Part 3

Are the campsites separate from the Festival?

Glastonbury differs from "arena" style festivals like Reading and V in that, with the exception of the car parks, the campervan fields and a few crew and specialist boutique campsites, the whole festival is within the main fence. Once you enter through the gates, you don't have to leave again until the Monday afternoon and you can pretty much wander freely wherever you want to go other than the backstage, traders' and crew areas. You are able to camp in any of the designated public camping areas provided they have not already reached their allotted capacity when you get there.

 

Where is the best place to camp?

This is far and away the most Frequently Asked Question of all so please excuse me if I dwell on the subject for a little while. I suggest that anybody who doesn't get excited about looking at lots and lots of photos of tents in fields might like to move right along to the next section at this point because every year since I first started this project in 2004 I have made an annual tour around the site taking pictures in the various camping fields so that I can actually show you what they are like as well as giving you a little description of a few of the pros and cons of each one. 

When people find a campsite they like they tend to return to the same spot year after year.  In fact a survey of festival goers in 2009 showed that no less than 60% had returned to the same place they were the previous year so it's well worth giving this subject some serious consideration in advance rather than leaving things to chance when you get there.

 

 

There is no right or wrong answer to this question as everybody has different ideas as to what makes a perfect campsite.  Some want a good night’s sleep and I would therefore advise heading towards the more remote areas to the western side of the site which will be comparatively quieter. Others want to be close to their favourite stage or entertainment area and more still want to be in night time Party Central.  Your choice may be restricted by how far you are prepared to walk to your campsite once you get in through the gates and late arrivals will find that there will be a considerably reduced choice of fields which still have camping space available.

 

Have a look at the GlastoEarth Map for reference and we'll work our way anti-clockwise around the site starting in the top right hand corner.  To give you a rough idea of how quickly the various fields fill up most of these photos were taken sometime around the Thursday lunchtime.

There is an area known as Cockmill Meadow in the north eastern corner of the site which is specifically reserved for Family Camping. There is no designated ratio of adults to children in any group so families and friends without children are able to camp together here but please bear in mind that this area is popular and space is limited so people without kids in tow should look elsewhere. In fact the area available for public camping in this field was reduced considerably in 2011 due to the expansion of the recycling area at the top of the hill.  Also note that the field is traversed by a set of power lines which can hum and crackle quite alarmingly when it is wet.

Cockmill Meadow is entered almost immediately from Gate B but this is quite difficult to access for the majority so alternatively use the Eastern (Blue) Car Parks and enter the site at Gate C, turning right up the track that runs uphill between the Acoustic Tent and the Kidz Field (you can just make out the big helter-skelter to the left of the photo above). It's a long hike from the Western Gates A and D so people entering via those gates with their kids may find it more convenient to choose the alternative Family Camping area in Wicket Ground.  Later arrivals will also find that Wicket Ground will still have space available after Cockmill Meadow is full.

This photo is taken from the often appropriately named Muddy Lane, which runs up the Eastern side of Big Ground and is looking directly down the hill towards the Pyramid Stage. This and the adjacent fields afford the best access to the main stage as well as some pretty spectacular views across the southern part of the site.

Big Ground and the other fields on the hill that overlooks the Pyramid tend to fill up fairly rapidly on the Wednesday as they are popular with those who like to be close to action on the main stage.  Big Ground also has the benefit of the only public flushing loos as well as the Bank and the Church.  All of these may be found towards the top of the field near to the farmhouse.

Again Gates B and C to the East of the site offer the quickest and easiest access to this area.

Here we are looking downhill over the flatter area of Kidney Mead, which is also handy for the Pyramid Stage as well as the Acoustic Stage, the Cider Bus and the main central market areas. However it is also close to some of the busiest toilets on the site so make sure that you camp well clear of these to avoid noise & nasty niffs.  Try to access the site via Gate C if you are planning to camp here.

Row Mead looks out directly over the Pyramid Field and it is therefore very popular with those who like to watch and listen to the acts on the main stage from the comfort of their own encampments.

This is Hawkwell, which sits on the slope immediately below Worthy Farm.  As you can see it’s on a very steep slope and some of those tents at the top must be pitched at a 45 degree angle which can’t possibly be conducive to a comfortable night’s sleep.

Bottom Webb's Ash is flatter and as you can see it is very close to the action on the Pyramid Stage. The distinctive yellow and green marquee to the left of the picture is the Mandela Bar so you never have far to walk for a beer either.  Lulu’s Café, which is over by the woods to the western side of the field, is also a very popular breakfast haunt.

