When I told people that I would be cycling to Glastonbury this year, many friends looked at me as if I had just said I was planning to watch Norah Jones perform, with a mixture of incredulity and pity. But cycle I did, there and back, and like the festival itself it was an experience to live long in the memory.

The ride to Pilton was organised by a group of friends from Bristol, advertised around the city and also here on the festival’s official website. Sadly, however, in the end there were only three of us who took part, accompanied by five organisers.

Speaking to Elly, one of the organisers, afterwards, we thought that there were several reasons for the low takeup including the daunting prospect of the ride itself, the possibility of inclement weather and the fact that it was a guided ride there but fend-for-yourself on the way back. Next year there may well be a guided ride back from the festival, and maybe a support vehicle to get you and your bike back to Bristol if you don’t fancy the cycle.

We met in Queen Square on Thursday morning and put our bags into a van that we would later rendezvous with in one of the festival car parks.

The ride mostly followed Route 3 of the National Cycle Network, making it very easy to follow yesterday as I made my way back by myself as it is extremely well signposted.

It was a friendly and beautifully picturesque ride through some gorgeous Somerset scenery. We had a few stops along the way to rest and eat our picnics, including one small park with a breathtaking view of the Somerset Levels, where we could see the Glastonbury Tor and the festival site for the first time.

It’s only 20 miles as the crow flies from Queen Square to Pilton. It was a bit longer then that on the ride, passing through Chew Magna, East Harptree, Priddy and Wells, but on my own yesterday I only spent about four hours in the saddle.

Come and join us next year. It’s the best way to travel.