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Boardmasters!

75 replies

Peclet · 04/08/2025 08:26

Hi all-
looking for experienced mums who have had their offspring go and return from this festival.

DD and 3 mates are going on Wednesday and leaving on the Monday. Is the traffic a nightmare? Any camping tips?

Any advice woild be appreciated.

OP posts:
Enterthewolves · 06/08/2025 08:36

The risk of needle stick injuries is minuscule - heroin use is declining and almost non-existent in the age group attending Boardmasters. The risk of contaminated drugs is much higher. Give harm minimisation advice (start slow, don’t take more if you think the first amount isn’t working as it might kick in, drink water, try and have a spotter, sign up
to We are The Loop drug alerts) and remind them festivals are the worst place to take drugs (dealers are less concerned about you as you won’t be a repeat customer, large crowds with people you don’t know are unsafe etc.) so ideally don’t do it!

KidsHaveAllTheFun · 06/08/2025 14:58

Well mine are all there, however they weren't really searched at all.

StillChangingForTheBetter · 06/08/2025 14:59

KidsHaveAllTheFun · 06/08/2025 14:58

Well mine are all there, however they weren't really searched at all.

yeah the searches are non existent. Last year you could see the weed haze above the crowd all night 🤣

KidsHaveAllTheFun · 06/08/2025 15:20

I can imagine - they didn't check for the litre bottle of vodka so I can't imagine they would ever find some weed.

Peclet · 06/08/2025 15:41

Oh wowo! Can’t believe some are alredy in. Dd is in tomorrow…yikes!!

good luck everyone x

OP posts:
Angrymum22 · 06/08/2025 15:59

Dropping off- expect queues
Picking up - expect to spend all day queuing
WiFI is terrible if you want to communicate use mobile texting but don’t expect swift answer because reception is very poor.

Encourage them to check in with you daily.

The campsite is divided into zones. I can’t remember the names but there are two that wage war every year. Your DD will know which they are and will hopefully avoid.

DS did 4 successive years. My late DSis lived in Cornwall so the first year ( he was 16) I was in easy driving distance. The following year the friend he was going with pulled out at the last minute. We had booked a cottage close to Newquay ( we know the area well) so DS attended in the evenings and crashed in a friends tent. I dropped him off at around 6pm each night and picked him up at around 7am each morning. Had no problem with traffic at these times. His last two years his friends and him drove down themselves. They left early Monday morning (4am) but still had to queue to get out.

When I say queue it can take 3-4 hours to travel from Newquay to the A30, this is usually a 15-20min journey.
When the boys went down last year they parked the car in Newquay in long stay and then waited until Monday evening before attempting to drive out of the town.
It looks like the weather is going to be good so I would plan a day on the beach in Newquay on the Monday with a huge picnic, they will be starving and then leave it till late to leave the area. It’s no fun sitting in a car all day in a traffic jam.

Failing that if you are travelling from South Wales consider chartering a large yacht and pick them up from the harbour😂.

With regard to safeguarding and safety it is a big worry. But hopefully your teenagers can be sensible. DS survived and didn’t manage to lose anything apart from a few items of clothing. He came home exhausted and with festival flu every year so make sure you have paracetamol. He avoided having anything stolen, but took the bare minimum. Last year they spent most of the daytime in Newquay in a friendly out of the way bar where the food was good and the beer cheap. They are private school boys and know how to behave when it suits them. It also meant that the locals they befriended kept an eye on their car. The weather wasn’t that brilliant so fun on the beach wasn’t as good as previous years.

They seem to have very little trouble considering the size of the festival. It’s not perfect but after 4 years I would be happier with Boardmasters than Reading/Leeds.

KidsHaveAllTheFun · 06/08/2025 16:40

I have Reading stress after this- this was sold as practice for Reading 🙄.

I am chilled irl, it is just nice having a little place here where I can put my worries. I'd much rather they were out having fun than shut away in their bedroom, but it does come with worries.

I'm glad there were no mobiles when I was young, my parents would have had kittens.

KidsHaveAllTheFun · 06/08/2025 17:58

The campsite is divided into zones. I can’t remember the names but there are two that wage war every year. Your DD will know which they are and will hopefully avoid.

Boilers and Jaws appear to be the more 'hardcore' camping areas.

CryHavoc · 06/08/2025 18:15

Mine is there, and has sent me a photo of her tent - she’s on Tesco mobile and seems to have 5G at the campsite at least. She’s jubilant that they didn’t check her suitcase so her ciders and WKD were safe.

I hope everyone’s children have a brilliant time.

