BEST AND WORST CAMPING SPOTS

[Wallace]

I'm looking to camp in Oxlyers but the wife is ruling it out because she's seen the photos of Pennards flooding in 2007 and is worried it'll happen again in Oxlyers.  Can anyone let me know the likelihood of this actually happening?  For me Oxlyers looks like the ideal place to camp in terms of location, however I need to convince her it won't flood.

[Divein]

I'm looking to camp in Oxlyers but the wife is ruling it out because she's seen the photos of Pennards flooding in 2007 and is worried it'll happen again in Oxlyers. Can anyone let me know the likelihood of this actually happening? For me Oxlyers looks like the ideal place to camp in terms of location, however I need to convince her it won't flood.

Camped there for the last 4 festivals plus my girlfriend camped there in 08,09 and we've never had an issue.

[Untz]

I'm looking to camp in Oxlyers but the wife is ruling it out because she's seen the photos of Pennards flooding in 2007 and is worried it'll happen again in Oxlyers.  Can anyone let me know the likelihood of this actually happening?  For me Oxlyers looks like the ideal place to camp in terms of location, however I need to convince her it won't flood.

 

Pennards flooded (in 2005) partly because a shitload of rain fell at once and partly because at the bottom of the hill there is a raised bank that stopped the water from going elsewhere, like into Oxlyers.

 

There is also the famed increased drainage that has been put into place since then.

[Wallace]

Camped there for the last 4 festivals plus my girlfriend camped there in 08,09 and we've never had an issue.

 

 

Pennards flooded (in 2005) partly because a shitload of rain fell at once and partly because at the bottom of the hill there is a raised bank that stopped the water from going elsewhere, like into Oxlyers.

 

There is also the famed increased drainage that has been put into place since then.

 

Thanks, I've sent her these responses to ease her fears.  Hopefully I'll manage to win this one but I can see it being a battle right up until the wednesday forecast..

[dicko_belfast]

Would oxylers be fine to get into around midday on the Wednesday?

[frostypaw]

There is no risk of Oxylers flooding - only one area on site flooded - the bottom of pennards which is now staff only so everyone's safe.

It got pretty gross down the bottom of the John Peel tent's field too, but it didn't flood. Just don't camp next to a path or at the very bottom of the hill - and NEVER with your doorway facing uphill

You been to Roskilde? That's something special if you like the camping fun...

My sister says this very much. IIRC the camping is open for a week before the festival starts and soundsystems etc are allowed so it's a week long party before the music even starts

Nice.

She also said you seen a cock about every 10 seconds as some bloke goes to wee - curious how they don't get bashed for pollution.

[lcb172]

Would oxylers be fine to get into around midday on the Wednesday?

we camp there every year and get in within the first hour, so we have the pick of the space. however it is quite full by midday however the more back you go, you are sure to find some space

 

on another note in the past 10 festivals and camping within the Oxylers i have never had a problem with flooding, just quite muddy, but that is easily coped with

[Ged Devereux]

Chances of getting 6 tents pitched in woodsies probably around 1 on the Wednesday?

[pjdboy]

Chances of getting 6 tents pitched in woodsies probably around 1 on the Wednesday?

quite a healthy chance, but not all together unless you like the smell of toilet?

[ThePope]

Oxylers: Camped here in 2013. we were up at the fence a the back and it was v noisey because of the poo suckers and also the flood lights and the generators. Good for location for Other Stage and Silver Hayes. A lot of young people camp there and the tents are literally on top of each other. Minimal room to sit outside for a chat in the morning unless you reserve your own area (frowned upon).

 

Pennards Hill: Fortunate enough to have someone in the campervan park who got on site at 8am when the gates opened. He put our tipi up and another 7 man tent. We arrived on Thursday morning all fresh and ready to go! He said that by 10am the whole area was full. unless you have queued up on the Tuesday night then you wont get in there.

 

Personally for me, Pennard was great because of its proximity to SE Corner. But other than that it offered nothing. We got up at 10/11, cleaned up, brushed teeth, had a drink and then packed backpacks and headed out.

 

So for me the tent is purely for sleeping, which would mean somewhere vaguely quiet. I also want it to be near-ish the railway line giving good access to Arcadia and Block 9 (SE Corner)

 

This year i'm looking at Park Home Ground, Dairy Ground or South Park. Not too bothered about Arcadia going on until 3am because i'm usually not back to the tent until 5/6am.

Does anyone know how long the walk is from the Park area to SE corner? I cant really remember. Im thinking about 30 mins?

[brightyoungthing]

The best is where we camp (not telling, but great)

 

Worst I've experienced is Dairy ground... very hard to find your tent, and I'm usually pretty good at finding my tent!

[mjsell]

Okay can people help me.

 

Having a 'conversation' with our group that are going about which camp to go to:

 

Here's the scenario:

 

3 guys are getting 2am coach from London and will be the first to get there. They are taking two 8-man tents and a small tent.

 

The next big group of guys to get there will be bringing a 6 man (they think about 8am) and the next will be on site by 11am (bringing another 6 man)

 

the rest of the group to fill these tents will be arriving from the afternoon onwards.

 

We would like a centrally located campsite, have no issues with noise, would like the tents to be close to one another so would need somewhere that doesn't fill up until midday. What are you opinions?

[foolsgold1981]

What do people think to the chances of getting into any of Darble, Pylon Ground, Rivermead or Bushy Ground (Bush Ground preferred) at around 11am on Thursday?

