Camping recommendations first timer and 50

[purplishspider]

I'm taking my Mum to Glasto as part of her 50th birthday celebrations.

I managed to bag coach package on Wednesday.

It will be the first time she has ever been to a festival and my first time at Glasto.

She really wants to stay in a tipi but I was just wondering if there are any better/alternative options. Obviously willing to pay around £1000 as that is around what a tipi costs.

Steph

[pie_and_a_pint]

Worthy View has some bell tents / cloud houses that might fit the bill, and there's also Tangerine Fields which seems to be very popular - they're offsite, though, so if you're definitely set on staying onsite, you'll have to be very quick off the mark on ticket balance day to get yourself a tipi - they sell out very quickly indeed.

[purplishspider]

Thanks for the input.

Anyone else?

As it's just the two of us going I'm don't want to carry that much luggage, so if I can cut out the tent part that would be amazing.

[grumpyhack]

Accommodation at around a grand is a very expensive tent as a festival one off. Why not go to a bit more trouble and get something that lasts, like a decent tent, a trailer tent or even a cheapo caravan that you can take home and re-use for other fests and weekends away?

[TheNewUnion]

Due to injury I stayed off site in a B&B last year, cost a lot less than a grand. Even if your add in cost of transport in and out each day.

Just noticed you're on the coach though, so might not work for you. I much prefer being on site, but the luxury of a cooked breakfast, shower and proper bed cannot be underestimated.

[Thearg]

There is a company that delivers caravans to the site and you just turn up,they cost about 700 quid upwards.

Can't remember what they are called now but sure someone will know.

[bobsacamano]

A thousand english pounds??

[purplishspider]

Yup £1000 English pounds. A tipi is 950.

It's that balance around my Mum being able to cross camping at Glastonbury off her life list and actually the whole thing being sanitised enough for her to enjoy herself, unless she loves it she will never camp again so it's a bit of a false economy to buy everything too. I think I will just aim tipi and prepare myself that we might not get it.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Tommmy, is that you? Has the Prodigal Son returned?

[Swieve]

I know its not very Glastonbury but was having a look at some of those glamping options. This looks lovely but I don't have £4K to spend on it. But you know what, If I came into a shedload of money I would happily go for it.

The only problem is that I fear I wouldn't quite fit in with the other clientele

http://thelovefields.com/dev/thp.php?load=yurtco.thp&page=mongolian.html

[Pear_Cider]

She has a coach ticket Grumpy, so CV Fields are a no-go unless someone takes a trailer tent or caravan into the campervan fields for her.

He's right though Steph, I only paid a grand for my caravan and I love it!! Pity you're on the coach.

[grumpyhack]

Don't blow your money just on a good night's sleep.

It depends if you see Glasto as a one-off or whether you want to invest for the future. Your mum is only 50 so could still be game for a lot more camping and festivals if she enjoys it. You as a newbie to Glasto and her son/daughter might think that 50 is old but in Glasto-going terms that's young. There are plenty of people still going in their sixties and some in their seventies.

The key thing, wherever you stay, is to pace yourself and be prepared for a lot of walking - up to 12 miles a day. So comfortable walking boots are every bit as important as somewhere comfortable to sleep.

[A Guy Called Matt]

We stayed at Tangerine Fields last year and it is good, comfy, quietish, showers if you don't mind queueing but not somewhere you can pop back to for a freshen up and rest as it is a long walk especially when muddy lane get, well, muddy!!

We looked at Tipi's and apart from the price one thing that put us off is that they are just about as far away from where you park as possible so a long haul for all your stuff. They are also very near lots of late night stuff so if you did want to hit the sack early you might not sleep too much.

You need to decide what you want out of GF..... party all night every night? Party some rest others?

and once you decide that decision making should be easier.

[purplishspider]

Hey ho, no tipi for us, site crashed this morning.

So options for arriving on the coach and camping?

We are arriving Thursday, so I'm thinking the best fields may be full?