KidsHaveAllTheFun · 06/08/2025 18:40

@CryHavoc mine were worried that there stash would be found, I think they were a bit disappointed no one even looked after taking the time to hide it 😂

I wonder if it is a numbers issue, today is less busy so maybe the network can cope? (I have no idea if this is still true but remember it being an issue on NYE)

Lillupsy · 06/08/2025 19:02

KidsHaveAllTheFun · 06/08/2025 17:58

The campsite is divided into zones. I can’t remember the names but there are two that wage war every year. Your DD will know which they are and will hopefully avoid.

Boilers and Jaws appear to be the more 'hardcore' camping areas.

They’ve renamed all the camping areas this year. My son is in camping plus as thought it would be slightly safer with staff around (plus a proper loo and shower 🤣)

massistar · 06/08/2025 19:20

DD safely dropped off this afternoon. Zero traffic or queues. So well organised!
Tent up and time to party. 🤣

Tantomile · 06/08/2025 20:36

Love the idea that 'private school boys know how to behave'
Anyway, we live in West Cornwall and most kids go from year 11 and probably stop 2-3 years later or just buy a day ticket to see a band they really like. My son went twice then Reading then Primavera Sound. Then got a girlfriend who hates tents, cold, mud. I was watching on TV and the kids all looked so young (GCSE age).
Security is poor, safety isn't great. There were big problems getting water when my son went. I guess it's easier if you live closer but we never insisted on phone calls - let them go (pick up any pieces later). Yes, festival flu is a thing (festival covid when my son last went).

KidsHaveAllTheFun · 07/08/2025 15:44

I've just asked for one message a day, had a few more today as sending random pictures - had a good first night of partying and more friends are arriving today.

@Peclet is your dd there now?

Lacoutine · 07/08/2025 19:05

Hope everyone’s DC are having a lovely time - we managed to sort the ticket in the end and all going well so far I think. Though he has my credit card on his Apple Pay as there is a problem with his bank account at the moment and I have just noticed a payment to a barber in Newquay so God knows what he’s had done Shock

Peclet · 07/08/2025 19:15

@Lacoutine that’s brave of you’ with the credit card!

DD is in and tent is pitched up so far so good.

OP posts:
KidsHaveAllTheFun · 07/08/2025 19:16

@Lacoutine

Boardmasters!
Lacoutine · 08/08/2025 19:48

Well no photographic evidence yet so we will see - and he can’t find the credit card at the moment (turns out my DH actually gave him the physical card as he couldn’t make Apple Pay work 🙄).
Luckily I can freeze it and unfreeze when he eventually finds it at the bottom of his tent which I am sure is a pit…

Littlefish · 08/08/2025 21:50

Peclet · 04/08/2025 11:59

Amending whether or not to put for a Sunday exit. I think that would be best but am feeling DD will be very opposed. Also hellava drive for DH who is picking up.

do the shuttles run all the time from town into Newquay? Are they on a loop.

I am nervous about the stealing!

great tips about keeping things dry. Thank you as I hadn’t thought of that!

2 years ago I decided to do a Sunday night pick up. I met dd and 2 friends at 7.30pm with all their bags. It was absolutely hoofing with rain! The other two girls then went back to the stages while do stayed and chatted for another half an hour.

The plan was for them to all to go and see the last bands and then come back and find me as soon as the main bands finished.

However, the rain was so heavy that the two friends reappeared after half an hour and we made the most brilliant early getaway at about 8.30pm and managed to miss all the traffic!

They’d been there since Wednesday and had had enough!

Reggybalboa · 08/08/2025 22:41

does anyone know how early the pick up /drop off car park opens on the Monday morning? I’m planning on getting there at 7am.

familyissues12345 · 08/08/2025 23:15

DS1 went 3 years ago, aged 18. Drove there with loads of mates. They had a great time, although it was boiling and there was theft - a lot of theft.

Peclet · 09/08/2025 11:08

I’m really really hoping there has been no theft.

I’ve had a couple of messages from Dd- been swimming and having a blast!!

OP posts:
KidsHaveAllTheFun · 09/08/2025 15:44

Mine didn't take anything worth nicking other than alcohol, but they haven't heard of anyone having things nicked, although have been told Sunday night is the worst.

I've seen a post on SM with my kid and their friends in the background - they look like there are having a blast.

KidsHaveAllTheFun · 10/08/2025 22:57

Anyone know what went on, on the main stage?

Loads of talk about organised violence on the FB page, and videos of tents being destroyed

Lillupsy · 10/08/2025 23:15

I haven’t seen the videos but I’ve been reading the FB page. Sounds like security is being doubled and drones are already up in the air