of the site to camp!

Edited March 28, 2015 by yellowsnow

[Wanderlei]

Tom's Field. It's spacey, there are showers, and there's free food.

[saintfletch]

Always end up camping at the point we can no longer haul our crap any further so have never camped in the same place twice. Got a good pitch half way up pennards a couple of years ago close ish to the path near a small gate to the healing fields which was a great location as it was pretty central. Stayed in Oxlyers in 2010, after some initial trouble with the neighbourghs we ended up getting on really well with them. It's close to the railway line so good for access around the site and you can sit outside your tent and listen (and partially watch) whoever is on the other stage. Toilets nearby get cleaned regularly as its close to a main stage, so all in all, a good spot.

[sime]

I've camped all over the site over the years. In some ways I miss being up in the party field at Pennards (annoying gas cannister noises aside!) however I now prefer being in lower Bushy Ground, camped by the trees. I like the surroundings, it's closer to the coaches for me and is far enough away from the main drag to get a good nights sleep without being too far from everything too.

[yellowsnow]

Because Oxylers is close to the Other Stage is it generally a safe place to camp? I suppose thefts are rife all over but with it being so close to a stage/popular footpath, how is it?

[ivan]

Although I camp in Big Ground I have never used it to watch bands on the Pyramid.

I tend to prefer The Other Stage - in fact I seemed to be there all weekend last year , the walk never bothers me and I even did it in 2007 after all the mud I still managed to drag myself to watch Chemical Brothers on Other Stage in the pissing rain.

And it was a walk from Big Ground to Other Stage when your are knee deep in mud !

[jamesrfisher]

I've camped all over the site over the years. In some ways I miss being up in the party field at Pennards (annoying gas cannister noises aside!) however I now prefer being in lower Bushy Ground, camped by the trees. I like the surroundings, it's closer to the coaches for me and is far enough away from the main drag to get a good nights sleep without being too far from everything too.

How was Bushey last year after the rain? Does it get very boggy or waterlogged?

[helen-8]

How was Bushey last year after the rain? Does it get very boggy or waterlogged?

I've stayed on Bushy 3 times, it's my favourite spot. It's on slightly higher ground so I found it pretty good in last year's weather, the area surrounding our tents wasn't squidgy at all!

Walking over the little hill to the dance village was a bit treacherous though! Lol

[Spindles]

Because Oxylers is close to the Other Stage is it generally a safe place to camp? I suppose thefts are rife all over but with it being so close to a stage/popular footpath, how is it?

I don't think you can single any area out for theft. I have friends who got robbed on 2 consecutive years (twice in one year) in different locations, I've never been robbed, life's like that.

Wherever you camp don't make it easy for thieves, take sensible precautions, use the lockups, sleep with any cash and drugs on your person (pockets or in your sleeping bag), leave your tent in a scrambled mess and it's harder to target valuable items.