This is Spring Ground, which is home to the Disabled Camping Area, and has a concrete ramp at the entrance to the field in order to make wheelchair access easier. The Disabled Camping area is reserved for people with permanent disabilities and their carers. Campervans are also allowed in this field for disabled visitors.  Make sure you register well in advance in order to be able to camp here.  There’s more details on facilities for the disabled together with some useful links for first hand experiences later on in Part 4.

The fields at the extreme Northwestern end of the site between the farm and Gate A tend to fill up less quickly than the other fields to the north and there is often space available here for later arrivals. You'll have a great view looking south across the site but you will probably find yourself camped on quite a steep hill. The photo above is of Hitchin Hill with the old Tythe Barn & Pilton village in the background.

Next to Hitchin Hill is Lime Kiln Ground closest to the fence at the top of the hill, with the second Family Camping area of Wickets Ground below the track which has become known as the "Pilton By-Pass". To access these fields, enter the site via one of the Western Gates A or D and head toward the Nature Reserve near to the hospitality camping area in “Long Ground” (the old cinema field), before turning left up the hill to the camping fields.

As you can see, Suggs Ground and Lower Mead, are very handy for those who enjoy watching the up and coming talent at the John Peel Tent.  They are only a relatively short walk from Pedestrian Gate A and the Pyramid, the Other Stage and the Dance Village are all very accessible from here.  You will however find that this area suffers from 24 hour traffic noise as the main access road for the site runs along the bottom of these fields.

Woodsies used to be the first field you would enter from Pedestrian Gate A before the fence was extended westward in 2010.  Much like the previous 2 fields it is also very close to the John Peel Tent and, as you may be able to make out from this photo, it has some nice views of Glastonbury Tor in the background.

Another large field made available for the first time in 2010 was Bushy Ground and again there was plenty of camping space here even though a large proportion of the field was cordoned off that year in order to provide enough room for 40,000 people to watch England’s World Cup match against Germany.  The whole field was available for public camping in 2011 but one thing you do have to remember if you camp here is that it is on the other side of a dairy farm from the remainder of the site and as the dairy is out of bounds to festival goers you will have to navigate your way around it in order to find your way to and from your tent each day.  Bushy Ground is accessible from either of the Western Pedestrian Gates A or D.

The majority of the flat camping areas within the site can be found in the section bordered by the Dance Village to the north and the disused railway track to the south. Personally I’ve never camped in this part of the site because these fields are among the most low-lying areas and are therefore the most likely to get muddy if it's wet. The photo above is of Dance Field with the flags and marquees of the Dance Village just beyond.

Oxlyers gives very easy access to The Other Stage, which you can make out in the background of this photo. The Dance Village and John Peel Tent are also very close and it’s only a relatively short walk to The Pyramid and The G Stage from here.  The quickest access for this area is via Gate A, from which it is then a relatively easy downhill walk through the Dance Village to get to the camping fields.

Here we have Paines Ground which is actually the field that I often used to park my car in before the site was extended to bring this field inside the fence in 2007.  It is the closest field to Gate D so it’s the most easily accessible for those arriving by car and parking in the Western Car Parks.  The bottom of this field used to be prone to flooding but the affected area has been cordoned off for use as crew camping at the last couple of festivals.

This is the absolutely vast Dairy Ground which is one of the biggest single camping fields on the site now. It slopes gently and looks a very tempting place to pitch a tent when I have visited Worthy Farm outside of festival time. The areas of the field furthest up the slope plus the hilly South Park area at the top and also the small unnamed field next to Pedestrian Gate E are however a very long hike from any of the major entertainment areas.

Park Home Ground also slopes gently and has become increasingly popular over the last few years. It has the additional advantage of having the Park entertainment area toward the top of the field as well as being just a short hop over the disused railway track to the Other Stage Field.

Even more popular is Pennard Hill Ground and this is where I have pitched my tent with a group of friends for three of my last four visits to Glastonbury.  ”Pennards” has the reputation of being a bit of a party zone as it not only shares the same advantages as the adjacent Park Home Ground but is also right next door to the Green Fields and the Sacred Space with its all night revelry at the Stone Circle.  It fills up very quickly and there was very little space left by the Wednesday lunchtime in 2011.

photograph courtesy of Bob Rose 

Unfortunately the bottom of "Pennards" is the camping area that suffered worst from flooding that resulted from the massive thunderstorm which struck on the Friday morning in 2005. As you can see from this photo, which was taken by my friend Bob Rose for The Guardian newspaper, the deluge flowed down the hill until its escape into the River Whitelake, which runs through the site, was blocked by the railway embankment at the bottom of the hill. Major drainage work has since been undertaken to alleviate the problem should we be unfortunate enough to see a repeat of such extreme rainfall and in recent years the area at the bottom of the field has been cordoned off for crew camping.

