Leaving the Festival

[dcummin]

I always leave the campervan fields at 4.30-5 am, and straight out.  They are so noisy with engines starting - packing up etc...im usually woken up anyway

[cb4747]

1 hour ago, broken monkey said:

Hi @cb4747 - I'm also from Kent (nr Maidstone) and planning on leaving early Monday morning rather than Sunday night as previous. How early do you usually leave? Want to get a few hours kip but worried about getting caught on the M25 during Monday morning rush hour. Ta.

I'm from the Medway towns! we usually pack the car up on the Sunday and then just stroll out early hours on Monday 3/4am and it's a breeze, miss the m25 traffic too. I know some may say that it's missing out on the Sunday night fun a bit but we would rather have an easy journey home than be sitting in traffic, tired, for hours. 

[cb4747]

1 hour ago, zico martin said:

This is kinda what we did that yet and the roads were pretty clear going west - on the m5 within an hour?

In 2014 I was heading east towards the m25, the traffic out of the SW was awful and by the time we got to the m25 we had hit rush hour and it was a car park, then the m20 was just as bad. Absolutely awful journey. 

[broken monkey]

19 minutes ago, cb4747 said:

I'm from the Medway towns! we usually pack the car up on the Sunday and then just stroll out early hours on Monday 3/4am and it's a breeze, miss the m25 traffic too. I know some may say that it's missing out on the Sunday night fun a bit but we would rather have an easy journey home than be sitting in traffic, tired, for hours. 

Awesome, thanks - that's what we're planning on doing I think - watch the headliners, catch a few hours sleep and then leave around 4am. In 2013, we left right after the headliner, got caught in 2hrs traffic leaving the site and then had a minor crash from driving without sleep (car written off!). Would rather avoid that this year, ha!

[zico martin]

my god why are so many people wanting to leave so early?  You arent all back to work are you?

[broken monkey]

Thankfully not back to work but need to return for the dog. The folks who look after him go back to work Monday morning so I hate leaving him alone all day.

[dooke10]

18 minutes ago, zico martin said:

my god why are so many people wanting to leave so early?  You arent all back to work are you?

Exactly. Get on it, deal with the consequences later. Its one weekend a year.

[Respectfatfrog]

whats open on a Monday? I know there's no music but is it worth staying? im happy not to rush and chill take it all in.

who controls the tatters or is it a free for all??

 

[evilduck]

I like the idea of waking up late, packing up the car and then hanging about the site for a while. All my journeys back to London have been nightmares no matter what time I leave, so I'd rather have some rest beforehand this year.

[zico martin]

21 minutes ago, evilduck said:

I like the idea of waking up late, packing up the car and then hanging about the site for a while. All my journeys back to London have been nightmares no matter what time I leave, so I'd rather have some rest beforehand this year.

yeah thats kinda my idea; have a lie in, chill and have one last mooch around and then leave dinner time!  No rush to go back to reality is there?

[Beerqueen]

My coach doesn't leave til 2 and at first I thought it was too late but I've come to get used to the idea - it means I can take my time in the morning doing whatever - maybe even a shower!  And mooch until I leave.  

And all you people heading back to London/Kent, wouldn't it make sense to go up to the M4 rather than go through Stonehenge?  

[broken monkey]

Having previously lived in London, I do prefer driving via the M4 but I also know it can be a nightmare going towards London on a Monday morning so will probably avoid it. I do drive to the festival that way though as our meeting point with friends (coming from London) is Reading motorway services.

[Wooderson]

20 hours ago, Jennings74 said:

It takes as long as it takes!!

Im normally in the pink car parks so the tip from me is to avoid going back through Glastonbury town to get to the M5, set your sat-nav to Cheddar Gorge and try to keep clear of Bristol unless you live there

Explain this one to me please mate.

[BLTN]

Planning on leaving late afternoon/evening on the Monday, is traffic likely to be cleared by then?

Also if we pack the tents up in the morning then try to re-enter will we be allowed? At what point do they stop you getting back in?

