The Tall Ships Races Magellan-Elcano, Falmouth – Travel and Safety Information
Please find to follow useful information which will help you plan your visit to the Tall Ships Races event in Falmouth from 15th – 18th August 2023.
These pages will continue to be updated as we approach the festival, so do check back on a regular basis to stay updated on all the latest news. Please allow longer for your journey as the roads, rail services and public transport are expected to be much busier than normal. We also advise reading the FAQs document in advance of your visit, which can be found here
PARKING
All Falmouth’s Cornwall Council managed car parks with the exception of Church Street Car Park which will be a key venue site, are open and fully accessible throughout the event. Those car parks are situated at The Quarry, The Moor, Grove Place, Well Lane, The Dell and Gyllyngvase Beach. For more information, visit Falmouth Car Parks
DISABLED PARKING
Parking and a shuttle bus service from the Ships and Castle Car Park to Falmouth Docks will be provided for Blue Badge holders or persons with limited mobility.
For the Parade of Sail viewing, the Ships and Castles and Pendennis Point Car Parks will be available for Blue Badge holders or persons with limited mobility. Parking needs to be booked in advance and there are limited spaces.
The temporary road closures do not affect most existing disabled parking options in Falmouth, both on the street and in the car parks.
There is no disabled parking on site at Falmouth Docks.
For all the information and links on how to book disabled parking spaces, please click here
TRAVELLING TO FALMOUTH BY TRAIN
Please visit GWR for travel information
PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN AND AROUND FALMOUTH
Please visit the followng websites for information about travel by bus in and around Falmouth:
LOCAL TAXI COMPANIES
Please visit Falmouth Taxi Companies for details of local services.
PARK & RIDE
There is no event Park and Ride service. However, the Ponsharden Park and Ride site will be used for public parking throughout the event. This will not operate as a dedicated park and ride site but link to the existing public bus service into Falmouth. This site will be open at 0800 hours and closed late into the evening.
The bus service provision for Ponsharden will be the regular U1/U1A/U2 and U4 services from First and OTS 69/69A which between them provide 4 x Double Deck and 2 x 20 seaters each hour through the day stopping on the A39.
ROAD CLOSURES
There are closures in the town on all four days of the event and extensive closures and parking restrictions for the Parade of Sail, on Friday 18 August. The town centre in Falmouth is fully open to pedestrians over this period and the businesses look forward to welcoming you.
Falmouth 15-18 August
Vehicular access to Falmouth’s town centre will be restricted on all four days of the event from 11.00 to 23.00.
This will be extended up to The Moor and along Bar Road on Wednesday 16 August between 16.00 and 18.00 to enable the Crew Parade to take place between Falmouth Docks and The Moor.
For a full list of all the road closures around Falmouth, click here
Care and medical providers who possess the required validation will be allowed to access as required through road closure points, unless there is an activity taking place which specifically prevents this for safety reasons. This will include the Crew Parade closure of main streets on Wednesday between 16.00 and 1800 hours and access along Cliff Road on Friday.
Otherwise, parking and access are expected to be available as normal.
Emergency vehicles will have access through road closures if required.
