Campsites in the rain

[Unawarecaesar]

Considering the way the weather has been and could possibly continue to be, are there any particular areas in the campsites that are known for flooding(other than Philippa's van)? 

[devonhammer]

1 minute ago, Unawarecaesar said:

Considering the way the weather has been and could possibly continue to be, are there any particular areas in the campsites that are known for flooding(other than Philippa's van)? 

Oxlyers and bottom of Pennards are probably worst. Having said that, all the vehicles will have stayed clear of camping areas and there's not that much rain predicted, so you'll be fine.

[Jamie D]

1 minute ago, Unawarecaesar said:

Considering the way the weather has been and could possibly continue to be, are there any particular areas in the campsites that are known for flooding(other than Philippa's van)? 

I think everywhere is fine these days. After the flood of 2005 they seriously improved the drainage and the part that flooded (bottom of Pennards) is no longer public camping.

Just use your common sense and camp somewhere high, not at the bottom of a hill or near a ditch and you should be absolutely fine.

[Heartbreaker]

Yeah, I tend avoid the very bottom of any hills as a general precaution, but the drainage is excellent all over the site nowadays. I've camped in Oxlyers in 2008 through to 2011 with no issues with standing water or mud.

[Padgey]

I was wondering if people are changing there minds about where they are going to camp? I'm still heading for the top of Michaels Mead, never had a problem there.

[Jamie D]

Another thing to try to avoid is not only camping by a main path but somewhere that might end up being used as a shortcut cut through. I.e. when a main path is congested people might decide it's quicker to pick their way through a campsite to get where they want to be. Not great when it's muddy as tents just end up a muddy trodden on mess.

I've camped on the higher part of Paines Ground for the last few years now and that's been pretty spot on. Might be a problem if you need some peace and quiet at night though as Arcadia is just next door!

[russycarps]

I can still vividly recall seeing people laughing and diving into the flooded area of pennards in 2005, as unbeknown to them a flotilla of turds was floating down towards them from the upended toilets further up the field.

Halcyon days.

 

[stuartbert two hats]

16 minutes ago, Heartbreaker said:

Yeah, I tend avoid the very bottom of any hills as a general precaution, but the drainage is excellent all over the site nowadays. I've camped in Oxlyers in 2008 through to 2011 with no issues with standing water or mud.

To be fair, the site has been nowhere near as wet as this year since 2007.  I would camp in Oxlyers at your peril.

[Joshuwarr]

2 minutes ago, stuartbert two hats said:

To be fair, the site has been nowhere near as wet as this year since 2007.  I would camp in Oxlyers at your peril.

2011 was pretty damn muddy, to be fair. Oxlyers was absolutely fine though so even with heavier rain I'd have thought it would cope.

[Heartbreaker]

Just now, stuartbert two hats said:

To be fair, the site has been nowhere near as wet as this year since 2007.  I would camp in Oxlyers at your peril.

Cheers for the advice S2H. I wasnt there in 07, but figured it wouldn't be too bad with no rain for the next day or so. Then again, I'm taking a group of 8 festival (not just Glasto, any festival) virgins, so a baptism of fire maybe in order???? Mwaaaahahahaha

[stuartbert two hats]

Just now, Heartbreaker said:

Cheers for the advice S2H. I wasnt there in 07, but figured it wouldn't be too bad with no rain for the next day or so. Then again, I'm taking a group of 8 festival (not just Glasto, any festival) virgins, so a baptism of fire maybe in order???? Mwaaaahahahaha

It might be ok.  If there really isn't much rain over the festival and it's fine when you arrive, then go for it, you might be able to make a decision on the day.  I wasn't actually there in 2011, but I am quite the Glastonbury nerd, so have a pretty good idea of what the conditions were like that year and I'm fairly convinced it's wetter now.  

Oxlyers is flat, low lying ground.  And the ground is fairly saturated now.  It might be fine.  It might be.

[bexj]

I didn't consider 2011 as being a "wet" year.  Compared to '97, '98 and '07 that is....  2005 was wet, but intense and short lived, so whilst the flooding caused major problems, it was reasonably dry by the end of the weekend.  The WET years are wall-to-wall (or hedge-to-hedge) mud, over the ankles, absolutely everywhere.....and if I recall, they had all had a long period of saturated ground in the weeks leading up to the festival.....just saying.....

[stuartbert two hats]

Just now, bexj said:

I didn't consider 2011 as being a "wet" year.  Compared to '97, '98 and '07 that is....  2005 was wet, but intense and short lived, so whilst the flooding caused major problems, it was reasonably dry by the end of the weekend.  The WET years are wall-to-wall (or hedge-to-hedge) mud, over the ankles, absolutely everywhere.....and if I recall, they had all had a long period of saturated ground in the weeks leading up to the festival.....just saying.....

07 wasn't that saturated before the festival.  It just wouldn't stop raining during.

[bexj]

Fair enough, memory is a bit hazy ;-)

[GlastoAwe]

Agree 2011 was nothing by comparison to 2007 - mud flooding over the top of your wellies wet!

[FestiZebra]

Friend has been through oxylers and says the mud is half way up her shins there at the moment 

[Titters]

6 hours ago, GlastoAwe said:

Agree 2011 was nothing by comparison to 2007 - mud flooding over the top of your wellies wet!

How my conversations go when people ask me about 2007....

(Until someone who was there in '98 pipes up)

Edited June 20, 2016 by Titters

[bexj]

The biggest difference between 07 and 98 was the temperature.  It was frickin cold as well as wet in 98....we nearly didn't ever go again.... 

[GlastoAwe]

1 hour ago, Titters said:

How my conversations go when people ask me about 2007....

(Until someone who was there in '98 pipes up)

Exactly this! My sister was trying to tell me last week that download had been like Glastonbury and I was biting my tongue until I couldn't any longer and I had to get my photos out (the ones I took during gaps in the rain!) She failed to see the inches difference in mud depth but I know!!! 

[irm96]

3 hours ago, FestiZebra said:

Friend has been through oxylers and says the mud is half way up her shins there at the moment 

Was planning on Oxylers but I do not like the sound of that, any veterans care to help a first timer, what would you say is the next best thing?

[Andeeroo]

Bushy/Rivermead are our chosen fields usually. We'll avoid Rivermead this year though due to the fact that it was pretty badly hit by the recent weather I think and I can't imagine the ground is in very good nick.

Bushy should be fine as it is on a slight incline, although the bottom of the field through to Silver Hayes can get very, very muddy which is something to bear in mind.

Edited June 20, 2016 by Andeeroo

[fat_man_joe]

Is Paines Ground/Dairy Ground (have the names switched or have I gone crazy?) notorious for water? I can't remember from my one wet year.

[Dave_c]

I'm going for darble again this year up near PGA at top of the incline. 

[FestiZebra]

29 minutes ago, irm96 said:

Was planning on Oxylers but I do not like the sound of that, any veterans care to help a first timer, what would you say is the next best thing?

I've only been once so can't help you there, will ask her again tomorrow for you and see how it is then!

[LeeGalvin]

28 minutes ago, Andeeroo said:

Bushy/Rivermead are our chosen fields usually. We'll avoid Rivermead this year though due to the fact that it was pretty badly hit by the recent weather I think and I can't imagine the ground is in very good nick.

Bushy should be fine as it is on a slight incline, although the bottom of the field through to Silver Hayes can get very, very muddy which is something to bear in mind.

We'll be sticking to Bushy again, I think. We usually go towards the hedge at the bottom, but I think we'll opt for a bit further up the incline this time!