Visiting hard-to-reach music festivals with Zixty short term car insurance

It’s Glastonbury festival this weekend, and music festival enthusiasts across the UK will be enjoying three days filled with incredible performances, unique experiences, and the chance to create unforgettable memories.

However, Glasto is not the only show in town, so to speak. Many of the UK’s most beloved, smaller festivals are set in even more rural locations, making them difficult to reach by public transport. So, if you’re planning to attend these festivals, taking a car might be the most convenient option, especially if there’s a few of you to spread the costs and share the driving. At Zixty, we offer short term car insurance that can cover you from 1 hour to 28 days. 

Let’s explore some of these hard-to-reach festivals and see how our short term car insurance can make your journey hassle-free.

Boomtown Fair, set in the South Downs National Park, is renowned for its vibrant and immersive experience, combining music, art, and performance across multiple stages and districts. The festival’s location, while picturesque, is not easily accessible by public transport. The nearest train station is Winchester, from where you would need to take a shuttle or taxi to the site, a journey that can be cumbersome with camping gear.

Getting there by car

The simplest way to get to Boomtown is by car. The festival’s website offers detailed directions and postcode information, with distinct routes for travellers from the north, south, east, and west. The site is conveniently located near major motorways like the M3 and A303, and there is plenty of parking available on-site.

With Zixty’s short term car insurance, you can borrow a car for the weekend, ensuring you’re covered for the entire duration of the festival without the need for a long-term policy. Having your own wheels also frees you up to leave when you’re feeling like it, rather than stressing about the train schedule. Just make sure you are fit and legal to drive when it comes time to take down your tent and head for home! 

If you plan to drive to Boomtown, make sure to buy a car parking pass ahead of time. Passes can be purchased on the festival’s official website, and need to be displayed in your vehicle when you arrive.

Public transport

For those opting to use public transportation, Boomtown offers several options. The closest train station is Winchester, with direct trains available from London Waterloo and other major cities. From Winchester station, Boomtown runs a shuttle bus service that operates frequently throughout the festival weekend.

Nestled in the breathtaking Brecon Beacons, right beside the charming River Usk, Green Man Festival is a haven for lovers of music, art, and nature. This year’s lineup looks stellar! However, its remote location poses a challenge for festival-goers relying on public transport. The nearest train station, Abergavenny, is still a considerable distance from the festival site.

Getting there by car

If you do want to have the convenience of driving, then borrowing a car and using Zixty’s short term car insurance is a great way to do it. It’s quick and cost effective when you share a car with friends.  All cars require a car park ticket, tickets can be bought for £30 on the door, Park and Ride service costs £15 (per vehicle) on the door, and the Settlement car park costs £45 on the door.

Getting there by public transport

For those looking to take public transport, you can get a train to the local town of Abergavenny and then a free shuttle bus. Alternatively, you can take a coach. National Express will be providing dedicated coaches to Green Man, with drop-off and pick-up directly at the on-site coach park from various locations across the UK. 

Kendal Calling, set in the scenic Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District, offers a magical festival experience with a diverse lineup of music, comedy, and arts. However, reaching this idyllic location can be tricky. Public transport options are limited, and the festival site is quite a distance from the nearest major train stations.

Getting there by train

The closest train station to the festival site is Penrith (also known as Penrith North Lakes), which is a 15-minute taxi ride away. A special shuttle bus service will also run from the station to the festival. There are fast and direct hourly trains from Scotland, Birmingham, and London, as well as from Manchester and the North West (with a quick change at Preston or Crewe).

Train schedules are as follows:

• From Birmingham New Street to Penrith North Lakes: 2 hours 31 minutes, trains depart every hour
• From London Euston to Penrith North Lakes: 3 hours, trains depart every 30 minutes
• From Glasgow to Penrith North Lakes: 1 hour 21 minutes, trains depart every hour
• From Edinburgh to Penrith North Lakes: 1 hour 30 minutes, trains depart every hour
• From Lancaster to Penrith North Lakes: 34 minutes

Getting there by coach 

The festival is also offering various coach services from around the UK to make getting to Kendal Calling easy and sustainable. Tickets are available on the National Express website. Coaches will drop off and pick up at the Pick Up and Drop Off point located at Green Gate.

Getting there by car

Driving to Kendal Calling is probably the most convenient way to transport your mates and your camping gear, whilst also enjoying the scenic road trip through the Lake District. Zixty’s short term car insurance lets you and your friends get to the festival without breaking the bank. 

Carbon footprint

The organisers reckon that 63% of the festival’s carbon footprint stems from audience travel. Insuring your vehicle with Zixty will mean we carbon offset some, or all, of your journey (see below for more about this) via our partner Eden Reforestation. If you want to do even more, you can make a donation when you buy your festival tickets, 100% of which will be invested in renewable energy.