Burghley

[smerlin]

Any tips for going to Burghley?

Am taking DD who is 4 so sensible shoes are first on the list! We are going to have to walk round gradually I think so she doesn't get tired (actually walks a lot but best if regular distractions so doesn't realise she is!)

Are the food stalls actually good? Went to Hickstead recently and could believe how awful the food was- just burger van type stuff. Will bring a picnic unless the food is actually interesting?

We're going for the first time too, so lurking for advice.

Usually a variety of food stalls, more than just burgers definitely.
Walking the whole XC course will be a lot for a 4 yrs old child.
There's a lot else going on and you could miss stuff if you're out on the course the whole day.
Allow plenty of time to get there, traffic will be queuing well back.

Variety of food stalls but they are expensive - £5 for chips! I’d bring a packed lunch. Plus, if it’s hot, some picnic time on a rug unde a tree is lovely.

Also i’d try to do a couple of fences in the day, not all. The water jumps are v popular. Always something happening there

Traffic isn’t too bad - very organised. Have fun!

Bumping as I'm going on Saturday for first time too.

Will pack picnic and comfortable shoes.

Have decided not to take dog as think he will get bored and annoying after a couple of hours.

They do a dog crèche apparently

We've not missed in more than 20 years. I presume that you're talking about going on Saturday for the cross country. We prefer to go on an earlier day - usually Thursday - because the shops (a highlight for many) are rammed on Saturday and we don't want to miss the horses anyway.

Yes they have a dog crèche but I wouldn't take one..

I wouldn't expect a 4yo to walk the whole course. It's massive and really hilly.. I'd head for the main water complexes and base yourself there for quite a few horses. They have a big screen at Trout Hatchery which is helpful.

Take a picnic blanket to sit on and/or small stools/chairs as this will make it much more pleasurable.

Remember to get there really early. We aim to be in by at least 9am otherwise you spend lots of time queuing and are miles away.

We do walk most of the course but do it in reverse. Find it better than going with the herd.

Remember it is massively busy - one of the biggest sporting events in Britain of the year on the Saturday. Even Thursday and Friday are busy with shoppers and dressage fans. There are plenty of places to buy food from (we like the stalls near the water splash) but I would still take my own food for picnicking on way round.

Remember though that the food part of the shops is second to none - there is no type of food they don't sell there although sadly the scotch egg specialist isn't going to be there this year.

If planning on going Sunday you may need to consider buying grandstand tickets (if not already sold out) to watch the show jumping. We watch the working hunters in the other ring instead.

I wouldn't recommend buying Members badges if only going one day. It is better to have has a base for the week whereas you'll be out in the country on Saturday.

The shops are fantastic and don't forget they open early and close late. There are loads of stalls in the various marquees as well as main big ones.

They do specialist talks down at the square near the posh marquee (can't remember it's name) which is also the area for the best equestrian stalls and feed merchants.

It is an overwhelming experience !!

Thanks for the tips @Butkin1

I love Burghley- am just on my way now for dressage day and will go back on Saturday.

The food is very varied but very expensive and I'd take a picnic if walking the course (we usually take a few sanis and drinks as we walk round then have a proper picnic after).

Advice-
Take a pocket full of tissues (Loos run out of loo roll) and always go to the toilet well before you're desperate. The further away from the shopping village you are, the worse the toilets get and the bigger the queues. Nicest loos are by the warmup area.
Don't set off walking from fence 1 at the start - hall the people there will too! We go up to the water jump an hour before it starts, watch the first few there and walk it backwards- works well. Finishing at Discovery valley where you can sit on the hill and see them pass both ways.
Get there before 9 if poss. The queues get gradually longer after then.

Re the dog crèche, it's ok, v noisy, but about £10/dog. Only used it once. My dogs adore Burghley- it's a good walk, and we always keep them at the back of crowds (husband is 6'4 and can see over everyone else, I go to the front. We've camped at events for years so our dogs are very used to it all and don't bat an eyelid. Plus they come first- they get shade/breaks/water as they need..

Going on Sunday for first ever trip there! Very excited! Is it possible to walk round the xc on Sunday does anyone know? After we have done our class that Is what we would love to do!

Yes on Sunday you can walk right up to the fences.

I've just walked a good portion of the course (some really scary, technical combinations in it, a real good course). There is a fair portion of it that isn't holly, that you could walk with a 4yr old. The first and last three fences, the two water fences in front of the Lion bridge, the Leaf Pit and Discovery Valley. Depending on where you end up parked you could see a couple of tough fences on the way in. I usually park myself at the Trout Hatchery a good 60-90 mins before it starts (there's a bar and coffee kiosk there, plus a Joules mini shop and big screen too. If you get a good spot with your blanket or chair it's a good place to watch a few.

This is such good advice everyone thank you! So much to prepare before Saturday!

Thank you everyone for all the advice. I had the best time yesterday. Glad I brought my own food and drink as soo hot and soo busy. Didn't manage to see all the course, but good to know from you guys that's normal! Something new left for next year.

Saw Mark Todd at the Leaf Pit before he went out to thrilled by that. Was great to be able to get so close to the action at the different jumps after seeing it on TV for years.

Boy do my feet hurt this morning though as i did a traffic-avoiding 40 min walk there and back plus all round the course

Didn't buy anything at the shops as I was looking at 10-11am and it was heaving, sure it was better later in the day.

Glad you had a great day. I didn't end up going back yesterday as my husband has been ill and I didn't feel I could leave him alone another day, so I watched it on tv. It looked even busier than usual (I thought that on Thursday too).

It is a long day and a lot of walking. The course alone is about 6 miles, I think. On Thursday I walked 11 miles between the shopping I did, walking to and from the arena and walking part of the course!

Usually Thursday is a good day to shop, it's a bit quieter (usually), and Sunday while the last 20 are jumping is the best shopping- its deathly quiet and the shops often drop their prices to save carting their stock home! If we go Sunday we don't buy grandstand tickets, we watch the big screen they put up next to the bar at Discovery valley (also near the sj warmup arena, which I like watching).

I adore Burghley- we even got engaged there years ago at the Cottesmore leap.

Thanks from me also for the tips - we absolutely loved it! Saw quite a few jumps although by no means all! Trout hatchery was our favourite bit as so technical.

We tended to watch about three horses on one jump and then wander to find another one.

So glad we brought food with us as

No time to go to food stands really. Also went round shops but prices seemed normal for a lot of things and heaving so in the end decided we would rather just go and get a good spot for the horses.

Next year's plan will definitely be to go on a quieter day as well so can do the food walk etc.

We had a wonderful time- great tips on here, thank you!

We went on Friday so we could do the shops properly including lots of time spent trying out various jumping saddles (great place for this..). We ended up only buying some travelling boots and lots of delicious food from the various stalls. Still walked over 14,000 steps without any course walk so Saturday must have been exhausting!

We definitely thought the Friday crowd was up on previous years and it was impossible to get anywhere near the Young Event Horse competition although we did watch the stallion parade.

Baldricks - were you doing the Gold Cup there yesterday? If so how did you get on?? We had an abortive trip to Chard (4 hours there and 5 back!).

We did OK Butkin! Certainly was an experience! Chard is a loooong trip- we are very lucky to have qualified so it was never on the cards going but hope it was worth it for you?

Sadly not. Now doomed to go to Bakewell (at Chatsworth) on Sunday for an 8am class. Gulp !!!

That is a long trip too Butkin, I will keep all my fingers crossed for you!