The old steelworks site on the outskirts of Ebbw Vale is home to the Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys National Eisteddfod, and is a particularly convenient site for visitors coming to Ebbw Vale from all directions. It’s very close to the Heads of the Valleys road – the A465 – within easy reach of the M4 and the A470, and is also convenient for anyone using the A49.

The easiest way to arrive at the Eisteddfod is to follow the signs, and use the park & ride system. Disabled parking is available at all parking areas, and some of the buses are of the low floor type.

The buses will bring you near the main entrance.

A traffic management system will be implemented during the Eisteddfod, which will work as follows:

Traffic from the north west, mid and west Wales, and Cardiff traffic – cars will follow the A465 from Pentrebach, Merthyr and Dowlais, and leave at the Rassau Industrial Estate roundabout, where cars will be parked. Shuttle buses will travel back and forth to the Maes throughout the day and during the evening, stopping close to the main entrance.

Traffic from the east – cars will leave the A465 at Brynmawr and will travel along the A467 to the Aberbeeg roundabout from the direction of Abergavenny, and turn right on the A4046. Signs will guide you to the car park in Cwm. Shuttle buses will travel back and forth to the Maes throughout the day and during the evening, stopping close to the main entrance.

Traffic from the south (including Caerphilly and Newport) – traffic will be guided from the Aberbeeg roundabout (A467 / A4046) towards Ebbw Vale. Signs will guide you to the car park in Cwm. Shuttle buses will travel back and forth to the Maes throughout the day and during the evening, stopping close to the main entrance.

The main entrance to the Eisteddfod is via the new hospital entrance (off the A4046), but this is only accessible by foot, or by bus. Cars will not be allowed to use this entrance.

There is also a second, pedestrian entrance at the North of the site, just off Steelworks Road. Again, private cars will not be allowed to use this entrance.

From 08.00 on Tuesday 3 August, additional shuttle buses will be operating from the car park underneath the Eisteddfod, known as the Hotmill car park. These will run from the car park to the Welcome Pavilion / main entrance and will drop-off in the usual drop off point. These will continue throughout the day until the beginning of the concert, including Wednesday and Friday evening until around 20.30.

After 20.30, the two buses will be parked by Door 5 of the Pavilion for bringing visitors from the Pavilion to the car park in the Hotmill at the end of the concert. We hope that this will help our visitors as they leave the Maes.

Shuttle buses will run from both car parks to close to the main entrance throughout the day and evening from 07.00 until after the concert in the Pavilion. Free car parking is available in Ebbw Vale town centre.

Arriva Trains Wales operates an hourly service from Cardiff to Ebbw Vale, leaving Cardiff at 35 minutes past the hour and arriving at 31 minutes past the hour. Cardiff bound trains leave Ebbw Vale at 40 minutes past the hour and arrive at 37 minutes past the hour. Shuttle buses will run between the Maes and the station regularly.

The X4 bus service leaves Cardiff bus station every half hour at 5 minutes past the hour and 35 minutes past the hour. The journey to Ebbw Vale takes an hour and a half. Cardiff bound buses leave Ebbw Vale on the hour and at half past the hour. For more information go to www.traveline-cymru.info/