WYCHWOOD MUSIC FESTIVAL INFORMATION

The festival will probably continue the same camping set up as 2008, whereby you will be able to drive up to your camping pitch, and unload your camping gear right by where you are setting up. The campsite is flat, surrounded by the actual racecourse track, providing a natural barrier, and always in great condition. Then emptied cars must be driven off the campsite and to the car park. After the festival, you'll be able to drive back to your pitch to load up.

Opening Times
Wychwood Music Festival starts on Friday with entrance to the campsite (on the racecourse) from 10am. The Festival Village (a separate area) opens at noon and music on the stages will begin after that.

Visitors who are not camping should be aware that they will not have access to the campsite, and cannot enter the main festival arena until noon on Friday.

There is little in the way of entertainment in the campsite, although there are always lots of kids making their own. The festival has a licence that allows entertainment until the small hours in the main festival arena, and so the campsite is kept quiet and peaceful at night, those returning to their tents late are asked to be considerate to other sleeping festival goers, and their children.

The latest campers are able to stay on the campsite is midday on Monday.

Layout
The campsite is separated from the arena, and a large ditch as well as the racecourse itself provides a natural barrier, there's one entrance to the arena that is at its highest end, and one entrance for cars to enter and drive around the edge of the campsite. The campsite is divided into various types - bespoke camping (tipis), disabled camping, normal camping, family camping, and quiet camping for people who like an early night and a quieter atmosphere. Wychwood has no backstage camping and so the artists, crew, and festival goers all camp together.

Guests with special requirements are asked to email the festival office with their needs.

No stereos or drums are permitted on the campsite, and it is very quiet at night, with night owls staying in the main festival arena.

Pitching your tent:
Camping pitches are allocated on a first come first serve basis, and marked by taped areas, if you want to camp with people who haven't arrived yet it is best to pitch somewhere quiet further away from the entrance where it is less likely to get busy quickly.

There is no limit to the size of tent you can bring, but remember that space is limited. Remember not to leave valuables, wallets or money in your tent, and look after your possessions over night. The campsite is pretty secure, but it's always a good idea to be prepared.

Live-In Vehicles
Campervans, caravans and any other type of live in vehicle are welcome. Campervans are placed in a separate area to tents, the other side of a fire break lane. This is due to fire regulations. If you bring a campervan and also have a tent, your tent must be pitched in one of the camping areas not in the campervan area. Caravans can go with tents in any camping area, with the hitch is facing out towards the road way or firebreak.

Live in vehicles need a pass to gain access to the camping area. Pass are issued at the box office along with wristbands. Passes can be purchased at the same time as tickets.

Toilets and wash facilities:
The campsite has plenty of toilets, the majority of them are portatoilets bunched together in blocks around the campsite, these have water points beside them, and are regularly serviced. There are also showers available. There are also 'proper' toilets as part of the racecourse inside the main arena. It's worth noting where your tent is relation to the toilets, as the fire lanes all look quite similar at night, and this is the only festival, that this eFestivals writer has ever been to, where he couldn't find his tent!

Food and Drink:
There is a cafe and some food stalls located at the end of the campsite nearest the arena, and a shop on site for those last minute essentials. No open fires are allowed anywhere in the campsite. Disposable/gas BBQs are allowed provided they are raised off the ground. The heat from the BBQ damages the grass below meaning it is unable to grow back and so gas camping stoves are preferred. Any cooking equipment must be raised off the ground and in good working order.

Help
The security tent by the entrance to the arena is manned 24 hours, and campers should go there for information or for help.

Off site accommodation
If you don't fancy camping, Cheltenham and the surrounding area has a range of accommodation to suite all tastes and pockets, from decent Bed and Breakfast establishments, to grand Regency hotels!