Camping In Pennards

[Mesuri]

I just have a quick question aimed mainly for the the people who have camped in Pennard Hill but also for those who usually park their car over the weekend. I managed to stay in Pennards last year (arrived by coach) as I went with a group that managed to set up my tent for me when they arrived late Tuesday. So my question is, what sort of time am i best off arriving at one of the car parks to get good access to Pennards hill AND what is the procedure once we have parked? Is there a queue already forming on the Tuesday night that we will have to join? 

Thanks in advance!

[PFests]

Last 2 years we've arrived just before midnight and got in line pretty much straight away but with no real hurry. By early morning the line is apparently ridiculous but both times got through the gates within about 20 mins of opening. Approach from the East and ask the stewards which way to go when you enter the car parks if given the choice like I had, I believe it's gate B that's the closest to Pennard's if memory serves. Ample space to set up your tent or a few with mates when I've done this past two times, hoping for the third should luck be on my side next week..!

[pie_and_a_pint]

1 hour ago, PFests said:

Last 2 years we've arrived just before midnight and got in line pretty much straight away but with no real hurry. By early morning the line is apparently ridiculous but both times got through the gates within about 20 mins of opening. Approach from the East and ask the stewards which way to go when you enter the car parks if given the choice like I had, I believe it's gate B that's the closest to Pennard's if memory serves. Ample space to set up your tent or a few with mates when I've done this past two times, hoping for the third should luck be on my side next week..!

No, for Pennards, approach from the West, park in the West car parks and head for Gate D. 

Obviously you can walk to Pennards from any gate you like, but you will be carrying all of your kit across the site. If you have to approach from the East and park in East car parks, gate C is closer to Pennards and a much easier walk. 

Edited April 4, 2016 by pie_and_a_pint

[Mesuri]

I'll be sure to note down the instructions for arriving from the west side then, yellow or orange car parks seem best in that case (if we're given the choice).

I also heard somewhere that they don't allow you to sleep in your car while you're there (i can't remember the source) Is that true? If so I'm sure it'd be fine if we were taking shifts for a couple of hours each right? As with last year, i expect to be way to excited to sleep much on the Monday so it would be good to get a rest and break up the agonising wait for the gates to open. Failing that i guess thats what I've brought a sleeping bag for and will sleep in the queue if possible! 

[pie_and_a_pint]

You won't get to choose where you park. Head for West car parks, then park where you're put. Gates open at 8am but some folk will queue from well before that.

I doubt the stewards will notice or care if you sleep in your car overnight on Tuesday - indeed, lots of people will before joining the queue in the early hours.

However while the festival is actually on (I.e Wednesday to Sunday) the rule is no sleeping in cars - that's probably what you've heard about. It's for security / safety reasons. 

Edited April 4, 2016 by pie_and_a_pint

[TheBurns]

We wandered down to the front of the queue at gate D last year when we arrived(around 11:30) and the front lot of people had started queuing at 8, absolute madness if you ask me!

[pie_and_a_pint]

20 minutes ago, TheBurns said:

We wandered down to the front of the queue at gate D last year when we arrived(around 11:30) and the front lot of people had started queuing at 8, absolute madness if you ask me!

Madness indeed! It was absolutely freeeeezing cold on the Tuesday night last year - colder than I've ever remembered it being at Glastonbury. I was already on site and had to go back to my tent for extra jumpers by about 10pm, and I woke up cold in the night even in my three-season sleeping pod. I'm amazed anyone managed to survive the queue overnight :/

[Mesuri]

Well we definitely won't be queueing from 8pm thats for sure! We're thinking on arriving around 1am and taking 2 hours each in the car (there will be 3 of us) giving us an hour to prep for when the gates open.

Another quick question, have any of you decided to make a couple of trips before? Our group has a history of arguing all the way to the campsite because of struggling with taking all our stuff in with us in one go so we were gonna take in all our tents and some alcohol first, set up tents, get a couple of drinks down us and then make another run (with one person waiting with the tents). If people have done this before is it best to wait later in the evening to let the queues go down? 

 

Thanks for all your replies so far it is a massive help! 

[pie_and_a_pint]

A very sensible idea! Get yourself and your tents on site, get your camping spot sorted and tents up, then head back to the car for the rest of the crap. You don't have to re-queue to enter - you can bypass the queue and go straight through to have your wristband/ticket/pass-out checked at the gate. The queues will be gone by lunchtime anyway.

No real need necessarily to have a person 'waiting with the tents' by the way. Once they're pitched, they're pitched. No-one's going to nick 'em. (Although obviously your valuables including most of your cash should go into the lockups as soon as you can, rather than being in your tent)