Tipi Field Camping

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I am setting in place my budget for after the summer. Next Glastonbury I am taking 3 of my kids, and a friend of my daughters. My daughter will be 18 on the Sunday, and my eldest lad will be buggering off to Uni at the end of next summer, so it is a special family time for us.

But I put it to the panel. I am thinking of splashing out the extra 800 quid so we can all go in a Tipi. It is money that I would have spent on my new car anyway (I will spend less), but I would think it would a really special festival for us all.

Any views, especially from anyone that has used the Tipi field.

Plan B is to just buy a Tipi to replace my 10 man army bell tent

[Walter Sobchak]

I am setting in place my budget for after the summer. Next Glastonbury I am taking 3 of my kids, and a friend of my daughters. My daughter will be 18 on the Sunday, and my eldest lad will be buggering off to Uni at the end of next summer, so it is a special family time for us.

But I put it to the panel. I am thinking of splashing out the extra 800 quid so we can all go in a Tipi. It is money that I would have spent on my new car anyway (I will spend less), but I would think it would a really special festival for us all.

Any views, especially from anyone that has used the Tipi field.

Plan B is to just buy a Tipi to replace my 10 man army bell tent

[abu hamster]

I am setting in place my budget for after the summer. Next Glastonbury I am taking 3 of my kids, and a friend of my daughters. My daughter will be 18 on the Sunday, and my eldest lad will be buggering off to Uni at the end of next summer, so it is a special family time for us.

But I put it to the panel. I am thinking of splashing out the extra 800 quid so we can all go in a Tipi. It is money that I would have spent on my new car anyway (I will spend less), but I would think it would a really special festival for us all.

Any views, especially from anyone that has used the Tipi field.

Plan B is to just buy a Tipi to replace my 10 man army bell tent

Edited July 5, 2009 by abu hamster

[tvrobbie]

I'd be seriously tempted to buy one of these bad boys:

http://www.belltent.co.uk/5_meter_deluxe_version.htm

After this year some of our group are toying with the idea of a tipi, it would be nice in lots of ways (more secure, showers, toilets - although they smelt just as bad as everywhere else, novelty value) and it's only £100 more per person. On the other hand it means sharing limited space with 5 other people and there's sure to be some kind of minor argument.

But at least if you buy a snazzy bell tent you can take it home at the end.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I too am thinking about this need feedback folks?

Are they dry?

Organised?

Comfy?

Secure?

also had showers?

If you are in a campervan yu have an extra 30 minute walk in and out every morning and evening.

Last yearwe were right by the gate this year we were near enough in Bristol!

[Staberinde]

I am setting in place my budget for after the summer. Next Glastonbury I am taking 3 of my kids, and a friend of my daughters. My daughter will be 18 on the Sunday, and my eldest lad will be buggering off to Uni at the end of next summer, so it is a special family time for us.

But I put it to the panel. I am thinking of splashing out the extra 800 quid so we can all go in a Tipi. It is money that I would have spent on my new car anyway (I will spend less), but I would think it would a really special festival for us all.

Any views, especially from anyone that has used the Tipi field.

Plan B is to just buy a Tipi to replace my 10 man army bell tent

[LusciousLucy]

There were CT wibblings about hiring a tipi too next year...

being physically ON site rather than a long walk away up in the campervan field would be much better but some chums of mine stayed in the van field and said they had an incredible time (apart from the shitty security attitudes!)

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Rufus... a serious question? I had to read it twice to make sure

One factor to take into consideration is the atmosphere back at the tent after a long fantastic day exploring the site.

Walking past the new modern tipi field a few times I always got the impression it was deserted. I'm guessing they didn't sell out this year, but even so, the long neat rows of tipi's all in perfect place, with no one outside each one from the hours of midnight to 3 am, leads me to believe the kind of people to splash out the extra cash just don't know how to have a good time on their return to camp for the night.

