Arriving on Thursday...

[gibble]

Due to work commitments are group won't be able to arrive until first thing on Thursday morning this year...is there likely to be much space left to set up camp?

We usually camp in Woodsies but haven't been since 2007 for a number of reasons. That year we arrived on the Wednesday and it was alread fairly full!

Is it likely that Woodsies will already be full? Any similiar alternatives if that is the case?

[robith]

We always arrive on a Thursday.

As long as you accept you ain't gonna rock into Pennards with space for 20, there's loads of space.

We got there on Thursday morning last year and Camped in Woodsie's. I think it's Family camping this year though

[al_coholic]

There will be loads of space over on the west side of the site in dairy ground and bushy ground,

[MrZigster]

I would say not not much space left, these days everyman and his banned dog seems to want to arrive on the Wednesday morning. Sigh, it used to be so easy.

[gibble]

I would say not not much space left, these days everyman and his banned dog seems to want to arrive on the Wednesday morning. Sigh, it used to be so easy.

[robith]

I would say not not much space left, these days everyman and his banned dog seems to want to arrive on the Wednesday morning. Sigh, it used to be so easy.

[ukslim]

Nonsense, I've come every year I've been on Thursday and there's always been plenty of room.

Plus this year they've massively increased the camping space without increasing capacity. You'll have no trouble finding somewhere

[dondo]

Ye I am arriving Thursday too- but will be camping in staff camping so should hopefully be OK to find space for a couple of tents

[padders]

It's easy to turn up, look in a couple of places, and come to the conclusion that the whole site is crammed full. A bit like when you're crammed into a railway carriage, they announce that there's seats further down the train. Nobody believes them and everyone stays put. But when you go and look, there's a whole empty carriage.

Ask the first campsite stewards you see where there is space. If they're useless (can happen), ask the next lot.

[mozzy]

You'll be fine. Might need to scout out a spot but you'll get one. In 2000 we couldn't get there until Thursday evening & found 2 pitches on Pennard, albeit about 30 metres from each other! Some estimates put the crowd that year at 250,000 & the site was smaller with much less camping space. A good rule of thumb is the further West you go the more spaces you're likely to find.

[Ponyegg]

There's much more space this year as they've opened up a load of camping over near Busy Grounds and next to Woodsies (which on the map seems to be normal camping rather than family). Dairy Ground & Pains ground are always quite empty when we get there and even through Thursday it always seems (from the otherside of the valley at least) as if there's plenty of room there.

If in doubt organise a scouting party. Find a relatively central point, task one person with looking after your stuff then go on a hunt for space with at least one more person people (take the smallest tent with you though). That way if they find a decent spot you can send the other person(s) back to pick things up whilst the other person goes about utilising the space you've found (hence taking a tent).

We now where we'll be camping, and if there isn't space there we've got 2 other alternatives within easy reach.

[TheNewUnion]

I'd echo the above. Looking at Fine Guide map, the new camping areas appear to be vast. Seems much bigger than Pennards, about the same size as Park Home and Dance Fields put together.