Thanks 

[Stu H]

We leave on the Sunday night and drive up to a hotel past Birmingham. Then do the rest of the journey to Scotland the next day. Not ideal, but I've been stuck in two 10+ hour jams back to London on the Monday and I swore I'd never do that again.

[Jennings74]

34 minutes ago, Wooderson said:

Explain this one to me please mate.

When you leave from the pink carparks you have to follow a fixed route away from the festival but it takes you south away from the site even though I live up north!! By default if I program my sat-nav to home it will send me on the most direct route to the M5 which will take me back into Glastonbury town via the A39 which on Monday is one long traffic jam 

By aiming for Cheddar you get far enough away from the festival traffic so when following signs to The M5 you join at j21 and avoiding the A38 north which takes you through the middle of Bristol.

 

It might not be the most perfect route but it has worked for me 

 

[Jennings74]

40 minutes ago, BLTN said:

Planning on leaving late afternoon/evening on the Monday, is traffic likely to be cleared by then?

Also if we pack the tents up in the morning then try to re-enter will we be allowed? At what point do they stop you getting back in?

Thanks 

So long as you still have a wristband on the gates are open (no need for a ticket or pass out) 

i normally do two trips and if the carparks are queuing I'd go back on site for a brew and nibbles before hitting the road 

I think it's 5pm when they kick you out (enough time to sleep if you've been raving till 6am) 

[The_Amazing_Oblong]

1 hour ago, Respectfatfrog said:

whats open on a Monday? I know there's no music but is it worth staying? im happy not to rush and chill take it all in.

who controls the tatters or is it a free for all??

 

Not a lot, some of the food vans are open. There are still a lot of workers on site so it's not really 'shut' as such but it's not pleasant out in general camping. Fields of rubbish.

The birds eating the scraps are worth watching though, whole flocks of em.

[Spindles]

That's about the sum of it.  The seagulls always circle over the grimiest campsites, so if nothing else it's a good indication of where to avoid in future.

[Jennings74]

1 hour ago, Respectfatfrog said:

whats open on a Monday? I know there's no music but is it worth staying? im happy not to rush and chill take it all in.

who controls the tatters or is it a free for all??

 

No one controls the tatters but I've not seen them going through zipped up tents only picking up cans of beer left lying around the fields. Might be different as it gets later but we left one of our tent up last year for a wonder round the markets to look for last minute bargains before finally packing up and going home. 

 

 

[HalfAnIdiot]

32 minutes ago, Jennings74 said:

No one controls the tatters but I've not seen them going through zipped up tents only picking up cans of beer left lying around the fields. Might be different as it gets later but we left one of our tent up last year for a wonder round the markets to look for last minute bargains before finally packing up and going home. 

 

 

You do need to be cautious though. I've seen people returning from a Monday walkabout to find their tent had gone!

The tatters do get more ruthless and competitive as the day goes on.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Last couple of years we have been in the car at 10am and back in London by around 4. The Stonehenge jam has become a part of the festival in itself.

[Jennings74]

39 minutes ago, HalfAnIdiot said:

You do need to be cautious though. I've seen people returning from a Monday walkabout to find their tent had gone!

The tatters do get more ruthless and competitive as the day goes on.

 

Very true..... Come the afternoon they are bigger scavengers than the seagulls!!

[scaryclaireyfairy]

Yeah, never leave your campsite unattended on the Monday.  Folk aren't even subtle about eyeing up your stuff.  We usually aim to be in the car and ready around mid-day.  It takes as long as it takes to get out.  I always leave salty snacks, water etc in the car to keep us sane & occupied while we crawl along.  And there are always a few leftover mangled breakfast bars to chew on.

Edited June 9, 2016 by scaryclaireyfairy

[M_Il]

9 hours ago, MoilyX said:

Where do you leave the 303 for that shortcut?  Usually the queues are back to the A36 at least, as I've escaped via Salisbury in the past. Do you head up to Warminster way and across Shrewton?

You leave the A36 at Chitterne B390 then head towards Larkhill you will save a lot of time during busy times