Romahomers at music events & festivals

[ilovetravel]

Can any Romahome owners recommend some of their favourite music events and festivals they have been to, or are planning to visit this year. We would like to write about some of them in the next issue of Love Travel magazine.

Thanks!

Marianne

[Chrissy and Martin]

Hi Marianne
We've done a few over the years. Since my Romahome days, we've attended Cropredy (The Fairport Convention Festival near Banbury) which has a reputation for being one of the most friendly and comfortable. Its a reputation they almost certainly deserve and it is certainly one of the cheaper festivals. They very sensibly ensure a safe parking distance between units too.

Last year we took the van to the Cornbury festival. A nice event but they really crammed the camper vans up close to each other. You could almost roll over in bed and straight into somebody else's! It felt really unsafe. Some of the vans they take are absolute monsters and they really dwarf the Romahome.

I've camped (in a tent) at one or two other festivals over the years. (Lattitude, Guilfest, Oxford and Cambridge folk festivals)

I've researched a few for this year as we always like to get to at least one. I've noticed that in recent years festivals are charging quite a bit for camper vans which hardly seems fair if you have a van that takes up about one tenth of the space that the larger ones do.

This year we are breaking new ground and will be going to the Chagstock festival in Dartmoor. Its a small one and they are only charging about £40 for the Friday and Saturday ticket. That includes the cost of camping for two nights. This compares really well to the £120+ that most festivals will cost you per person.

Looking forward to that one. Here's a link to it. www.chagstock.info/index.htm

For festival virgins I'd recommend trying out just one day at Cropredy to see how you like it. The food and toilet facilities are better than most. I believe you can get free camping if you just attend the last day.

If you have the stomach for this one then you can get more adventurous next time! www.fairportconvention.com/

Martin

[rvdmikej]

Cynthia and I regularly take our C15 Hylo to a couple of bluegrass music festivals, namely North Wales at Conwy and Didmarton near Cirencester. These are lovely events, each with its own unique character. North Wales is relatively small and is centred on the town, with a feeling of community involvement. Didmarton is a much bigger affair, but equally friendly. At both events there are usually a number of Romas to be seen - even a Rominy on one occasion in Conwy. Camping is always very well catered for.

[rvdmikej]

Oh, we'll be in Conwy at the beginning of July (2nd -6th) this year.

[marc4242]

We're going to Glastonbury. I think that's the only one we're taking the 'van to.

It's a slight shame at G that Motorhomes / campervans are in fields outside the main festival and one has to show tickets on each entry / exit, which causes quite long queues at peak times. I guess they think of them as cars, whereas we think of them as obloid plastic tents ...

[sandwoodfolk]

We have been to a number of the Scottish folk festivals, but often don't camp on the festival sites, because we are of an age when we prefer to get all our sleep! (Often we have been working as Susan is a jeweller who sells through craft fairs).

We attend Girvan Folk Festival regularly, which has a lot of people coming up from northern England and Ireland; there is a festival campsite and also an adjacent commercial site with better facilities.

We also go to the Auchtermuchty Festival in Fife in August but don't stay over, although there is a formal camping field and an informal area of public land that is also used.

We attend the Traquair Fair at Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders each year, but usually go to a nearby commercial site for a quiet night - a great two day festival in early August unlike any other in Scotland, but this year it's a smaller event for some reason.

We are attending Keith Folk Festival (on the Moray Firth) next weekend, and Newcastleton (near the Cumbria border) in early July, and will give some info about camping at them.

[liljo]

Am off to Croissant Neuf in Usk,(the first time in Roma) so will report back later
Lin

[jayjay]

Jul 19, 2009 22:23:45 GMT liljo said:

Am off to Croissant Neuf in Usk,(the first time in Roma) so will report back later
Lin

You Lucky spud! Is Kiwidave going too - he said he'd bought a ticket! Have a good time, I might make it next year, you never know!

I'm going to a new, small fest at Moira Furnace in Derbyshire next month - 21-23rd August. £15 each for tickets, camping £5 for the weekend! Will report back later also! Nice to be in at the start of something new.

www.moirafurnacefolkfestival.co.uk/index.html

[sunshine]

I will be going to Whitby folk festival. It's a very traditional festival and there's always plenty to do although it is spread around the town.
Another festival I usually go to is Fylde at Fleetwood, Nr. Blackpool. Tents have been blown down in the past but the stewards are brilliant. One year a friend and myself opted to go indoor camping, after tent blew down, and we ended up in an old boxing gym. I have never heard a building creek so much but we saw a great concert and rolled downstairs to bed. I think the gym has now been pulled down.
Fylde has a 'Clog Dance Competition' you don't need to be in a team, just turn up on Sunday 6th September and join in or watch. There are also clog workshops on Saturday morning new people welcome.
www.fylde-folk-festival.com/

[liljo]

Hi Jackie

Just had a look at that site-fest sounds nice, Think Dave is going. Am looking forward to it muchly, we'll have to get you in early next year.

Have a fab time
Lin

[jayjay]

Hi Lyn, thanks for that and hope you have a good time at your fest too!

BTW, Merlin seems much better with the magnetic collar these days - more bounce!

[wheelmon]

I'm interested in these music fests you guys are talking about. I've only ever done 'ordinary' camping. I see in the C&CC mag that there's something folky going on at the moment in Bolton by Bowland - not so much a festival - just a meet of the 'Folk, Dance and Song Group' of the C&CC - impromptu stuff - bring your own instrument. (a DIY concert??) Anybody been to one of these?
My new 'single' status (not my choice) means that I have now joined the band of solo Romahomers so I need to find some camping now and again with more to offer than just a plain old field.
I would welcome anybody's comments and suggestions on camping where there's live music on the agenda. Where to find out about these events?
Keith

[yamaha]

Jul 23, 2009 11:27:49 GMT jayjay said:

Hi Lyn, thanks for that and hope you have a good time at your fest too!

BTW, Merlin seems much better with the magnetic collar these days - more bounce!

Hmmm - magnetic collar, eh? Maybe that's what I need - deffo loosing my "zip" lately!!

Mike

[jayjay]

Jul 23, 2009 14:50:28 GMT wheelmon said:

I'm interested in these music fests you guys are talking about. I've only ever done 'ordinary' camping. I see in the C&CC mag that there's something folky going on at the moment in Bolton by Bowland - not so much a festival - just a meet of the 'Folk, Dance and Song Group' of the C&CC - impromptu stuff - bring your own instrument. (a DIY concert??) Anybody been to one of these?

Keith

Google 'FolK Festival + area/shire' you want to go to and I betcha there's at least one! LOL!

I considered the C&CC ones last year when I was a member, but decided not to go in the end as the ones I was interested in had no facilities whatsoever, just a field, not even a chemiloo disposal - and I only have a posh bucket!!

Keith - get theyself over to the Small Motorhome Meet in September, me & Dave will be DIY musicmakers, so bring some earplugs!

Hmmm - magnetic collar, eh? Maybe that's what I need - deffo loosing my "zip" lately!!

Yamahahaha.... I need one for myself too. At the moment am sharing with the dog on a two days each turn basis.

[wheelmon]

Thanks jayjay for your advice and info. The September meet sounds a much better idea - can't wait to hear your Band!!

Dave, the thought of that rum & raisin chococate fudge has me dribbling down my chin - although I imagine that the roadkill sausages are an acquired taste.

Keith