Getting to the Event
Bangor is approximately a 20-minute drive from Belfast and 2 hours from Dublin.
Ards and North Down is very well connected by land, sea and air with major airports and seaports close by.
- By car | Do you plan to drive to the event? Allow plenty of time for your journey. If you are travelling by car follow directional road signs to Bangor City Centre, and check out what car parking is available in the city (free and charged). Car parking | Ards and North Down Borough Council. Additional car parking will be available from 8am-7pm at Glenlola Collegiate - 2 Valentine Rd, Bangor BT20 4TH, and Bethany Baptist Church - 27 Gransha Road, Bangor BT20 4TN
- Public Transport | The nearest rail and bus station is Bangor, located in the City Centre, approx 10 minute walk from the seafront down/up a slight incline. For more information on Translink timetables and fares please visit www.translink.co.uk or call the Contact Centre on +44 (0) 28 9066 6630.
Shuttle Bus Service
Supporting The 73rd Ulster Pipe Band Championships and Bangor Beats and Rhythms on 1 August 2026, a dedicated shuttle will run between Balloo Park & Ride and Bangor City Centre. This is a free service, with no tickets required, which will operate on a first come first served basis.
Shuttle Bus Drop Off and Collection Points
The shuttle will stop at the following locations, serving both event sites:
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Bangor Hospital bus stop, Grasha Road — ideal for the Pipe Bands event
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Bloomfield Shopping Centre - situated outside the shopping centre along Bloomfield Road South.
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NIE Building, Balloo Road (Park and Ride)
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Elim Church Car Park, Balloo Road (Park and Ride)
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Bangor Bus Station
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Mills Road, Bingham Street — Ideal for Bangor Beats and Rhythms