Access to all of the camping areas to the South West is reasonably handy for those using the Western Car Parks and entering via Gate D but is a long hike from all of the other gates.

There used to be some wonderful public camping fields in the South Eastern corner of the site and I camped in this area for 6 of the 7 festivals between 2002 and 2009. However the expansion of the late night entertainment in this part of the site, together with the accompanying crew camping areas, has meant that unfortunately only a tiny sliver of public camping space remains in Dragon Field and to find space for a tent here you really do have to be one of the very first people through the gates on Wednesday morning.

How can I tell which fields still have space when I get there?

If you are still not certain where you want to head for when you arrive at the site then ask the stewards who should have up to date information as to which areas have already reached their maximum capacity. There are usually large maps of the site at each of the pedestrian gates and at the camping steward bases, with the fields that are designated as already being full shaded out.  The last fields to fill up are generally to the West of the site so if you aren’t turning up until later on Thursday or Friday and are arriving from the East, then be prepared for a very long walk and travel lightly because you will also be struggling through the throngs of people who have got there before you and are already partying hard and enjoying their festival.

If you are told by a steward that a field is full don't try to sneak in anyway. The festival has been heavily criticised for overcrowding in the past and the resulting safety concerns have been an issue at the festival license hearings. So if you camp in a field that is already "full" you are effectively jeopardising the future of the festival. 

I’ve often seen people pitching tents in areas which are designated as fire lanes.  Please don’t do this or you’ll only find that you are asked to move your tent to somewhere where it isn’t blocking an emergency access.

Can I save space for my mates?

If you are hoping to camp with friends who are going to be arriving later than you then it is preferable to take their tents with you and put them up for them rather than try to save space. Many people frown on the practice of taping off areas and I have to admit that I feel that it is rather anti-social and goes against the tremendous community spirit that otherwise prevails at the Festival.

If you must tape off an area for friends who are arriving later, head for one of the less popular camping fields where space isn't going to be at such a premium. It would be polite to put up signs around your patch saying something along the lines of "Space saved for friends arriving Thursday, Thankyou". Your neighbours are less likely to think you're just being greedy. Also make sure that the tape you use is highly visible to prevent tripping and don't tie it to your tent so that if somebody does trip over it they won't take your tent down with them.

Any other camping tips?

Before you leave home make sure you have at least one dummy run at putting your tent up and try to familiarise yourself with the process so that you can erect your tent without needing to read the instructions. Don't forget that when you get to the festival you may have to put your tent up in a limited amount of space and possibly windy or rainy weather. It could also be dark.

Even if you've used your tent before it's still a good idea to put it up before you leave home to make sure that it hasn't perished and none of the parts have gone missing. Check the poles to make sure that none of them are starting to fray or split. Much better to replace them now than trying to hold them together with tape at the festival.

Try to pitch your tent away from toilets and pathways if you want to avoid unpleasant smells and having your tent trampled into the ground. The metal pathways are great for getting around but they are also incredibly noisy if you camp near to them and the sound of boots clanking along them throughout the night will drive you insane.  The same applies to the slamming metal doors at the longdrop toilets.

photograph courtesy of Bob Rose

Remember that dips and gullies can potentially turn into ponds and streams in the event that it rains heavily and if you’ve pitched your tent in one of these areas then no amount of waterproofing will prevent your tent from being flooded.

If at all possible pitch your tent with the door facing downhill and/or away from the prevailing wind. This will prevent a pool forming in your porch if it rains or the wind gets up. It's also much more comfortable to sleep with your head pointing slightly uphill.

If the weather is sunny then most tents become unbearably hot by 8am. If you want to have a bit of a lie in every morning then try to pitch your tent to the West of trees, hedgerows or other large tents and structures so that your tent is shaded from early morning sunlight. Alternatively some tents are made from reflective material and tend to stay cooler for longer. Others have openings at both ends in order to create a through-draft. Covering your tent with foil or pitching it under a gazebo, parachute or camouflage netting are other ways of keeping your tent cool and shaded.

Not all guy ropes are essential in anything other than stormy conditions and the more you have pegged out the more likely people are to trip over them and damage your tent.

Remember that once you have put your tent up and gone for a stroll the landscape may have changed considerably by the time you return, especially if you've included a visit to the Cider Bus or Brothers Bar during your wanderings. So before leaving your tent, make sure that there is a visible landmark nearby to use for navigating your way back again. Many people make their own flagpoles but try to think of something a little more original than the ubiquitous Cross of St George.

Can I stay in a Tipi?

Yes, special tickets are available for groups of people who want to share the ethnic experience of living in a tipi for the duration of the festival. These cost £900 in 2011, which sounds a lot but the tipis comfortably accommodate 6 people, so you are effectively paying £30 a night each for your accommodation for 5 days.