Still, you and your kids could change all that I can't imagine anyone in your company having a quiet time [Yep, you can choose to take that as a compliment or an insult ]

How many people are allowed in a tipi? Find out and I'm sure you can probably find a few people on these boards that would consider sharing with you to keep the costs down, me included. One big effing advantage is not having to carry your tent on site - set it up - pack it up - and carry it off site again.

In fact the more I type about it, the more I think its a great idea. I loved last year, but imagine if we could get a group of 40 hard core efesters in 5 tipis !!!

now you've started something, or am I being a little to far ahead of my self. I loved the torrential rain fall Monday about 3am in the CT tipi. We were all snug and warm.

Lots of food for thought there Rufus.

[Staberinde]

There were CT wibblings about hiring a tipi too next year...

being physically ON site rather than a long walk away up in the campervan field would be much better but some chums of mine stayed in the van field and said they had an incredible time (apart from the shitty security attitudes!)

[markeee]

if i remember right, someone said that the tipis leaked when the rain was heavier than a shower

it's also a lot of money 800 notes, i wouldn't for that:)

[Staberinde]

if i remember right, someone said that the tipis leaked when the rain was heavier than a shower

it's also a lot of money 800 notes, i wouldn't for that:)

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Is that right? Rain in the tipi, as well as 800 notes, I reckon some research is needed.

Edited July 5, 2009 by Rufus Gwertigan

[Greenish]

Walking past the new modern tipi field a few times I always got the impression it was deserted.

[Staberinde]

I will be at a festival in a week or 2 with a tipi field. Its the same folk that do Glastonbury so I will have a mooch over and have a chat

800 is for the full tipi.

[Staberinde]

i presumed that people were hanging out inside their tipi rather than outside - at least i would if i had one just for a few days!

[markeee]

Is that right? Rain in the tipi, as well as 800 notes, I reckon some research is needed.

[Pipine]

We stayed in a tipi this year. The field was quiet most of the time which to be honest was a plus cos I like to stay up til 4am pootling around site but when I go back to the tent I prefer things to be a little calmer so I can sleep OK. The tipi's seemed to be mainly rented by 30somethings, families and older couples who wanted a quieter festival.

They did leak.. a little bit the first time it rained and spectacularly in the early hours of monday morning.. all our stuff got wet and we hardly got any sleep cos we were trying to catch the drips all over the place. It didn't really matter cos we were leaving the next day but I would have been rather annoyed if it had done that at the start of the weekend.

The tipi company were organised and helpful.. though we complained about the leaking after the first shower and they said they'd sort the rain catcher out while we were out.. but if they did do anything it didn't make any difference.

They were comfy - only have a matt on the floor provided but we brought blankets and it was pretty cosy.

I guess its a bit more secure than normal camping as there are stewards on the two gates.. having said that sometimes the stewards seem to desert their post completely and sometimes they weren't so strict at checking wristbands.

The showers were good but at the mercy of the water supply which ran low one day.. there was a queue from friday onwards between 7ish and midday time.

Edited July 5, 2009 by Pipine

[WildChildRockChick]

I think that for an extra £800 you'd do better to get a really good, big, tent - and still have it to use for future festies / camping trips.

That said, an extra £800 for a family holiday isn't toooo extortionate, and if you wanted to make a big deal out of it in that way then fair play to you. Personally I'd go with getting my own super-duper tent & making my own memories with my family, but the bottom line is that only you know if it's worth it to you and your family, or not.

And whatever your decision it won't be wrong so whatever you do - enjoy yourselves.

[Mardy]

ah, I'm glad you started this thread, cos I'm in the same boat, there's the whole family coming next year, so i think a tipi might be the way forward. nice one.

[Staberinde]

We stayed in a tipi this year. The field was quiet most of the time which to be honest was a plus cos I like to stay up til 4am pootling around site but when I go back to the tent I prefer things to be a little calmer so I can sleep OK. The tipi's seemed to be mainly rented by 30somethings, families and older couples who wanted a quieter festival.

