BOARDMASTERS organisers have released traffic information ahead of this year’s festival, which takes place between August 7 and 11.

Important updates to traffic management for 2024:

There have been several important changes this year, put in place to reduce the traffic impact on local residents – particularly in the Porth area. 

Festival Arrivals and departures, peak arrivals:

Boardmasters festival encourages attendees to travel by train, coach, or car share. Festival shuttle buses will be running every 15 minutes from Newquay town centre to the main festival site at Watergate Bay for those travelling to and from Newquay train station. Festival goers can tap and pay before getting on the bus. 

As ever, traffic will be busy, and queues are expected. Camping ticket holders will be arriving at Boardmasters from Wednesday 7 August in addition to day ticket holders who will arrive each day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Festival organisers expect Wednesday 7 August to be the busiest day for arrivals at Watergate Bay, when around 70% of campers will arrive on site. Festival car parks will open from 6am, with organisers predicting peak arrivals by car will take place from 10am - 4pm on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Camping customers will leave the festival on Monday, August 12 - organisers anticipate traffic will be busiest between 8am and 2pm on that day. Boardmasters encourages residents to avoid non-essential trips near the Boardmasters festival site during peak arrivals and departures, and thanks local residents for their patience.

Henver Road closure:

Local road closures along Henver Road will be in place to protect residents from festival traffic. Local residents, deliveries, friends, visitors, etc will all be able to access properties through the road closures along Henver Road. The residents will be provided with a ‘Porth Residents Access Pass’ in advance to be easily identifiable at checkpoints and support quicker access into Porth. Information for Porth residents can be found here.

Watergate Bay road closure:

As in previous years, there will be a road closure on Watergate Road during the festival. This closure will take place Wednesday 7 – Sunday 11 August between 9am - 4am, and on Monday 12 August from 4am - 2pm. The road closure between Shuttle Bus Drop Off (up from the new SeaSpace aparthotels) and the bottom of the hill at Watergate Bay will create a safe space, allowing multiple crossing points between our main arena and campsites for festival goers. It will be opened in the mornings if it is safe to do so, allowing vehicles to go to and from Watergate Bay.

As a measure to further reduce local traffic during the event we will implement a £50 car park re-entry fee to encourage use of our shuttle bus services. 

Getting to and from Boardmasters

· A new park and ride facility

This year sees the introduction of the new Boardmasters Park & Ride service, on the fair fields off the A3059, near the Trekenning Roundabout. This ‘White Car Park’ area will be used by some weekend ticket holders and all driving day ticket holders. With Park & Ride parking starting from just £10 and bus rides at £3.50 each way, attendees can park their cars and be conveniently dropped off right at the festival gates.

The service provides 24-hour security, and also helps reduce traffic congestion on the roads near the festival. Purchasing parking passes in advance guarantees the best prices; this can be done upon purchasing a festival ticket, or as an add-on. Buses to and from the Park & Ride will run from early morning until after the music finishes, operating a simple tap-and-ride system.

To limit Boardmasters’ impact on the local area and encourage greener travel choices, organisers strongly recommend using the Park & Ride service rather than pick up and drop off. 

This year there is strictly no entry to the festival via Port Road by car

· Park + Ride - White Car Park

Customers can Park + Ride and leave their car for the day, or park for the full weekend.

Those parking for the full weekend should buy their Park + Ride pass in advance, starting from £10. Book early to guarantee the best prices – prices vary on arrival. 

The Park + Ride bus will then make its way directly to the festival and back, these will be running;

The bus will cost £3.50 each way and will operate via a simple tap and ride system before boarding. 

There will be food and drink traders available at the onsite bus terminal, as well as shelter and toilets.

· Premium On Site Parking - Green Car Park 

This year, arrivals by car will enter the festival via Green Gate - this is those who have already booked a premium onsite parking pass, or are picking up and dropping off by car. From here there will be filter lanes depending on where you are parked, picking up or dropping off and so on. This entrance is via the A3059. Please follow directional signage to Green Gate. 

Please note: the green gate/premium onsite car park is sold out. Please do not turn up at green gate without a pre-booked parking pass, unless you are simply picking up and dropping off by car.  

Pick up and drop off - Green Gate All pick up and drop off by car or taxi will enter via Green Gate. On approach to the site there will be visible road signs, with directions for the different car parks. Follow signs for Green Car Park / Pick up + Drop Off

Please note, the walk from this new pick up and drop off location to Jaws, Pipeline and Boilers campsites is 40 – 60 minutes. Travel via Park and Ride is a 15 minute walk!

· Newquay Shuttle Bus 

Those arriving via the Newquay Shuttle Bus will be dropped off at the top of Watergate Road close to the main festival gates. This is a short walk to the main arena gates and to campsites. 

Shuttle buses will operate:

· Coaches

Boardmasters have once again partnered with Big Green Coach to offer a more sustainable way to travel to the festival. Those arriving by coach will be dropped off inside the festival at the Boardmasters Coach Station with a short walk to the main arena or campsites.

Fistral Beach:

At Fistral Beach, where the surf competition takes place, a road closure will be in place on Headland Road from Tuesday 6  – Monday 12 August from 9am – 9pm each day. Parking at Towan Headland car park will be suspended for the duration of this time. Parking at Fistral Beach will be suspended completely from Wednesday 7 – Sunday 11 August.

Local residents can contact Boardmasters via email at [email protected] or, on live days local residents can contact Boardmasters via 01637 817 444.