Car Park exit and re entry on Friday late afternoon

[Ballian67]

We are looking at options for my wife to get entry to the festival late Friday afternoon.  I will already have driven down on Tues/Weds and set up etc. However my wife is a teacher and wont be able to arrive from Manchester until late Friday.  Looking at her getting a train to Castle Cary arriving about 5.30 and then shuttle bus, or i take the car out to meet her at Bristol Meads at about 3.30 and then drive back. Not sure which is best option based on likely time from arriving at the castle Cary and waiting for shuttle or how bad the general car traffic is for getting back from Bristol and into the car park.  Am aware that I will end up parking somewhere new when I return but wont have anything to carry other than ticket for re-entry .  Any advice appreciated as we are first timers.  

[blutarsky]

Driving to meet her is definitely the worst option for you! 
I would go train and shuttle bus. Friday isn’t a strike day for the trains so she should be fine. 

[bexj]

Train to Castle Cary then Shuttle bus, meet her at Gate A. Shuttle busses run frequently through the festival and it means you spend less time out of the festival.

[Ballian67]

Thanks both.  Do you know how easy it is to get out and back in case there are train issues however.  Just want to fully assess all options

[phil the shrew]

Agree with the other two responses that the train shuttle bus option is best. Shuttle bus will be dead quiet at that time, and assuming no train disruption and good train connections your wife could get from Bristol to the festival site in a couple of hours. Gate A where the bus station is isn't too far from John Peel Stage so not too far to walk to meet her  

I have friends in Wells and have quite often gone off site to stay with them (I'm a fair weather camper!), and initially used the car to go back wards and forwards, but it really was very time consuming and often ended up with very long wlaks to the car. The Shuttle buses are a much better option.

The road from Glastonbury to Bristol is normally very quiet after the Wenesday rush to get in,  but getting off site, walking a long way back to the car and then driving to Bristol and back will probably take the best part of 3 hours and you also run the risk of having to park even further out when you get back on site

In terms of getting out of the site that should also be a breeze during the day on Friday - just remember you will need your ticket and wristband to get out and get issued with a seperate return token to get back in. When you come back in you need both to get back in so don't lose them.

Edited June 8, 2022 by phil the shrew

[Ballian67]

Thanks again all.  I don’t mind the time getting out and driving to Bristol.  I just want to get my wife on site at the earliest possible time.  Train into Bristol arrives at 3.34pm and I would be waiting for her so could be on site and through the gate by 5?  Train to castle Cary doesn’t get in until 5.30 so that would make it 6?   To be honest I won’t relax until she’s there.  Soppy I know.  Suppose I am weighing up the least risk to save an hour 

[Glast0baby]

You'd be lucky to get in by 5.30pm.  You're likely to be parked in the furthest flung field and it can take 30mins+ just to get to the gate.  You've then got to get from the gate to your tent and then back out there.  Obviously it depends on where you camp (might be an incentive to go for Darble!) But if you're in the West camping fields, I wouldn't expect you to realistically be back enjoying the fest until 6.30-7pm, maybe much later depending where you head.  It can take 45min-hr to walk across the site.  Add on a couple of hours if muddy.  Bristol traffic can be diabolical (so speaks a Bristolian).  Given that you'd need to likely leave the festival at 1.30pmish to pick her up...  It's a lot of time.  Hence why everyone on hear is advising you to meet her at the gate.

Perhaps discuss the logistics with your wife?  I appreciate that this is me, but I would be horrified if my other half gave up all that time, especially when there are great bands to see.  No judgement on you or your relationship whatever you decide, just wanted to urge you to discuss and carefully consider.

[Freewheelin2]

I'd echo what's been said above, I think the shuttle bus would be the easiest/quickest option.

I drove from Bristol to Glasto mid-morning this week, took an hour. The traffic around Temple Meads can be a nightmare, plus you'd be hitting the start of the rush hour and any festy traffic especially as you get nearer the site. 

A couple of years back I had to go off site then come back on the Thurs late afternoon. Took the train to Castle Cary, no queues for the shuttle bus, pulled into the site bus station about 30 mins later. Very quick and easy. Skipped back through the gate and was suitably splattered within the hour!

[Ballian67]

Thanks all.  Train and Shuttle Bus it is. 

[Ballian67]

Or maybe not now!  Train issues expected Thursday as well so could be driving back all the way to pick my wife up.  Have asked for a helicopter quote for a laugh

[irnkrtn]

1 hour ago, Ballian67 said:

Or maybe not now!  Train issues expected Thursday as well so could be driving back all the way to pick my wife up.  Have asked for a helicopter quote for a laugh

Should be ok by Friday though, despite what's said! I would stick with the plan for now. You can keep in touch Friday and you'll know. I would bet you at least 50p and a twix that it will be at least 2 hours quicker to do the train and then you can meet her, right at Gate A as she walks in!