Travel Disruption Warning for Tens of Thousands Heading to Cornwall’s Boardmasters Festival

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More than 50,000 festivalgoers travelling to Cornwall for the annual Boardmasters Festival have been warned to expect significant delays on both road and rail routes. The five-day event, held in Newquay and featuring headline performances from RAYE, The Kaiser Chiefs, Central Cee and The Prodigy, is set to begin tomorrow, but transport authorities and local groups have cautioned attendees to prepare for congestion.

The Newquay AFC Supporters group issued an alert on X, formerly Twitter, advising travellers to set off early. “M5 & A30 going to be rammed with holiday traffic,” the post read, noting that the influx of festival visitors will add to the already heavy seasonal tourist flow. According to the group, the town’s usual population of around 21,500 is currently swelled by an estimated 70,000 holidaymakers, with the addition of tens of thousands of festival attendees expected to cause “chaos” on local roads.

Rail passengers are also being advised of possible disruption. Train operator CrossCountry, which provides connections to Newquay via Plymouth station, has said it expects the station to be “especially busy” on Wednesday, 6 August and Thursday, 7 August, when most festivalgoers are expected to arrive. Crowds are also anticipated on Monday, 11 August, as attendees make their way home.

“The simplest way to get to Newquay using CrossCountry services is to change at Plymouth station,” the company said in a statement. “From Newquay station, shuttles run to the festival every fifteen minutes on Wednesday, August 6. We expect Plymouth station to be the busiest connecting station during the festival period.”

Boardmasters, first held in 1981 as a surfing competition, has grown into one of the UK’s leading music and surf festivals. Managed by Vision Nine Group, it attracts internationally renowned artists and offers both day passes and camping options. Previous headliners have included Ed Sheeran, Snoop Dogg, Gorillaz, Florence + The Machine, Liam Gallagher and The 1975.

The event has faced interruptions in the past, including cancellation in 2019 due to severe weather and in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s edition combines live music with surfing and skateboarding competitions, drawing visitors from across the UK and beyond.

With the combination of summer holiday traffic and the festival’s large attendance, both drivers and train passengers are being urged to plan journeys carefully, allow extra travel time and consider off-peak options where possible.