Gottwood Festival

For most travellers, the easiest way to reach Anglesey is to fly into a nearby airport. The closest major airports are Manchester (about 90 minutes drive) and Liverpool (around 2 hours), both offering flights to many UK and European cities. Birmingham Airport is also within roughly 3-4 hours by car. London’s airports (Heathrow, Gatwick) are about 4-5 hours away by road or train, so some visitors connect through London if needed. A closer option is Anglesey’s own small airport at Valley (LL54), which has seasonal domestic flights. Car rentals are available at all these airports. If you’re coming from Ireland, ferries run from Dublin to Holyhead (around 3 hours), from where the festival site is a short drive north.

Trains on the North Wales Coast Line serve Holyhead station, the main railway hub on Anglesey. Regular direct services run from London Euston (about 3.5-4 hours), and connections from Manchester or North Wales join via Chester. Once in Holyhead, the festival site is just a few miles away — local taxis and ride-shares are plentiful there. National Express coaches also travel to Bangor and Holyhead from many UK cities. Local Arriva buses connect Holyhead with nearby villages, but services can be infrequent late at night. For convenience, many visitors prefer to pre-book a taxi from Holyhead or arrange a festival shuttle if one is offered.

Driving on Anglesey is straightforward. The main route is via the A55 expressway. From the Midlands or London, take the M6 north then join the A55 at Wrexham or Chester. From Manchester, use the M56 which merges into the A55 near Chester. Continue along the A55 westward across Anglesey via the Menai Bridge. Exit onto local roads toward Llanfaethlu and follow signs to the festival. Note that the final approach roads are rural and often single-lane, so allow extra travel time in peak traffic. For reference, driving from Manchester typically takes 2-3 hours, from Birmingham 3-4 hours, and from London 4.5-5 hours. Parking usually requires a festival pass, so park only in designated areas.

If you arrive by ferry from Ireland, ferries sail frequently to Holyhead from Dublin (Stena Line, Irish Ferries) and Rosslare (Irish Ferries). The crossing takes about 3-4 hours. Ferries carry cars and foot passengers. If you don’t have a car, you can hire a taxi or catch a bus at Holyhead port. The drive from Holyhead to the festival is only 10-15 minutes north, making this a convenient option for Irish visitors.

Accommodation in the area includes camping and nearby stays. Gottwood typically offers on-site camping, so many attendees bring tents or campervans (book these passes early!). If you prefer a bed, the town of Holyhead (about 6 miles/10 min away) has small hotels and guesthouses, and villages like Llanfaethlu or Moelfre have cozy inns and cottages. Bangor, across the Menai Strait, has larger hotels about 30 minutes south. Because Anglesey is rural, lodgings fill up fast around summer events — reserve well ahead of time. Local shops and petrol stations are located in Holyhead and main villages if you need supplies, and mobile signal is generally good but can be weak in remote spots, so plan accordingly.