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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Rebecca Carey

How to get to Connect Musical Festival 2022 by bus, car, train and more

Bombay Bicycle Club who are performing at Connect Music Festival. Credit: Bombay Bicycle Club

If you are heading to Connect Music Festival this weekend, plan your journey to the Royal Highland Centre ahead of time.

The festival that celebrates the very best of Scotland's homegrown talent and welcomes the "most influential and pioneering names from around the world" has returned.

The music lover event promises festival-goers a weekend of Grand Parade heavyweights and brilliant breakthrough acts.

Here are all the ways that you can travel to the eclectic festival including by car, train, tram and more.

Where is Connect Music Festival 2022?

Connect is being held at the Royal Highland Centre showgrounds from Friday, August 26 to Sunday, August 28 2022.

The festival gates open at midday across the weekend and close at 10.30 pm. 

You will find the box office located next to the Main Entrance. 

It is open from 9 am on Friday, 11 am Saturday, and Sunday, until 9:30 pm each day. 

How to get to Connect Music Festival by car, bus, tram, train and more

Drop Off - Pick Up

Connect has a handly drop-off and pick-up area for festival goers travelling to the event by taxi or who have scored a lift from friends or family.

You can access the area via the same entrance as the event car parks which will be clearly signposted on the day.

The festival asks that you stick to the marked routes as these are in place to help minimise traffic as well as make your journey as quick and hassle-free as possible. 

You won't need to worry about any charges for using this area either and you won't need a car parking pass to access it.

Shuttle bus

If you are heading from or getting a connection from Edinburgh's city centre, listen up!

Connect is running its own 30-minute Festival Shuttle Bus service which the festival says is the easiest way to reach the site.

An adult return ticket will cost you £7.50 and there are regular departures throughout the day.

Departures from City Centre - 11.30, 12 pm, 12.30 pm, 1 pm then every 20 minutes until 6 pm.

Departures from Royal Highland Centre - regular departures from 8 pm until 11 pm. 

Citylink and Happy Bus

If you are planning on getting to Connect by bus, there is a number of services operated by  Citylink and Happy Bus available.

From as little as £10 for a return ticket, they offer both daily and weekend travel from various locations across Scotland straight to the festival. 

These locations include the following: Aberdeen, Arbroath, Aviemore, Ayr, Coatbridge, Dundee, Dunfermline, Dunkeld, East Kilbride, Edinburgh, Elgin, Falkirk, Glasgow, Glenrothes, Gourock, Greenock, Hamilton, Inverness, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy, Livingstone, Pitlochry, Port Glasgow and Stirling. 

You will also be able to use the Airlink 100, Skylink 200 & 300, plus services 20 & 63 heading to Ingliston which will drop you off nearby to the Royal Highland Centre. 

For more information or to book your seats, visit the City Link or Happy Bus website.

Tram

You can also reach the festival by Tram by hopping off at the Ingliston Park & Ride.

This is where you can get a free shuttle service straight to the Connect entrance.

The five-minute journey runs continuously from 12 pm to midnight throughout the festival.

Tram services have also been extended, meaning that there will be trams returning to the city centre until 11.59 pm each night. 

Train

If you are arriving by train, both Haymarket and Waverley stations have easy access to the festival. 

Connect highly recommends taking the Lothian 98 Festival Shuttle after you arrive at either of these stations which takes you straight to the entrance.

For more information on train services, visit the Scotrail website.

Bike

Those heading to the festival by bike will be happy to hear that there is a dedicated area to lock yours up just outside the Box Office.

The festival asks that you please remember to bring a lock since all bikes and other items are left at the owners’ own risk. 

Parking at Connect Music Festival 2022

If public transport is not an option, Connect encourages you to car share and think sustainably where you can.

When you arrive by car, you should follow the festival traffic signage as well as the directions of our Traffic Team on approach. 

The entrance to the festival car park is on the A8 (Glasgow Road) Eastbound. 

The Car Park Entrance What3Words location is: ///rips.bristle.rejoiced 

Car Parking tickets will cost you £10 per day and should be bought in advance via the Connect Music Festival website.

You will need to show your parking ticket when you arrive, before being directed to a space by one of Connect's stewards.

There will be additional signs within the festival site to direct you if you have a camping package or require Blue Badge parking.

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