By CornyQuin
March 21 2006

Harlequins FC European tour 2005/06: First and Last leg - Truro, Cornwall - Sunday 26 March 2006. Kick off 3pm. With no European competition for the Quins faithful to use as an excuse for a long weekend away many are going to head south-west to visit our Cornish cousins.

Getting to Truro:

Driving: From London, take the M3 towards the South West and transfer to the A303 at Junction 8.  Continue on the A303 until the Ilminster services. 

At this point you have two options.  If the traffic is generally busy or there seem to be a lot of HGVs then I would recommend taking the A358 from the roundabout at Ilminster services, towards “M5 / Taunton”.  This will take you directly north for a few miles and onto the M5 westbound sooner than if you stay on the A303 but is a slightly faster route.  If traffic is light then stay on the A303 at Ilminster and then onto the A30 and M5.  Taking either route, you’ll be on the M5 heading quickly through Devon (the best way to travel through that particular county!)

If you’ve gone the latter, A303, route then you’ll not be on the M5 for long.  But either way – take exit 31 from the M5 onto the A30 which is signposted for Okehampton and Bodmin.

Stay on the A30 for about 75 miles (passing or stopping at Jamaica Inn on the way – whatever your fancy!) until you find yourself going up a hill with a small wind farm on your right.  You’ll approach a roundabout with a garage on the left.  This is Carland Cross. Take the turning to the left marked Truro (be in the left hand lane approaching the roundabout).  Follow that road (A39) and about 4 miles later you’ll be in Truro.

Brave souls could go straight on at Carland Cross roundabout and stay on the A30.  After about 4 and ½ miles there is a turning to the left (just after you have gone past a large car sales garage on the right) which takes you on B roads into Truro through the hamlet of Allet and the village of Shortlanesend and ………… past the Cornish Pirates ground on Kenwyn Hill!

 

Train: Services are mainly from Paddington – see JourneyPlanner for times.  Telephone 08457 48 49 50 to find out about train running times, engineering and last minute timetable changes.  As it is a weekend do not be surprised if engineering work affects the journey.

Warning: Phil Westren Cornish Pirates press and media relations officer has said:
"With reference to the Harlequins game, we cannot stress enough the need for people to arrive early, there just bound to be a level of added congestion. I understand that a number of Harlequins fans are due to arrive 2.15pm at Truro railway station, which, on a Sunday, seems risky. If there are any such Quins supporters out there, then you might wish to reconsider - with Sunday services it would be no surprise if the train arrived after the final whistle!"

Bus: All the info you should need including timetables can be sourced via this site:  cornishkey.com

Local services are provided by First Group, Truronian and Western Greyhound – links to their websites are on the above site, as is a link to Travel line – an interactive journey planner.

The Truro bus terminus is centrally located in the town – by the Piazza, near the Ale House pub.

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To the ground:           

From the train station: On the Sunday there is a bus service direct to the Pirates ground.  Free on presentation of match ticket (I think!)

Walking from the train station:         Two routes, simple and not-so simple.

Simple - out of the train station, left and down the hill (Richmond Hill), when the hill bottoms out, turn left at The Cheese Shop into St Georges Road. Walk along for about 400 metres and turn right as you go underneath the viaduct - into Hendra Road. Walk up that road / hill for about 500 metres until it meets Kenwyn Road. Turn left and you're on your way to the ground. Follow the crowd.

Here's a map to help with those directions:  MAP

Not so simple - out of the station and turn right. Walk across the black ironwork foot bridge (not shown on the map) across the railway and through the lane at the other end. This will take you onto Dobbs Lane - turn right (slightly downhill). Keep on this road (no pavement for most of it) until you pass over a little stream (the River Kenwyn!). Just after the bridge there is a steep hill that disappears up around a corner to the left: Comprigney Hill. It is very steep! Walk up it if you dare. After a few stops and about 10 minutes later you will hit Kenwyn Road a bit closer to the ground than if you went the other (less pretty) way.

Walking from the town: Make your way to St George’s Road and follow the ‘simple’ directions above.  Pubs en route include The Wig and Pen and The Globe, both in Frances Street (which adjoins St George’s Road) and The City Inn on Kenwyn Road.

 

Driving: Don’t – there is no parking at the ground unless you are one of the pre-arranged disabled drivers.  There is very limited parking available opposite the ground for £3 on a first come first served basis at Kenwyn Veterinary centre.  But it doesn’t hold many cars so probably not even worth trying.  Police enforce VERY strictly the parking exclusions around the ground on match days.  Look out for the temporary police bollards.  Park anywhere near them and expect a ticket at best.

So if you are coming to Truro by car on the day then the best thing to do is take advantage of the Pirates ‘Park and ride’ – the Pirates’ official site has details: cornish-pirates.com