Travel Information for the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta, 10 - 13 September 2008
Please leave your car at home if you can!
Falmouth is expected to be very busy during the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta, with many visitors attending from outside the county and from throughout Cornwall. We are encouraging you to leave your car at home and walk, car share or use the extended and increased train and bus services. You could even make a day of it and use one of the Fal River Links ferries that will be adding a stop at the Docks, enabling passengers direct access to the ships!
For travel information during the event, please listen to updates on BBC Radio Cornwall, Pirate FM or Atlantic FM.
Click on any of these items for more information
Travelling to Cornwall | Falmouth Road Closures | Come by bus | Trains | Access to the Docks by Ferry | Car Parking in Falmouth | Car Parking around Falmouth, Race Day | Disabled Visitors | Information for Coach Drivers | Download Falmouth Map | Download Area Map
Travelling to Cornwall
If you are travelling to Cornwall from outside the region, either by plane, train, coach or car, find out more information here.
Falmouth Road Closures
Roads in Falmouth's Town Centre will be pedestrianised on all four days of the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta, Wednesday 10 - Saturday 13 September from 11am to 11pm. The following roads will be closed:
• The Moor (north east of the roundabout)
• Webber Street
• Market Street
• Church Street
• Arwenack Street (up to Swanpool Street)
• Quay Hill
• Quay Street
• Custom House Quay
There will be no access to Church Street Car Park as this area will become the Regatta Shopping Village with a local food, crafts and gifts marquee, and a Skinner's beer tent with entertainment. Custom House Quay Car Park will also be closed to vehicles, allowing car-free enjoyment of the bars and facilities on the quay.
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Car Parking in Falmouth
Church Street and Custom House Quay car parks will be closed from 6pm on Tuesday 9th September to noon on Sunday 14th September.
On the days that the Docks are open to the public, the car park at the junction of Tinners Walk / Bar Road will be for disabled parking only.
Other long stay and short stay car parks are open as usual. Please note that there is no return within three hours to short stay car parks.
Temporary Event Parking
Ships & Castles/Hornworks (Castle Drive, TR11 4NG). 10 - 12 September £6, 13 September £10, Advance tickets available from Ships & Castles or 01326 212129. Credit and Debit Cards are accepted. This car park opens at 8am.
Please park lawfully and ensure that you leave access for emergency vehicles. Tow away vehicles will be in operation.
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Bus
There are direct services to Falmouth from Truro, Camborne / Redruth, Penzance / Helston and Penryn / Tremough. There will be additional capacity on buses when needed. Timetable information is available on www.cornwallpublictransport.info, or door-to-door information on www.travelinesw.com or phone 0871 2002233. The Tourist Information Centres have public transport timetables.
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Train
Truro is the nearest mainline station, from where the Maritime Line takes you to Falmouth Docks Railway Station, a few minutes walk from the Docks gates. There will be a longer train during the event, able to carry more passengers.
Due to the increased length of the trains, they will not stop at Falmouth Town Station. Due to the expected number of passengers, the trains will not stop in Perranwell, Penryn or Penmere during the day. Click here for the event train timetable.
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Ferry
Ponsharden Park & Float - 01326 319417, www.kingharryscornwall.co.uk
Park and Float will be running a 20 minute service from Ponsharden to Custom House Quay. There will be an option of stopping at Falmouth Docks for a 50p per person surcharge. Park and Float every 20 minutes from 10am to 8.20pm. Park and Ride every 20 minutes from 10am to 6pm, dropping off at The Moor.
St Mawes Ferry - 01872 869910 / 07855 438674, www.stmawes-ferry.co.uk
St Mawes Ferry will be running a normal summer service, with the Customs House Quay ferry stopping at the Docks on the way over from St Mawes. Evening service Wed to Sat until 2030 between Customs House Quay (half past the hour) and St Mawes (on the hour). See ferry website for full timetable and charges.
Place Ferry - 07791 283884, www.placeferry.co.uk
St Mawes to Place Ferry will operate a normal timetable, but there will be an additional boat if required. See ferry website for timetable.
Mylor Shuttle - 07970 242258 or 01326 37745
Mylor Yacht Harbour to Falmouth Docks and Falmouth Custom House Quay, 11am - 7.30pm, leaving Mylor on the hour. Return trip from the Docks approx half past the hour. No stop at the Docks on Saturday. The shuttle takes 12 passengers only.
Enterprise Boats - 01326 374241, www.enterprise-boats.co.uk
Wednesday - Friday: Ferries from Truro, Malpas and Trelissick to Falmouth via the Docks to Prince of Wales Pier. Passengers will be informed of return procedures aboard. See ferry website for timetable.
Saturday: Viewing of Tall Ships Parade of Sail, departing Truro Town Quay 11.30am or Prince of Wales Pier, Falmouth 12noon. £40 per person, includes a pasty, booking essential.
Newman's Cruises - 01872 580309 or 07817 428409, www.falriverlinks.co.uk
Usual timetable suspended. Harbour cruises from Custom House Quay (45mins), leaving every hour from 9am - 5pm, £7 Adult, £3.50 Child.