They did leak.. a little bit the first time it rained and spectacularly in the early hours of monday morning.. all our stuff got wet and we hardly got any sleep cos we were trying to catch the drips all over the place. It didn't really matter cos we were leaving the next day but I would have been rather annoyed if it had done that at the start of the weekend.

The tipi company were organised and helpful.. though we complained about the leaking after the first shower and they said they'd sort the rain catcher out while we were out.. but if they did do anything it didn't make any difference.

They were comfy - only have a matt on the floor provided but we brought blankets and it was pretty cosy.

I guess its a bit more secure than normal camping as there are stewards on the two gates.. having said that sometimes the stewards seem to desert their post completely and sometimes they weren't so strict at checking wristbands.

The showers were good but at the mercy of the water supply which ran low one day.. there was a queue from friday onwards between 7ish and midday time.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Thanks for that info Pipine.

I reckon I would be pretty pissed off if I paid the £800 quid and the tipi leaked.

Like Mardy, I will be keeping an eye on this thread, will be glad of any other people who have stayed in a tipi to give their accounts here.

[beamends]

£800 hell no! just hire a camper van instead!

[Fairies for Change]

our lovely friends paid for a tipi this year and then invited us to say (thank you, again!)... so thoughts having stayed there are:

lots of lovely open space around the tipi which makes it a really different festival experience - I actually found myself treasuring the ability to go and have a quiet spot to chill out in late afternoon and as Pipine said lovely when eventually you want to get some sleep!

if you chose one near the open fire there is a great view down over the festival including both Pyramid and Other Stage, so we had some lost hours just sat listening to the Park stage (very audiable) and watching the World go by

used the showers once about 7am on the Saturday and it was a lovely, lovely experience. They're solar heated but also have a burner for cloudiness, so always have hot water (ish)

you do feel a tiny bit separate from the festival, certainly in comparison to when we've camped in Pennards/Williams - but then I imagine much less so than you would if you were in the campervan field (our ###### tented village). At night you can hear the Boudin Cafe so there is still the dull thud of music, but far fewer voices

yes it does leak, down the poles and in patches around the rain catcher - the pole problem is quickly sorted by tracing your finger down the pole so that the water runs to the bottom (rather than letting it drip there itself) - the rain catcher seems to be little you can do - our advice is leave the very centre empty of stuff (think where the hearth would be in a real tipi) and sleep around the edges

toilets were tudis, so a but hot and smelly but cleaned often!

i thought the stewards were lovely - all volunteers and very chilled, doesn't feel too VIP

central fire pit very under-utilised by the people there, which was a shame because what could have created a nice community feel was a bit bland/nothing - but I include ourselves in that because we actually spent more time by fires elsewhere than in front of our fire

field definitely had a 'upscale' vibe with quite a few 'well to do' campers - not saying this is a bad thing and we had a really good chat with plenty of people, but it does make for a more mild mannered/quiet place. not sure how to say this without upsetting people - but there was also some of that middle class 'but I'm special feeling' *(you know the kind of people who complain on holidays to Austria about the steep hills!) - for example lots of people complaining about queues to showers when the easily solution was to go late or very early and not when every one else wants to go - also some next to us complaining about the noise from the Park which lead me want to point out 'well, it is a music festival'

THAT SAID - loads were just people treating themselves because it was a fifth birthday or they wanted one last special summer holiday before the kids grew up and buggered off - and these people were all lovely

it's also a great location for Greenfields etc, much like Pennards and IMO much preferable to campervanning it (although I have never tried that so could be wrong)

Would I spend this much myself? Probably not... unless I thought it might get my Mum & Dad and sister along in which case I might

Cost was £800 and it slept 6 comfortably.

[Red Day]

if i remember right, someone said that the tipis leaked when the rain was heavier than a shower

it's also a lot of money 800 notes, i wouldn't for that:)

[worthyraver]

Thanks very much for that full in depth review of the tipi experience Fairies for Change.

Have been hoping for analysis like that for a couple of years, I think that finally makes up my mind to give them a go next year.

Do they heat up by 08.30 like modern tents or do you get an extra hour or two before this happens?

Thanks