My Mum is being massively unhelpful and states she would like somewhere not too rowdy but that we can access the rowdiness if she hasn't fallen asleep!

Would Hitchin' Hill be a plan?

[purplishspider]

Scratch that I've just managed to get a Worthy View Bell tent for us, better get some walking practice in!

[robot86]

Excellent. Took my Dad for the first time last year for his 50th and he absolutely loved it. My friends have done Worthy View before and said it's good but to be prepared for the steep hill back each night. Hope you both have an amazing time!

[Wherethewildthingsare]

The bell tents are fab - loads of room to stand up/for chairs. It's a nice meander home through the green fields or park. Last year we stopped every night by the top of the tipis/Pennard/stone circle at the Glastoelemental Fire. The final steep walk is 7 mins of steps - not so bad!

[Tomjoll]

Took a look at these last year but ended up going to Worthy View - http://www.zooloos.co.uk/glastonbury-2015/

They do the pamper room stuff but also have some Bell tents to hire. Still £735 but perhaps a little nicer.

Its a short walk from the site though.

[Tomjoll]

Scratch that I've just managed to get a Worthy View Bell tent for us, better get some walking practice in!

Whoops sorry, just seen you are sorted now. Worthy View is probably the best option. The view is incredible too.

[purplishspider]

When I looked yesterday afternoon one bell tent return and one scout tent return had come up, so we jumped on it.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

[lpoolpete]

The festival is always around my birthday 22nd of June. I couldn't get tickets for my 50th in 2010.But went for my first time in 2011 had my birthday there on the Wednesday, and after the rain U2 and the trudge back to my tent on the Friday night I was ready to come home. I stook it out though and had a brill time. I was with two of my daughters and some of their friends. I done my own thing during the day and we met up of an evening. I've been to the last two as a volunteer bar worker and I've loved that hopefully I will be doing the same this year.

Your mum will love it her age wont dampen it one bit.

[tombertb]

The bell tents are fab - loads of room to stand up/for chairs. It's a nice meander home through the green fields or park. Last year we stopped every night by the top of the tipis/Pennard/stone circle at the Glastoelemental Fire. The final steep walk is 7 mins of steps - not so bad!

Ah so the walk isn't too bad? My dad (60) is coming this year so he should be able to cope!

What are the facilities like at WV? I believe there are showers but you face long queues? Are the toilets long drops or portaloos or other?

Thanks.

Edited April 8, 2015 by tombertb

[Wherethewildthingsare]

Ah so the walk isn't too bad? My dad (60) is coming this year so he should be able to cope!

What are the facilities like at WV? I believe there are showers but you face long queues? Are the toilets long drops or portaloos or other?

Thanks.

If he's a fit 60 year old he should be fine. Pennard hill is steep also up to the gate but there are natural breaks to get second wind at the top and the bottom of the WV hill. Personally I don't come back up till I'm ready for my Airbed! No long drops, portaloos scattered around the water points and the main flushing toilets by the showers (frequently cleaned). The showers opened at 7am and the queues for men went really quickly. I tried to get up and get straight in, perks you up for the day. The women's were longer as the morning went on. Half of women's were 'open' which didn't encourage lingering! Half had cubicles but a longer wait. I think the men's were all open. Edited April 8, 2015 by Wherethewildthingsare

[tombertb]

If he's a fit 60 year old he should be fine. Pennard hill is steep also up to the gate but there are natural breaks to get second wind at the top and the bottom of the WV hill. Personally I don't come back up till I'm ready for my Airbed! No long drops, portaloos scattered around the water points and the main flushing toilets by the showers (frequently cleaned). The showers opened at 7am and the queues for men went really quickly. I tried to get up and get straight in, perks you up for the day. The women's were longer as the morning went on. Half of women's were 'open' which didn't encourage lingering! Half had cubicles but a longer wait. I think the men's were all open.

Ah ok. Very useful that, thank you very much.