I still had a great time! Poncho's and wellies all the way!!!
 

oldskool


I love it when people say the mud/rain/weather had no impact whatsoever on their enjoyment of the festival. I mean, really?

The only time that the rain really got to me was on Saturday, at about 2:00, when I was stood outside somewhere, my raincoat had stopped working (water was literally coming straight through) and my clashfinder got so wet in my jeans that I couldn't read anything on it. On Sunday, I just ditched the coat and jeans, got a nice warm hoodie and shorts and it was sooooo much nicer...
 
And the mud didn't really affect me at all, it was quite nice to walk in...

The mud was fine...! My little boy absolutely loved it. Almost lost my wellies in it a few times though! The rain was a bit naff, but hey, we live in England. You kind of expect it probably will rain at some point!
 
We popped home Saturday morning and came back again Sunday morning. Sunday morning the car park was a lot worse than when we'd left. A big van was coned off the was several inches deep stuck in the mud. I had no problems, but surprisingly most of the people I saw getting stuck were those in big 4x4's?!!
 
Managed to leave fine this morning at about 10. Waited a couple of minutes to be signalled out onto the road and then off we went.

oldskool

I love it when people say the mud/rain/weather had no impact whatsoever on their enjoyment of the festival. I mean, really?

 
The weather affected my enjoyment.  In previous years I've spent whole days just lying on a rug between The Word Tent and The Obelisk, enjoying the vibe, the weather, and pear cider.  Ah, bliss.  The rain and mud was depressing, there's no getting away from that.
 

 
Bit gloomy isn't it?
 
I enjoyed parts of the festival immensely, and will go back.  The rain for the time of the year was extreme, and it's difficult to plan for a deluge like that.  All told I thought organisers did ok, what with the straw and the bark and everything.  TBH we fled yesterday afternoon.  We were damp, and I had visions of us being stuck on site with every route away being blocked off by a sunken camper van.
 
 
 
 

Rain is good in that I don't need hat & sunblock constantly but it is a bit wearing after a while especially when you can't get in to see an act or band you want to see because the place is overrun with people trying to get out of the rain who couldn't give a toss about what's on stage!

eddytheviper


Nick, how can you say it ruined it?

It's what festivalling's all about, i was miserable for a little bit on the saturday but then thought, hey, embrace the rain and the mud, and from that point on, it was a total blast. 

 
Do I know you, Mr Viper?
 
It’s chalk and cheese, matey, a site bathed in sunlight rather than mud and rain can be a life-affirming experience…the reverse, I’m afraid, is something that has to be endured rather than enjoyed. 
 

You guys need to get a grip - the mud was nothing compared to what you might see at most other festivals, such as Glastonbury or V. By the end of the weekend, Latitude was in the same condition that Glasto was after about 2 hours of rain this year. I think the organisers got it about right in the arena area and campsites. However, the carparks were a different story and they really need to up their game here another year. Many thanks to the kind souls who gave our car a push on Sun night - we couldn't stop to thank them, otherwise we'd have got stuck again!

That’s true. Someone described getting about in the mud at Glasto this year as like try to walk around with a large child attached to each leg. 
 

It sure was muddy this year, goodbye brand new waterproof walking boots...

For me, the mud didn't  detract from the entertainment much - there was plenty to take your mind off the fact it was a bit squelchy.
 
  although it did make the trudge back to camping a more interesting. I only slipped over once - possibly because I'd laughed when I saw a small child go splammy in the mud!

If you consider that we pretty much had the monthly average rainfall for July in 2 days, the site held up very well. The arena was fine, bar a small area just inside the entrance, and the campsite was only really bad near the village. Getting out of the car park today was a bit dicey, but much like driving in snow, so long as you were careful (and aren't stupid enough to buy a rear wheel drive car) then it was doable.

SimonW
 

but much like driving in snow, so long as you were careful (and aren't stupid enough to buy a rear wheel drive car) then it was doable.

Well some of us have other considerations when buying a car other than the ease of getting out of a wet festival. What a brain dead comment.
 
Mud/rain makes the difference to me between a tolerable and almost intolerable festival. I have a nerve damaged leg which is painful to walk on and standing threshold is about 30 mins. I HAVE to sit down regularly to recuperate. Of course it's my choice, and on weekends like this I have to cope. I would give anything for a little covered seating every so often in the arena, however. I still ejoyed it, but it was punishing for me, and I am exhausted today.

I was thinking if it happens again we should have a mud scuplture workshop!!! :) 

Mud - I've waited four years for it at Latitude and it was BRILLIANT! 

just next year buy really good waterproof trousers - worked a treat - didnt get wet once and no mud at all on the jeans

I rather enjoyed the mud. Didn't bother me really as it was only the walkways. The actual main areas in the arena were fine, Was still able to sit on the floor on Obelisk. Sunrise entrance suffered a bit but kept lots of kids entertained whilst parents watched the bands!
 
Was always a challenge getting back to the red campsite at 3am in the morning half cut. Found some good routes through Hollow tree way under the tree's, apologies to those tents who ropes I tripped over on Sunday in that area........

Surprised me that no stall had wellies to buy - could have made a fortune

Couple of places in the village were selling wellies. 15 quid. But yeah saw none in the arena.

I bought a pair in the arena, just back from obelisk, £15.  My wellies failed me (probably just too much for them after glasto and then a muddy latitude!), found myself squelching over the bridge on Saturday morning and after a bit of searching found a stall.  Annoyingly I left my muck boots at home thinking it wouldn't be that bad!!!!!