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Travel Info
The Big Chill Festival 2008 will take place at Eastnor Castle Deer Park.Eastnor Castle is in the dramatic setting of the Malvern Hills, Herefordshire, and is surrounded by a beautiful deer park, arboretum and lake.
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Getting To Eastnor
Approximately 90% of the carbon footprint of an event like The Big Chill is generated by transport to and from the event.
We are taking a number of steps to reduce emissions, and the first step is to encourage travel by public transport. We would strongly encourage you to think of your mode of travel and try to reduce your carbon footprint.
Think about your luggage that you bring with you to the festival. Large amounts of luggage encourage travel by car. Think before you pack, do you need everything? By reducing the amount of luggage you bring, you may be able to travel by public transport. You will find almost anything you need during a festival weekend from the amazing array of food stalls and shops on site (no need to pack the pots and pans!).
Public transport is also a great way to meet new people on the way to the festival.
By Coach
In a coach full of likeminded Chillers you'll start the party early. There are pick-up points all over the country (see below), and with someone else taking care of the driving on Monday morning, you can party as late as you like on Sunday night. Best of all are the warm fuzzies you get from knowing your journey generated less than 10% of CO2 of those who traveled by car.
We have worked with National Express to be able to offer a great coach and festival package deal.
£150 includes a standard festival ticket and travel to and from the festival from anywhere in the UK. This works out at around £10* for travel from anywhere in the UK.
* This is based on a standard festival ticket fare including all booking fees and postage.
For full details of the National Express ticket offer check www.nationalexpress.com.
By Train
Train travel to the Big Chill is via Great Malvern station.
A free shuttle bus will operate between the station and the festival site. When you leave the station, please follow signs to the shuttle bus pick up / drop off area which is located directly outside the station. Shuttle buses leave at regular intervals during festival hours.
This year we have been working with First Great Western to bring you a great offer for groups of Chillers travelling together. With 'Groupsave' 3 or 4 can now travel by train to Great Malvern for the price of 2 adults. Plus up to 4 accompanying children can travel for £1 return. This means you can travel between London Paddington and the festival from £20.50 return (based on Saver ticket).
For more information and to book tickets visit www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/TheBigChill .
Groupsave is only available on Saver and Cheap Day Return tickets for journeys made on First Great Western trains. At least one adult must be present in the group.
For train times, fares and to book train tickets across the UK visit www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk
You can still buy a single train ticket via the First Great Western or via thetrainline.com
Train timetable information for your journey to and from the festival is available from - www.nationalrail.co.uk or 08457 48 49 50 or Train Tracker 0871 200 4950
By Bicycle
In response to feedback after last year's festival, secure weekend cycle storage will be available free of charge to anyone traveling to the festival by bicycle. Cycle parking will be located near the free lock-ups. You will need to bring your own bicycle lock. Please e-mail cycle08@bigchill.net for more info and to reserve a spot for your bike.
Think you live too far to cycle? These guys came by bike in 2006 - from Dublin!
General cycle information www.sustrans.org.uk
By Motorcycle
Please e-mail cycle08@bigchill.net for information about motorcycle parking.
By Car
Traffic congestion, associated with cars travelling to and from a festival and the associated pollution are clearly an environmental concern. Therefore we have introduced a Green Tax for all car parks.
If you do not purchase a parking ticket in advance, parking a car at The Big Chill will cost £10 (Green Tax) on festival days (Thu, Fri & Sat).
If you buy in advance its only £5 (Green Tax).
Car park tickets are available to buy online. All advance car park tickets are on sale until the 20th July 08.
Why introduce the Green Tax?
The Green Tax is to make people think about the way they travel to and from the Big Chill and encourage people to do their bit for the environment and become carbon friendly. Do you need to travel by car? Can you travel by public transport or can you share a lift. The more people you carry in a car the cheaper it is for you all and if every one does this it reduces traffic congestion and makes it easier to get in and out of the festival.
Why £10 on the day and £5 in advance?
By buying in advance, you have read this page and are thinking about the way you travel to the festival and hopefully it will encourage you to car share. Those that have not booked in advance will be charged the £10 Green Tax on the day. This increased charge will strongly encourage people to think about their mode of travel to the festival.
Think before you drive!
Money raised by the parking charge (Green Tax) will go directly towards subsidising coaches and provides free shuttle buses for train travelers. Any money left over will be split between a recycling programme, a carbon offset scheme and also re-invested into projects to help the local community.
Please try to pre-plan and choose the car park that you would like to park in with your fellow Chillers. Follow the relevant car park signs to your chosen car park. Detailed car travel directions are included with each festival ticket sold. If you have misplaced this leaflet, a download version will be available from here shortly.
Traffic routes have been designed with the Police and Council as the optimum routes to the festival. There will be certain roads closed around the site, please do not try to drive down these as they are all dead ends and will not lead to the festival. The roads are closed to assist you on your journey and also to keep local residents happy.
Switch off GPS when you leave the motorway as the directions on all systems are incorrect.
Display car park stickers well before you enter the site.
When entering the car parking areas please show your festival ticket for each person in the car when requested, but DO NOT GIVE YOUR TICKET TO ANYONE UNTIL YOU GET TO THE BOX OFFICE.
Please take as many passengers as you can. Splitting petrol and parking costs makes the journey less expensive for you, and reduces the number of cars heading to the festival, which means less CO2 going into our atmosphere. If you are driving to the festival and have space in your car, the liftshare forum (open from June) offers an easy way for drivers and passengers all over the country to find each other.
Traveling by car? - Please download our ‘how to reduce my carbon footprint’ leaflet which has useful facts and tips about being environmental friendly if you are driving by car.
Remember to tune into Big Chill FM (87.7FM) as soon as you leave the motorway for regular travel information.
Don't drive under the influence of drink when leaving the festival. For more information visit www.brake.org.uk
Taxi Drop off point and pick up points
If you have no alternative method of transport and have to use a taxi, there is a pick up and drop off taxi collection point near the South Car Park entrance.
These pages will be updated regularly with additional useful information. If you have anything to add, or you haven't found what you're looking for here please email info@bigchill.net.
Maps
As part of your route planning it would be useful to have a map. You will be able to download maps of the festival site nearer the time, so you can work out with your friends which camping area you plan to use and therefore which car park you need to head towards.
Other Useful links
www.traveline.org.uk
www.transportdirect.info
Bus timetables in the UK www.showbus.com/timetables
2007 Travel Data
Written: 2nd May, 08
Read: 32109 times