We normally head down mid/late Wednesday but I need to cover a couple of lectures on Wednesday afternoon so rather than risk all the rush-hour traffic and the risk of potentially arriving in the dark, we've decided to head off from Manchester first thing on Thursday (5.30am). Given the inevitable miles-away parking at that time, we're cautiously reckoning 11am on site.

We want some sleep at 3am so we weren't wanting a stupidly loud site - Bushy has been perfect in the past. But I've always got down there Wednesday so unchartered territory this year!

Any help greatly appreciated to stop pointless meandering with all our stuff. Ta! :-)

[Twisted Melon]

What do people think to the chances of getting into any of Darble, Pylon Ground, Rivermead or Bushy Ground (Bush Ground preferred) at around 11am on Thursday?

We normally head down mid/late Wednesday but I need to cover a couple of lectures on Wednesday afternoon so rather than risk all the rush-hour traffic and the risk of potentially arriving in the dark, we've decided to head off from Manchester first thing on Thursday (5.30am). Given the inevitable miles-away parking at that time, we're cautiously reckoning 11am on site.

We want some sleep at 3am so we weren't wanting a stupidly loud site - Bushy has been perfect in the past. But I've always got down there Wednesday so unchartered territory this year!

Any help greatly appreciated to stop pointless meandering with all our stuff. Ta! :-)

You will have no problems at all with Pylon. We arrived at about 8pm on the Thursday last year and there was loads of space left

[Angus 0106]

What do people think to the chances of getting into any of Darble, Pylon Ground, Rivermead or Bushy Ground (Bush Ground preferred) at around 11am on Thursday?

We normally head down mid/late Wednesday but I need to cover a couple of lectures on Wednesday afternoon so rather than risk all the rush-hour traffic and the risk of potentially arriving in the dark, we've decided to head off from Manchester first thing on Thursday (5.30am). Given the inevitable miles-away parking at that time, we're cautiously reckoning 11am on site.

We want some sleep at 3am so we weren't wanting a stupidly loud site - Bushy has been perfect in the past. But I've always got down there Wednesday so unchartered territory this year!

Any help greatly appreciated to stop pointless meandering with all our stuff. Ta! :-)

Hi,

 I arrived around that time ish on the Thursday last year and after much trudging of the site,and direction from stewards ended up in Rivermead so if I were you try and head straight there! No issues with noise at night and not too much passing traffic.

[nikkic]

Quick question on timings....

 

Roughly how long will it take to walk from Ped Gate A to The Dairy Field? 

 

20 mins or so?

[Bradders]

Longer than that if you have all your stuff. Gate D to Oxlyers tends to take us about half an hour, for example.

[Keithy]

Don't camp in Dairy. Always full of shit. Camp elsewhere.

[Untz]

Don't camp in Dairy. Always full of shit. Camp elsewhere.

 

That's just overflow from Park Home. Terrible place.

[koj]

What do people think to the chances of getting into any of Darble, Pylon Ground, Rivermead or Bushy Ground (Bush Ground preferred) at around 11am on Thursday?

We normally head down mid/late Wednesday but I need to cover a couple of lectures on Wednesday afternoon so rather than risk all the rush-hour traffic and the risk of potentially arriving in the dark, we've decided to head off from Manchester first thing on Thursday (5.30am). Given the inevitable miles-away parking at that time, we're cautiously reckoning 11am on site.

We want some sleep at 3am so we weren't wanting a stupidly loud site - Bushy has been perfect in the past. But I've always got down there Wednesday so unchartered territory this year!

Any help greatly appreciated to stop pointless meandering with all our stuff. Ta! :-)

 

When we used to camp in Rivermead it never filled up all weekend, loads of room between tents.

 

Somebody told us it is because it's a new site which wasn't inside the fence pre-2010 (ish?) and people generally always go to where they've been in previous years.

[foolsgold1981]

Thank you Twisted Melon, Angus and Koj!

Really appreciate it, that's where we're going to head then.

Much obliged :-)

[brightyoungthing]

Okay can people help me.

 

Having a 'conversation' with our group that are going about which camp to go to:

 

Here's the scenario:

 

3 guys are getting 2am coach from London and will be the first to get there. They are taking two 8-man tents and a small tent.

 

The next big group of guys to get there will be bringing a 6 man (they think about 8am) and the next will be on site by 11am (bringing another 6 man)

 

the rest of the group to fill these tents will be arriving from the afternoon onwards.

 

We would like a centrally located campsite, have no issues with noise, would like the tents to be close to one another so would need somewhere that doesn't fill up until midday. What are you opinions?

 

Pretty much the same as above... if you're realistic and aren't expecting to be in the thick of it, you'll be fine. Look for places like Lime Kiln/ Pylon (depending on which side you want to be) and forget Oxylers/ Big ground etc.

 

We did Lime Kiln one year and it was about an hour walk back to the tent from the naughty corner (this is a guess, plus we were suitably messed up, but it didn't feel too long!) I don't think many people mind the walk - more chance to see crazy stuff!

 

Have fun !

[djdavejohnson]

I'm arriving around 8am on the Wednesday, east side. Will the fields to the north (i.e. Kidney Mead, Hawkwell etc.) likely to be full by the time I'm in?

[Splonk]

^ Kidney Mead could be a squeeze.

 

Hawkwell should be fine.

[djdavejohnson]

^ Kidney Mead could be a squeeze.

 

Hawkwell should be fine.

Lovely thanks. I'll be sure to check with the stewards upon entering!