Burghley Survival Guide - give me your top tips!!!

ArcticFox

ArcticFox

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Hi all

Taking non horsey OH to Burghley and really looking forward to it. I'm a member of EHOA so hoping to be able to go into their tent (I believe I can pay for OH to go in- not sure if its worth it or not)

we are travelling down Thurs am, and going on Friday and Saturday. staying at a hotel up the road.

Any tips? things we should pack for the day etc etc??

many thanks :D
 
Suncream and waterproofs :D

Hehe, on a more serious note, I'd recommend getting the shopping out of the way on Friday. You won't want to miss the cross-country action on the Saturday and the shopping village there is huge and very easy to get distracted by.

Also allow a lot of time to get there. We did what you're doing the year before last and it took flipping ages to get from the hotel, get there and get parked on the Saturday morning. I don't know how busy the Friday is likely to be but I think I read somewhere that they're expecting 60,000 people on Saturday and it takes a long time to get all those cars through the gates!

If your OH is enjoying himself watching the action then fab but if not, there's a Land Rover experience day thing down by the bridge which you could always leave him at ;) The walk up to the Cottesmore Leap looks far on the map but you can't go all the way to Burghley and not see that fence - it's enormous!
 
- Food/Drink is ridiculously expensive to take a picnic and bottles of water.
- Do your shopping early in the morning or on the Friday as Saturday shopping is ridiculous (also be aware that there are very few bargains to be had)
- The cash machines charge you so take some cash ready
- Walk the XC course backwards to avoid the worst of the crowds and remember that even though the crowds are big most people will move off after they've seen one/two riders so there is always opportunity to get to the front if you're patient
- Waterproof picnic blanket and umbrella are essential bits of kit!
- If you haven't got grandstand tickets for the Friday don't worry, there are usually plenty of reasonable seats in the free stands, though be aware that they're not all covered so if its raining get there early!
- Make sure to take the opportunity to watch the warm up, both the one by the grandstand and the one lower down by the river
- Comfortable shoes, rucksack and a change of clothes are essential! (traveling home soaking wet is not fun :o )

That's all I can think of, am sure I'll add some more later! (Sorry they're probably all a bit generic!)
 
Comfortable shoes! There's a lot of walking to be done at Burghley! :)
Have a big breakfast before you leave and bring flasks of drink - £1.50 for a cup of tea is usually the going rate!
Get your shopping done and out of the way in the morning, take it back to the car at lunch time and enjoy the show in the afternoon
Prepare for all weather conditions - layering is key
 
If you cba with the whole picnic thing, just bring drinks and go to the local produce pavillion on site where prices were a lot more sensible. Burghley estate venison burger for less than generic burger from catering stand. Or on Saturday get there early snd buy bread and cheese or ham to make sandwiches. Fresh baked pizzas weren't bad value one year either
 
We always pack a waterproof picnic blanket in a rucksack along with a few bits of picnic nibbles And champagne or jug of pims!) while we walk round on the Sat. We leave another coolbox of picnic in the car for when we've walked round. We used to carry folding stools, but they were annoying!

I agree with walking it backwards, we do too, in fact we start at whichever fence is nearest to where we park too, and then walk backwards.

I also agree with doing all you shopping on the Friday if you're there both days. Shopping on XC day is hell on earth compared to all the other days!

Have some tissues in your pockets - loos sometimes run out of loo roll..
 
Im another who tends to walk the course backwards :)

On the sunday when the sj has finished a lot of the local produce stands sell their food off cheap - we got some divine cheeses, pies and chocolate cakes super cheap last time - not great for the waistline though!

have a fab time. I cant make it this year, gutted, I love Burghley
 
Can't think of anything else to say other than its my absolute favourite event, we're going on the SJ day this year as prior commitments have put a stop to XC day, but even my totally non horsey OH really enjoys it.....even the shopping!

its not like badminton for offers/deals, but i'd say there is more high end & lifestyle stuff
 
Ooooo how exciting - first Burghley! - you will will have a wonderful time. I'm going all 4 days for the 9th year running and I am already hugely excited. Be prepared to get through a lot of cash, seriously. If you can, get member's badges (member and guest). That means you can get into the members' enclosure (nice toilets, and somewhere to sit and have a coffee whilst planning your next shopping bit). Don't expect to find any bargains. Used to be able to but rarely these days. The scotch egg stand in the food area is our usual luncheon stop - go early, choose your egg and pay for it and they will keep it in their fridge until lunch time. The fudge stand on the corner next to the arena is always our first stop, oh, and the liquorice man. Walk the XC course backwards (we always do and then you can see the horses coming towards you, and there are fewer people walking it backwards). Watch out for dog leads when walking the XC (I have gone flying several times).

Enjoy!!
 
We are there with our caravan for the whole event on their site.
However if you are driving on the queues especially on Saturday to get on the site and park are long so get there early. Before we caravaned we would pack breakfast (bacon butty and coffee ) and eat it after we arrived aimed to be on site about 8:30! The shops are quieter then as well.
If you are an HSBC customer on showing your bank card at their stand you get free tea coffee/chocolate and biscuits at their tent (nice coffee as well!) in the shopping area.
We always take our dogs to the 'Pedigree chum agility challenge' which is set up on the edge of the site and is great fun and very lighthearted.
We love Burghley (prefer it to Badminton!) We always do both events and find they are different.
Have a great time.
 
I would make full use of your EHOA membership and base yourself at their really nice marquee. They supply free tea and coffee (they welcome donations, but dont charge per cup or anything) - so you can save a fortune on that - they supply water as well. Their lunches are really good quality and great value. And they have screens up showing all the action - so if it is pouring with rain on the Saturday,you may find yourself in there instead of on the course for at least part of the day. Everyone very friendly and a great atmosphere.
 
Tanta said:
I would make full use of your EHOA membership and base yourself at their really nice marquee. They supply free tea and coffee (they welcome donations, but dont charge per cup or anything) - so you can save a fortune on that - they supply water as well. Their lunches are really good quality and great value. And they have screens up showing all the action - so if it is pouring with rain on the Saturday,you may find yourself in there instead of on the course for at least part of the day. Everyone very friendly and a great atmosphere.
Click to expand...

PS you can pay to get your OH into the EHOA tent, although may not be able to on the SAturday when they get quite full.
 
I'm really enjoying this thread as we are off to Burghley too. It's my second time, but last time was a long time ago and I was grooming for a Young Event horse (he won! :D ) so really didn't get to do much in the way of spectating!

I'm loving the idea of a bottle of champagne in the rucksack, but don't think we'll bring a picnic.. Our favourite foodie part of Badminton is all the artisan produce, so we're hoping to eat our way round Burghley too! :D
What's the train like from Peterborough on the Saturday?
Thinking of going down that route rather than driving in for xc day.
 
I can't really add anymore to the advice as its all been said really!!

But I am going on the Saturday for XC day - I go every year :smile3: can't remember a year I haven't gone with my mum since the age of 1 when I was pushed around in a pushchair! haha, it is a brilliant event, which everyone should experience at least once! :biggrin3:
 
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