K&S Cruises - 01326 211056 or 316511
Wednesday - Friday: Early Bird Harbour Cruises from Prince of Wales Pier, From 8.30, every half hour, until 11am on Wednesday and 10am on Thursday and Friday, £4.
Shuttle Service from Prince of Wales Pier to the Docks, from 11am on Wednesday and 10am on Thursday and Friday, leaving approx every half hour. £3.50 return.
Saturday: Viewing of Tall Ships Parade of Sail, departing Prince of Wales Pier, Falmouth at 1pm for a 5 to 6 hour trip. £40 per person. Refreshments available. Bring your own picnic.
Falmouth Pleasure Cruises - 07737 305608
No landings to the Docks. On Race Day, the boat can be chartered all day by a group, or booked individually. £40 pp. Refreshments available.
Note: private boats cannot land in the Docks.
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Car Parking around Falmouth, Race Day, 13 September
The Parade of Sail on Saturday 13th September can be viewed from places around the coast. There will be temporary car parks at the locations below. Toilets (including disabled facilities) and first aid facilities are available at all these sites. Please park responsibly, leaving the road clear for emergency vehicles.
St Mawes, Fields on Upper Castle Road from 9am, Parking £10 per vehicle. Hot and cold refreshments, Ice creams.
St Anthony Head, Roseland Peninsula: Fields near St Anthony Head, just before the National Trust Car Park, from 10am, Parking £10 per vehicle. Ice creams. Please bring your own food and drink.
Warning! Due to the narrow roads on the Roseland Peninsula, there will be traffic restrictions between Gerrans and St Anthony Head. West-bound traffic only (towards the car park) between 11am and 4pm, and East-bound traffic (from the car park) only between 4.30pm and 7pm. Strictly no returns before 4.30pm!
Pendennis Point, Limited disabled parking only at Pendennis Point. Ice creams, refreshments, hot and cold food available.
Ships & Castles/Hornworks, Parking £10 per vehicle, book in advance on 01326 212129
Gyllyngvase, Easily accessible from Falmouth town, no additional car parking. Usual refreshments at Gyllyngvase Beach Café.
Swanpool, Beach car park, no additional spaces, £4 per vehicle. Usual refreshments at Swanpool Beach Café.
Maenporth, beach car park and overflow car park, open from 8am, £4 per vehicle. Hot and cold food, beverages & ice creams available from the Café and nearby restaurant.
Rosemullion, near Mawnan Smith: Fields off Old Church Road, open: from 8am, £7 per vehicle. Food, drink & ice creams available
Note: There are views to Falmouth Bay from the vehicles on this sloping field.
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Disabled Visitors
On Wednesday 10th, Thursday 11th and Friday 12th September, the car park at the junction of Tinners Walk / Bar Road is reserved for Blue Badge holders only, on a first come first served basis. This is the nearest car park to the Docks entrance gate, for access to viewing the large tall ships.
Designated disabled parking spaces can also be found in all car parks in the town, including The Dell and the Maritime car park in Bar Road, which are close to the Docks and to Regatta Entertainment Centre on Event Square. Normal car parking fees apply to Blue Badge holders in all car parks, please refer to the notice boards near the Pay and Display machines for exemptions.
Entry through the Docks to the area where the large vessels are moored is fairly rough and not suitable for wheelchairs, walking distance is approx 500 yards. Two Age Concern mini buses are available for visitors who require transport from the car park on Tinners Walk / Bar Road to the ships.
There is no wheelchair access on the ferries. Due to the steep exits to the landings, the ferries are also not suitable for the less able. Please check with the operator if you have concerns.
On Saturday 13th September there will be limited disabled parking at Pendennis Point car park, on a first come first served basis. Parking is free. Disabled toilet provided.
There is a large car park at Rosemullion, Mawnan Smith, on sloping fields overlooking the bay, which allows viewing of the ships from the car. Parking is charged at £7 per vehicle.
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Information for Coach Drivers
Falmouth's usual coach car park at Gyllyngvase Beach will not be available for coaches during the event. Coach parking is at nearby Swanpool Car Park. Please book your space with:
Pete Lochrie
Swanpool Beach Café
Swanpool
Falmouth
TR11 5BG
swanpool.beach@yahoo.co.uk
mob: 07799 068962
Coach parking is charged at £20 plus VAT per day.
Coach set down points
Coaches are not allowed to enter the Docks.
The nearest set down point is Ocean Bowl, near the Docks Railway Station (TR11 4LT)
Other set down points are Berkeley Vale (Town Centre, TR11 3PH)
Falmouth Park & Float/Ride (Ponsharden TR10 8AB, 01872 861910)
Maritime Car Park, Bar Road (near the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, TR11 4RN) Pendennis Castle (Castle Drive, TR11 4NG).
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Download the Falmouth Event Map
For an overview map of activities in Falmouth, download the Falmouth Event Map
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Download the Area Map
For an overview map of the area around Falmouth, with vantage points for the Parade of Sail, download the Area Map.
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