The hired tipis are in an area known as the Tipi Park, which is situated on the hillside overlooking The Park area at the Southern end of the site.  Facilities here include showers and toilets which are specifically for the use of tipi residents.

Security - Is there much crime?

Up until the 2008 festival, crime at Glastonbury had fallen to an all time low and this was predominantly down to the "Ring Of Steel" Super Fence. Admittedly, before the fence was introduced in 2002, as many as 100,000 "fence jumpers" would get into the festival without paying, and unfortunately a good number of these people came with the sole intention of helping themselves to everybody else's belongings while they were away from their tents. In 2000 I lost count of the number of times I returned to my tent to find it had been ransacked and there were many instances reported of tents being slashed or even being completely removed together with their contents.

However the introduction of the new fence and much better security both around the site, in the car parks and also in the neighbouring villages, all but eradicated one of the issues which seriously threatened the very existence of the festival.  Recorded muggings at the festival, for example, fell from 157 in 2000 to just 1 in 2009 and none at all in 2010.

Unfortunately the last few years have seen a notable increase in the number of people reporting thefts from their tents at Glastonbury and at other UK festivals both large and small. It’s a sad and annoying fact of life that tent thefts do happen and whilst it is still unlikely that you will fall victim to crime at the festival it is worth following a few basic Dos and Don'ts to make sure that the risk is minimised:-

• Do keep your valuables in your sleeping bag at night. Many people have woken to find their tent open and their trousers missing together with their wallet, camera, phone, car keys etc.

• Do kick up a fuss if somebody comes into your tent during the night.  If you don’t then you’ll probably find that your friends and neighbours are the next people to be paid a visit.

The peak time for tent thefts is in the early hours of Thursday and Friday when wallets are full and punters often overindulge, celebrating their first night at the festival, so please try to be particularly vigilant at these times.

 

What are the Property Lock Ups Like?

There are at least a dozen Property Lock Ups dotted around the site which can be located by looking for the keyhole symbols on the Site Map. They are basically large steel cages housed inside marquees. They are free to use although a donation towards the charities and peace organisations who run them would be appreciated if you can afford one. They operate a ticket retrieval system but will also ask for details of your name and address in case you manage to lose your ticket and so that they can verify that you are the genuine owner of the stuff you leave when you come back to collect it. The picture above gives you a good idea of what the Lock Ups look like. You can store anything in there from a camera to a bicycle.

 

How easy is it to find your way about?

Getting lost at Glastonbury is all part of the fun and in all honesty there are some parts of the site where I still have to look at a map and think twice about which way I need to go in order to get to my desired destination. If you do end up going slightly wrong then the chances are you'll stumble across something random and unexpected so it's never really a massive deal.

 

If you really do get seriously lost then there are signposts at all of the major junctions of the tracks that criss-cross the site and you have the simplified map in the mini-guide you hang around your neck to put you back on track. If you still have no idea where you are then ask one of the stewards in the pink hi-viz jackets or just find your way to the nearest Information Point where they have far more detailed maps available for your convenience and the staff will be able to show you exactly where you are and give you directions on how to get to wherever it is you want to be.

 

There are a few landmarks such as the Pyramid Stage, the Acoustic Tent, the pylons, and the illuminated towers in The Park (see above) and at the main Meeting Point, which are visible from around the site and can be used as navigation beacons. Remember that the Pyramid and Other Stages face away from one another and share the same backstage compound, so to find your way from one to the other is simply a matter of following the tracks around in a large circle.

 

As far as the rest of the site is concerned there are 3 major thoroughfares which are handy for getting quickly from one part of the site to another. The disused railway track crosses the festival from east to west, so as long as you can find your way there then places like Pedestrian Gate D, the Other Stage, the G Stage, the Green Fields, West Holts, Avalon and the daytime access to the late night areas around Arcadia and Shangri-La are very easy to find.

Similarly there is another track that runs perpendicular to the railway from the Sacred Space and the Green Fields in the south, past West Holts and the Circus Field to the central market area, Bourbon Street and the main Meeting Point. It then continues as "Muddy Lane" up past the Kidz Field and through the Cockmill Meadow Family Camping area to Worthy Farm and Pedestrian Gate B at the northern end of the site.

A third track, known as Stage Road runs from Vehicle Gate 5 to the northwest, past the John Peel Tent and Dance Area to the Pyramid/Other Stage backstage area. It re-emerges from the other side of the Pyramid Field and continues past the Cider Bus, the Kidz, Acoustic and Theatre Fields and on to Pedestrian Gate C and the night time access to the late night area in the East.

Go to Part 4