Glastonbury Festival

Bicycles and motorbikes

Bicycling is a great way to travel to the Festival !

The Festival site is a few miles to the south of Route 3 of the National Cycle Network, which runs between Glastonbury and Wells. Ffi call: Sustrans T: 0117 929 0888 or click here.

Bicycles can be left at any of the free property lock-ups, open 24 hours a day until about 4pm Monday. Any pedestrian entrance can be used.

Motorcycles and quad bikes are not allowed on site - there is a secure, lit compound just outside Vehicle Gate 6. Note that motorcycles do not require a car parking pass. To find this you follow signs for the Red Route, staff will then direct you.

Some useful information about bringing your motorcycle to site was compiled by message board regular Hash4Cash.

The Hash4Cash guide to Motorcycles at Glastonbury.

Introduction
I have been going to Glastonbury since 82, and have been riding bikes legally since 84 and have only ever hitchhiked or ridden a bike there. Oddly it has only ever rained heavily when I have hitchhiked, so rather than tempting fate I now always ride.

In the early days you could get your bike onto site, camp with it and ride it around (very handy for finding your tent), those days are long gone now, but Glastonbury does provide for the rider. There is a fenced of compound for motorbikes that is lit and guarded 24 hours. I felt safer leaving my bike there than I do in some town car/bike parks.

Packing
You are going to have to carry all the stuff in, so don't load up with more than you can carry. Get the weight distributed so it does not affect the centre of balance of the bike. I like panniers as they lower the weight and give it more stability. Before now I have loaded a 250 with 2 crates of bear, 4 man tent, 2 sleeping bags and 1 girlfriend and clothes.

Bungie cords are handy for strapping things on. Give everything a good tug once loaded; if it comes off now it's better than on the motorway.

Arriving
I don't like motorways and try to avoid them at all costs. Therefore the West Country will always involve the A303 which I leave at Ilchester and follow the sign posts to Street staying on the B3151. There is a lovely hill where the Tor just appears in the distance.

If you arrive early on the Wednesday there aren't many cars around and its plain sailing all the way to the site. Otherwise you just have a couple of miles of overtaking to do. Careful because there are normally loads of people wondering around, and they are tricky to see in the dark.

Motorcycles DO NOT need a car parking permit but have a fiver ready in case you are the only one who knows this.

The Compound
Once at the compound the guard will fill in a slip with your bike details on, colour, number plate, make, model etc, and you park it up. This slip is so you can re-enter the compound to get the bike out. I have returned on Monday with wet wad of illegible paper pulp. I was escorted to my bike and had to show the guard that the keys worked before he would let me leave with it.

Helmets
I feel safe leaving the lid chained to the bike as well, means you don't have to lug it to a lockup. It will get damp and dusty, but it is there if you want to go for a 'burnabout' one afternoon. There are lockups available once inside if you don't feel safe leaving your lid on the bike.

Related Areas

News Stories

General Links

PlayLouder